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Region 1 - Vancouver Island: Recreational salmon fishing limits, openings and closures

Learn more about fishing for salmon in B.C.

Salmon limits, openings and closures

Unless otherwise stated in the table below, the daily limit for all waters in Region 1 is zero (0).

This table refers to fishing for salmon only. For information on other species please refer to the B.C. Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis.

Waters Specific area Species Dates Limits/Gear
Campbell River from a fishing boundary sign at the end of Maple Street downstream to the fishing boundary sign at the cement block. All Aug 1 to Oct 31 No fishing for salmon
downstream of the confluence with the Quinsam River Coho Oct 1 to Dec 31 4 hatchery-marked coho per day, only 2 of which may be greater than 40 cm
Pink Jul 15 to Oct 6 4 per day
FN1022
downstream of the confluence with the Quinsam River to the fishing boundary sign at the end of Maple Street. Chinook To be determined To be determined
Cayeghle River including Colonial River. Coho Apr 1 to Mar 31 1 per day
Chemainus River Coho Oct 15 to Mar 31 1 per day, none over 35 cm
Cluxewe River Coho Apr 1 to Mar 31 2 per day, hatchery marked fish only
Colonial River - see Cayeghle River
Comox Lake All July 1 to Mar 31 No fishing for salmon
Conuma River Chinook Aug 25 to Dec 31 2 per day, only 1 over 77 cm
Coho Aug 25 to Dec 31 2 per day, hatchery marked only
Courtenay River (the waters below the confluence of the Puntledge and Tsolum Rivers) Chinook Sept 1 to Dec 31 2 per day
Coho Oct 1 to Nov 30 1 per day, hatchery marked only
Chum Oct 1 to Dec 31 2 per day
Cowichan River including tributaries and Cowichan Lake. Chinook Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing for chinook
from 66 Mile Trestle downstream to the white triangle boundary sign located in Sandy Pool Regional Park All Sep 1 to Nov 15 No fishing
from the white triangle boundary sign located in Sandy Pool Regional Park, downstream to the tidal boundary. All Sep 1 to Nov 15 No fishing
downstream of the weir on Cowichan Lake to 66 Mile Trestle. All Sep 1 to Nov 15 No fishing
FN0909
Goldstream River All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing for salmon
Koksilah River including tributaries. Chinook To be determined To be determined
Coho Apr 1 to Mar 31 1 per day, maximum size 35 cm
Little Qualicum River all waters unless indicated below All Sept 1 to Nov 30 Fly-fishing only
Chinook Sept 1 to Nov 30 2 per day
FN0603
Coho Oct 1 to Nov 30 1 per day, hatchery marked only
from the hatchery fence to signs located approximately 35 meters downstream All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing
from the falls in Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park downstream to the hatchery fence All Dec 1 to May 31 No fishing
Nahwitti River Coho Apr 1 to Mar 31 1 per day
Nanaimo River including tributaries, except in the area described below. Coho Oct 15 to Mar 31 1 per day, maximum size 35 cm
from the power line crossing at "Bore Hole" upstream to the fishing boundary signs at the mouth of Boulder Creek All Jan 1 to Dec 31 No fishing
Cedar Road Bridge upstream approx. 400 m to the fishing boundary sign located near the Hwy 19 bridge crossing. All Sep 15 to Oct 30 No fishing
from the upstream side of the Cedar Road Bridge, upstream to the downstream side of the Highway 1 overpass. Coho Nov 1 to Dec 31 2 per day, hatchery marked only
Chum Nov 1 to Nov 30 2 per day
Nitinat River upstream of Parker Creek All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing for salmon
downstream of Parker Creek, except in the areas and times described below. Chinook Aug 25 to Sep 30 2 per day, only 1 over 77 cm.
Coho Aug 25 to Sep 30 2 per day
Oct 16 to Dec 31 2 per day
Chum Aug 25 to Sep 30 2 per day
Oct 16 to Dec 31 2 per day
Nitinat River from 50m upstream to 50m downstream of the Nitinat River bridge. All Aug 25 to Oct 15 Finfish closure
from the powerline crossing upstream of the Nitinat River Hatchery water intake, downstream to the lowest point of confluence with the Little Nitinat River and then perpendicular to the flow of the Nitinat River, to the opposite shore All Apr 1 to Mar 31 Finfish closure
between fishing boundary signs located approximately 100m above and below Red Rock Pool. All Aug 25 to Dec 31 Finfish closure
Puntledge River from the weir at the lower hatchery to fishing boundary signs approximately 75m downstream of the weir. All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing for salmon
downstream from a fishing boundary sign located 75m downstream of the weir at the lower hatchery (excluding the Morrison Creek closure below). Chinook Sept 1 to Dec 31 2 per day
Coho Oct 1 to Nov 30 1 per day, hatchery marked only
Chum Oct 1 to Dec 31 2 per day
Morrison Creek closure: between fishing boundary signs located 100m upstream and downstream of the confluence with Morrison Creek. All Apr 1 to Mar 31 Finfish closure
Qualicum River those waters upstream of the Big Qualicum Hatchery upper weir (located approximately 125 m downstream of the E&N railway bridge). Chinook Aug 29 to Dec 31 2 per day
FN0904
Coho Sept 15 to Dec 31 4 per day, hatchery marked only
Pink Aug 15 to Oct 15 4 per day
downstream of the upper weir (located approximately 125 m downstream of the E&N railway bridge) to the QFN boundary fence located approximately 100 m downstream of the hatchery counting fence All Aug 15 to Oct 15 No fishing for salmon
waters below the QFN boundary fence, downstream to the Hwy 19A bridge All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing for salmon
All open portions of the Qualicum River All Apr 1 to Mar 31 Hook restriction, single barbless hook less than 15mm
Quatse River Coho Jun 15 to Mar 31 2 per day, hatchery marked fish only
100m upstream and downstream of the Quatse River Hatchery weir All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing
Quinsam River Coho Oct 1 to Dec 31 4 coho per day in the aggregate, must be hatchery marked, only 2 of which may be greater than 40 cm
Pink Jul 15 to Oct 6 4 per day
FN1022
Reay Creek All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing for salmon
San Juan River waters of the San Juan River and its tributaries downstream of the Fleet River that are open to fishing for salmon Coho To be determined To be determined
That portion of the San Juan River from the hatchery counting fence downstream approximately 150 meters to square white boundary signs on either side of the river, and that portion of the Fairy Lake tributary approximately 5 meters downstream of the hatchery holding pens, indicated by square white boundary signs. All To be determined To be determined
Seymour River Coho Apr 1 to Mar 31 2 per day
Shawnigan Creek All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing for salmon
Somass River All June 1 to Aug 24 Bait ban
Except in those areas and times listed below Chinook Aug 25 to Dec 31 2 per day, 1 of which may be more than 77cm in length.
Coho Aug 25 to Dec 31 2 per day
Somass River from the tidal boundary sign at Papermill Dam on the Somass River approximately 0.5 km upstream. Boundary signs may be present to delineate these boundaries. All Aug 25 to Nov 15 Finfish closure
that portion of the Somass River located approximately 200 meters above and 150 metres below the island near the boat launch at Somass Park near Service Road. Sockeye May 1 to July 23 1 per day
FN0418
Somass River tributaries All May 1 to Oct 31 Bait ban
Sproat River All May 1 to Oct 31 Bait ban
All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No retention of salmon
Sproat River from Sproat Lake to fishing boundary signs approx. 300m downstream of Hwy 4 All Jun 15 to Nov 15 Finfish closure
Stamp River Except in those areas and times listed below Chinook Aug 25 to Dec 31 2 per day, 1 of which may be more than 77 cm. in length
Coho Aug 25 to Dec 31 2 per day
From the confluence of the Ash River upstream to the Great Central Lake Dam All Jan 1 to Apr 30 Finfish closure
Between fishing boundary signs approximately 200m upstream of and 500m downstream of Stamp Falls All June 15 to Nov 15 Finfish closure
Hatchery Lagoon - from fishing boundary signs on either side of the Stamp River located at the inlet to the Stamp River Hatchery lagoon, downstream to the marker at the outlet of the Hatchery lagoon All Aug 25 to Oct 31 Finfish closure
Powerline Crossing - from boundary signs on either side of the Stamp River at the powerline crossing downstream approx. 500m to boundary signs on either side of the Stamp River located at the inlet of the Stamp River hatchery lagoon. All Oct 1 to Oct 14 Finfish closure
Upstream of signs located at Girl Guide Falls approximately 250m upstream of the Beaver Creek and Stamp River confluence All Apr 1 to Mar 31 Bait ban
Downstream of signs at "Girl Guide Falls" approximately 250m upstream of the mouth of Beaver Creek. All Jun 1 to Aug 24 Bait ban
Stamp River tributaries All May 1 to Oct 31 Bait ban
Tsitika River All Apr 1 to Mar 31 No fishing for salmon
Washlawlis River Coho Apr 1 to Mar 31 1 per day
Waukwaas River Coho Apr 1 to Mar 31 1 per day
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