Region 1 - Vancouver Island: Recreational salmon fishing limits, openings and closures
- No fishing is allowed within 100 meters of any government facility operated for counting, passing or rearing fish.
- The total annual limit for chinook salmon over 50 cm is 10 fish from all fresh waters combined.
- You must be aware of these measurements:
- All retained chinook and sockeye must measure 30 cm or more from tip of nose to tail fork
- All retained coho must measure 25 cm or more from tip of nose to tail fork
- An "adult chinook" in Region 1 is defined as being over 50 cm
Learn more about fishing for salmon in BC
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 | Nov 11 to Dec 31 | 4 coho per day in the aggregate, must be hatchery marked, only 2 of which may be greater than 40 cm FN1281 |
|
| Pink | Jul 15 to Sep 15 | 4 per day | ||
| downstream of the confluence with the Quinsam River to the fishing boundary sign at the end of Maple Street. | Chinook | Oct 21 to Nov 10 | No fishing for salmon FN1281 |
|
| Cayeghle River | including Colonial River. | Coho | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 1 per day FN1281 |
| Chemainus River | Coho | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 1 per day, none over 35 cm FN1281 |
|
| Cluxewe River | Coho | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 2 per day, hatchery marked fish only FN1281 |
|
| Colonial River - see Cayeghle River | ||||
| Comox Lake | All | July 1 to Mar 31 | No fishing for salmon FN0625 |
|
| Conuma River | Chinook | Nov 11 to Dec 31 | 2 per day, only 1 over 77 cm FN1281 |
|
| Coho | Nov 11 to Dec 31 | 2 per day, hatchery marked only FN1281 |
||
| Courtenay River (the waters below the confluence of the Puntledge and Tsolum Rivers) | Chinook | Sept 1 to Dec 31 | 2 per day | |
| Coho | Nov 25 to Dec 31 | 4 per day FN1347 |
||
| Chum | Oct 21 to Dec 31 | Non-retention FN1197 |
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| 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 | Coho | Nov 18 to Dec 31 | 1 per day FN1317 |
|
| from the white triangle boundary sign located in Sandy Pool Regional Park, downstream to the tidal boundary. | Coho | Nov 18 to Dec 31 | 1 per day FN1317 |
|
| downstream of the weir on Cowichan Lake to 66 Mile Trestle. | All | Nov 11 to Nov 15 | Fly-fishing only FN1281 |
|
| Goldstream River | All | Apr 1 to Mar 31 | No fishing for salmon | |
| Koksilah River | including tributaries. | Chinook | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | Non-retention FN1281 |
| Coho | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 1 per day, maximum size 35 cm FN1281 |
||
| Little Qualicum River | all waters unless indicated below | All | Sept 1 to Nov 30 | Fly-fishing only |
| Chinook | Oct 1 to Nov 30 | 2 per day | ||
| 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 | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 1 per day FN1281 |
|
| Nanaimo River | including tributaries, except in the area described below. | Coho | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 1 per day, maximum size 35 cm FN1281 |
| 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 11 to Dec 31 | 2 per day, hatchery marked only FN1281 |
|
| Chum | Nov 11 to Nov 30 | 2 per day FN1281 |
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| 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 | ||
| Nov 11 to Dec 31 | 2 per day FN1281 |
|||
| Chum | Aug 25 to Sep 30 | 2 per day | ||
| Nov 11 to Dec 31 | 2 per day FN1281 |
|||
| 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 | Nov 25 to Dec 31 | 4 per day FN1347 |
||
| Chum | Oct 21 to Dec 31 | Non-retention FN1197 |
||
| 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 | Sept 1 to Dec 31 | 2 per day |
| 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 | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 2 per day, hatchery marked fish only FN1281 |
|
| 100m upstream and downstream of the Quatse River Hatchery weir | All | Apr 1 to Mar 31 | No fishing | |
| Quinsam River | Coho | Nov 11 to Dec 31 | 4 coho per day in the aggregate, must be hatchery marked, only 2 of which may be greater than 40 cm FN1281 |
|
| Pink | July 15 to Sep 15 | 4 per day | ||
| 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 | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | Non-retention FN1281 |
| 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 | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | Non-retention FN1281 |
|
| Seymour River | Coho | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 2 per day FN1281 |
|
| 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 | ||
| From the tidal boundary at the Papermill Dam to white triangular fishing boundary signs approximately 0.5 km upstream (Falls Road Gravel Pit and the southernmost end of Collins Farm/Arrow Vale Campground-Hector Road). | 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 | June 27 to Aug 1 | 2 per day FN0652 |
|
| Aug 2 to Mar 31 | No retention of sockeye FN0782 |
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| 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 boundary signs on either side of the Stamp River located at the inlet of the Stamp River hatchery lagoon continuing downstream approx. 250m to the cable car crossing | All | Aug 25 to Sept 30 | Finfish closure FN1114 |
|
| 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 | Oct 1 to Oct 31 | Finfish closure FN1114 |
|
| 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 | Sep 21 until further notice | No fishing for salmon FN1077 |
|
| Washlawlis River | Coho | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 1 per day FN1281 |
|
| Waukwaas River | Coho | Nov 11 to Mar 31 | 1 per day FN1281 |
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