SALTWATER FISHING REPORT  (March 13th, 2020)

Winter Chinook season is upon us!!. We had some good reports from defense Island and Tunstell, Hutt and Grace this past week. Vancouver harbour, the West Van shoreline the Gulf Islands and other areas of Howe Sound are all good areas to target Winter Chinook. Make sure to keep your gear close to the bottom is key. Anchovies or small Herring, various types of spoons and Hoochies all work well for these Winter feeders. Make sure to drop your traps as Prawning and crabbing has been excellent.

DFO Announcements 

FN0315-Commercial, Recreational and Aboriginal Salmon Chinook 
2020 Fraser River Chinook Conservation Measures Update

This notice provides an update on the Fraser Chinook fisheries management
measures that will be in place beginning April 1, 2020 until further notice.

To address conservation concerns for at-risk Fraser River Chinook stocks, DFO
is continuing precautionary reductions in commercial, recreational and First
Nation’s fisheries to support conservation of Fraser Chinook. Given the early
run timing of some Fraser Chinook populations, the Department is implementing
management measures that were implemented for the 2019 season on an interim
basis beginning April 1st, 2020.  These measures will be in place on an interim
basis to provide time for a technical review of the 2019 fishery management
measures and completion of consultations on possible adjustments to these
management measures for the remainder of the fishery. The Department is meeting
with First Nations and established advisory groups during consultations in
March and April to discuss potential adjustments to management measures.
Interim management measures beginning April 1st, 2020, will be in effect until
further notice.  A future announcement on possible revised management actions
is anticipated in June 2020.

Further information on specific management actions will be communicated by
separate Fishery Notices. You can view or subscribe to fisheries notices
at:  http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm

To purchase a saltwater licence please go to  recfish-pechesportive.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm

FN2020-RECREATIONAL - Rockfish and Lingcod: Coast-wide Management Measures 

Effective April 1, 2020 and May 1, 2020, the following recreational daily
limits and close times apply to Rockfish and Lingcod in North and South Coast
waters as described. These management measures are required to reduce fishing
impacts on rockfish in general and identified species of rockfish.

Possession Limits are twice the Daily Limits for Rockfish and Lingcod as
described below

OUTSIDE WATERS:

North Coast - Areas 1 to 10, 101 to 110, 130, 142 - AND - South Coast (Outside
waters) - Areas 11, 21 to 27, 111, 123 to 127, Subareas 12-14 and 20-1 to 20-4,
and Area 121 (excluding that portion outside the 12 nautical mile limit seaward
of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.00' north latitude and 125 degrees
17.386' west longitude and continues southeasterly at a bearing of 116 degrees
True to a point at 48 degrees 28.327' north latitude and 125 degrees 01.687'
west longitude)

Daily limits Rockfish, all species combined - three 3 only one 1 of which may be a Quillback rockfish, a Tiger rockfish, or a China rockfish. Zero (0) retention for Yelloweye rockfish and Bocaccio rockfish
Daily limits Lingcod - two (2).
Open time April 1 to November 15 Close time November 16 to March 31 

INSIDE WATERS:

South Coast (Inside waters) - Areas 13 to 19 and Subareas 12-1 to 12-13, 12-15
to 12-48, 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5
Daily limits Rockfish, all species combined - one (1) Zero (0) retention for Yelloweye rockfish and Bocaccio rockfish
Daily Limits Lingcod - one (1)
Open time May 1 to September 30 Close time: October 1 to April 30
Area 28 and Subareas 29-1 to 29-4 and 29-6 to 29-17 are closed for Rockfish and
Lingcod April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 (year round).

Variation Orders 2020-RCT-136 (Close Time) and 2020-RFQ-137 (Quota)