Fishing Regulations

This is a brief update on the fishing regulations for the Nitnat, Port Renfrew and Cowichan area.

It appears that it will be a roll over of the regs from last year. At Nitnat, Port Renfrew and Cowichan the combined salmon limit will be 4 a day of which can be any 2 Chinook over the legal size limit [forecast for a healthy return of hatchery Chinooks to the west coast], 2 hatchery Coho per day starting June 1st and wild Coho opening after labor day in September in San Juan Bay, 4 pinks (return estimated at 20,000,000 to Fraser), 4 sockeye (about 3/4 of last years return to Fraser).

We know the Coho return is going to be better than last year but have not heard any specific numbers as yet. Hopefully we will hear more, particularly about the wild San Juan Coho, this weekend at the South Coast SFAB meeting.

So far the salmon regs for the Cowichan area will remain the same with the current severe conservation measures in the tidal area and as the season progresses the non-tidal area regs with be posted. These conservation measures will be decided upon by the Cowichan Round Table process.

Lingcod opens in the Port Renfrew area in April for 3 a day + 3 rockfish per day and in the Cowichan area it is expected to open June 1st for 1 per day and 10 a year (same as last year). Rockfish retention remains the same at 3 per day at Renfrew and 1 per day during Lingcod season in the Cowichan area.

Halibut limits are 2 per day with a possession limit of 3. Crabs remain at the 6 1/2" size limit with a daily limit of 4. Prawn fishing opens back up in the closed areas on inside waters April 1st with a daily limit of 200 per day. Please check the DFO web site for other species and area changes (http://http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish/default_e.htm). If you should by chance run into Tuna (Albacore) remember the limit is 20 per day.

Information courtesy of
Bob Gallaugher
SFAC chairman for Nitnat,
PortRenfrew and Cowichan area.