Fishery Notice

Please be advised that the following amendments will apply to the Conditions of Licence for the BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence for the period April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027:

Catch Records: To enforce annual quotas, the licence holder shall record immediately upon retention, and permanently, in the Catch Records Table on this licence, all Chinook (head-on length) and halibut (head-on length) retained in any Management Area and all lingcod retained in inside waters (Areas 12 to 19 excluding Sub-area 12-14, Sub areas 20-5 to 20-7, and 29-5). The Annual quota for Chinook and Halibut is ten (10) Coastwide. The Annual quota for Lingcod is ten (10) for inside waters only. The licence holder shall ensure that all mandatory catch records for the current licence year are produced to a fishery officer or guardian, either on the licence (paper or electronic), or from the licence holder's NRLS account at the time of inspection. 

Halibut: No person shall catch and retain more than ten (10) Halibut in the aggregate from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. No person shall retain a Halibut greater than 112 cm head-on length (85 cm pectoral length (head-off)). The possession limit is equal to the daily limit. Daily limits are set by Variation Order and are specified by Fishery Notice and on the DFO Sport Fishing Guide.  

Halibut: All Canadian halibut regulations apply to any halibut in a fisher's possession, regardless of where they were caught, including size, quota, and possession limits. 

Halibut Lengths: Overall length (head-on) measurements are made from the foremost end of the lower lip to the extreme end of the middle of the tail. Pectoral (head-off) measurements are made from the base of the pectoral fin at its most forward point to the extreme end of the middle of the tail. The term "head-off" will be replaced with "pectoral" length. 

Salmon Lengths: Overall length (head-on) measurements are made from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail. Pectoral (head-off) measurements are made from the base of the pectoral fin at its most forward point to the fork in the tail.

Fishers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Head Recovery Program (1-866-483-9994) by labelling and submitting heads from hatchery-marked Chinook and Coho salmon to Head Depots.

FishingBC App Reminder:

The FishingBC app offers tidal water recreational fishing regulations, a catch log, a species identification guide and the ability to display your BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence and catch records electronically. It is available for download on Apple (iOS) or Android mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. 

To obtain an electronic licence you may use the FishingBC app to link to your National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS) account, and then your licence is automatically downloaded as a .pdf from your NRLS account to your app account. Whether you choose to carry an electronic or paper version of your licence, you must still maintain mandatory catch records as noted above. The FishingBC app allows fishers to make mandatory catch records electronically within the app. You are required to have the licence available for inspection upon request by a fishery officer, fishery guardian, conservation officer, or other enforcement authority, both while fishing and when transporting catch.

For more information, please visit: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/fishingbc-pechecb-app-faq-eng.html

A separate fishery notice will be issued to announce when BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences will be available for the upcoming licence year, beginning April 1, 2026.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0201
Sent February 26, 2026 at 1431

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on November 9, 2026 at 0601