Vancouver Island Fishing Regulations
All our guides are informed about the latest area regulations and will assist all our guests with the correct procedures. We welcome our guests to check out these informative links below.
For the latest British Columbia and Vancouver Island fishing regulations please visit the Department of Fisheries & Oceans. Pacific Safaris lies within the jurisdiction of Area 25 for the department of Fisheries, click here for catch limits in Area 25.
Tidal Water Fishing License Fees including Salmon Conservation Stamp
Licenses are required for all fishers. See below for license fee details.
To stay up to date with all Vancouver Island fishing regulations, sign up to our "PS Fishing Reports". Simply fill out the form on the right to receive the next edition.
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Saltwater Species Information:
Chinook/Spring/King Salmon
Average size: between 1.5 and 30 kilograms (3 to 65 pounds). The largest of the salmon, chinook are highly prized by trophy fishers.
Coho/Silver Salmon
Average size: between 0.9 and 14 kilograms (2 to 30 pounds). Coho are bright silver in colour and notorious for a wild, fast, and erratic fight.
Sockeye
Average size: between 2.2 to 3 kilograms (5 to 7 pounds), occasionally reaching 6.3 kilograms (14 pounds). Sockeye are strong determined fighters on light tackle and are excellent for eating.
Pink Salmon
Average size: between 1.5 to 3 kilograms (3 to 7 pounds), occasionally reaching 5 kilograms (11 pounds). Pinks are the smallest of the salmon, but have a reputation for being spirited fighters, making them popular with fly fishers.
Chum
Average size: between 5.5 and 11 kilograms (12 to 24 pounds). Chum are similar in appearance to sockeye but longer and are noted for long, nearly unstoppable runs and bulldogging tactics.
Halibut
Halibut can reach unbelievable weights of up to 400 pounds, although the average size is between 9 to 18 kilograms (20 to 40 pounds). Halibut are huge game fish in British Columbia, both in size and popularity.
Rockfish
Average size: 30 centimeters (12 inches) to 50 centimeters (20 inches) depending on species. Rockfish species in B.C. include: quillback, yelloweye (red snapper), tiger, and copper.
Lingcod
A bottom dwelling fish that may grow to 18 kilograms (40 pounds).
Shellfish
Shellfish include Prawns, Crabs, Scallops, Oysters, Clams, are easily harvested from the beaches in BC. Prawns and crabs require traps, but even this process is relatively simple.
Others:
Many less common species are found in BC's tidal waters including: dogfish, eulachon, flatfish (flounder and sole), greenling, herring, mackerel, perch (seaperch and surfperch), sardines, smelt, and sturgeon, even trout and char (including steelhead, dolly varden, cutthroat trout, brown trout, and bull trout).
