Finfish (Other than Salmon)
Points to remember when finfish fishing
• Purchase a tidal waters sport fishing licence prior to fishing for finfish.
• Check to determine if the area you intend to fish is open.
• Check to determine what the size and daily limits are for the species
you intend to catch.
• You must immediately record in ink on your licence all lingcod retained
from Areas 12 to 19, and Subareas 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5.
• It is illegal to use gear on a line designed to catch more than one fish
at a time, except when fishing for herring or in the tidal portion of the
Fraser River.
• There is no limit to the number of fishing rods a licensed angler may
use in tidal waters, except in the tidal portion of any stream or river.
Please refer to the cover page opposite page 1 for descriptions of tidal
water boundaries in Areas 28 and 29 (Freshwater Region 2).
It is illegal to angle with more than one fishing line in any lake, stream
or river. The exception is a person who is alone and in a boat on a lake,
who may have more than one line.
• It is illegal to use a “setline” (a fishing line left unattended in the water).
• Special limits apply for groundfish in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
• It is illegal to have any sport caught halibut on board any vessel on
which there are fish destined for sale.
It is recommended that you DO NOT consume the liver from groundfish
caught near coastal pulp mills due to possible dioxin and furan
contamination. Muscle tissue (fillets) of all coastal groundfish and other
finfish species is not affected.
It is recommended you eat only those spiny dogfish measuring less than
60 cm due to the relatively high levels of mercury in the tissues of larger (and
older) dogfish.
Expect in-season changes to the information in this Guide. Check
for updates prior to fishing. Regulation changes are posted on the
DFO website: www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish
Be aware of hook and line, downrigger and trap gear entanglement risks in
the vicinity of the UVIC Venus project in Pat Bay, Saanich Inlet. For more
information, visit: www.venus.uvic.ca/notice.php