More Recreational Salmon Fishing closures announced for both Tidal and Freshwater fishing on North Coast

Recreational fishers are facing a range of closures effective today as DFO keeps a watchful eye on the returning stocks of Sockeye heading for the Skeena System.

In a pair of information releases issued on Wednesday, DFO's Darren Chow, the Recreational Fisheries Manager for the North Coast outlined the current state of returns for the North Coast region.

The notices observed how early in-season indications for Skeena Sockeye are showing stocks at the lower end of the pre-season forecast, with escapement numbers indicating that total escapements will be well below the 800,000 threshold to continue recreational Sockeye retention as outlined in the Draft North Coast Salmon Management Plan.

As a result of their findings, DFO announced yesterday that effective at 00:01 hours July 11, 2019 there will be no fishing for Sockeye in Areas 4 and 5. Effective 00:01 hours July 11, 2019 until further notice: Recreational fishing for Sockeye is closed in Areas 4 and 5.

The tidal area notice issued July 10th can be reviewed here.

At the same time as the Tidal advisory, DFO also issued a Closure notice for areas of the Skeena Watershed effective at 00:01 July 11, 2019 there will be no fishing for Sockeye throughout the Skeena River watershed. for the following areas:

The Babine Lake (including tributaries) Effective 00:01 July 11, 2019 until further notice 

Fulton River Effective 00:01 July 11, 2019 until further notice 

Pinkut Creek, downstream of fishing boundary signs located approximately 25 m downstream of fish counting fence. Effective 00:01 July 11, 2019 until further notice 

Babine River Effective 00:01 July 11, 2019 until further notice 

Skeena River mainstem waters only, upstream of CNR bridge at Terrace, BC to the confluence with the Babine River Effective 00:01 July 11, 2019 until further notice 

Skeena River mainstem waters, downstream of CNR Railway bridge at Terrace, BC Effective 00:01 July 11, 2019 until further notice

The Freshwater area notice issued July 10th can be reviewed here.

24 Hour Opening and Closing information is available through recorded information line, available toll free at 1-866-431-FISH

In June, DFO issued a number of notices for local waters related to the recreational Chinook fishery.

The full listing of Fishery Notices this year for the region can be explored here.

For more notes of interest on the North Coast and South east Alaska fisheries see our archive page here.

To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.