Fishery Notice

This notice advises fishers of the recreational Chinook fishing opportunities and Chinook management measures, which include finfish closures, salmon non-retention areas,  and Chinook non-retention areas for Area 25 (Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet), Area 26 (Kyuquot Sound), Area 27 (Quatsino Sound) and associated offshore waters in Areas 125 to 127 that are in effect July 15.

For all areas, any in-season changes or terminal opportunities based on abundance will be announced by subsequent Fishery Notice(s). Fishers are reminded to check the DFO website before they go fishing for current regulations in effect that day.

Unless otherwise specified below the daily limit for Chinook salmon is two (2) per day with a minimum size limit of 45 cm in Areas 25 to 27 and 125 to 127.

All management measures remain the same as in 2025, except for the finfish closure areas in Subarea 25-1 (see below for details). 

AREA 25 and 125:

FINFISH CLOSURES: 

Effective July 15 until October 15, 2026, the following areas are closed to fishing for all finfish:

That portion of Subarea 25-1 located southerly of a line drawn from 49 degrees 36.971'N, 126 degrees 03.560'W to a point located north of Matchlee Creek at 49 degrees 37.129'N 126 degrees 03.006'W; 

That portion of Subarea 25-1 located north easterly of a line drawn from the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49 degrees 40.790'N 126 degrees 07.232'W then southerly to a point located at 49 degrees 40.620'N 126 degrees 07.087'W then easterly to a point located on the opposite side of the Gold River located at 49 degrees 40.694'N and 126 degrees 06.377'W;

That portion of Subarea 25-1 located south westerly of a line drawn from a point located at 49°40.264'N and 126°10.955'W near McCurdy Creek across Muchalat Inlet to the light on Victor Island then to a point located at 49°39.496'N and 126°08.581'W,

Please be advised that the finfish closed areas in portions of Subarea 25-1 may change prior to, or shortly after, July 15 thereafter. Please look for additional fishery notices for this area.

Subareas 25-2 and 25-3;

That portion of Subarea 25-4 located southerly of a line drawn from a point located at 49 degrees 39.752'N and 126 degrees 28.795'W located on Concepcion Point across Hanna Channel to a point located at 49 degrees 40.175'N and 126 degrees 28.161'W;

That portion of Subarea 25-4 inside Hisnit Inlet northwesterly of a line beginning at 49 degrees 43.903'N and 126 degrees 29.639'W, then drawn southwesterly across the inlet to a point located at 49 degrees 43.680'N and 126 degrees 30.322'W. Boundary signs near these locations may be erected;

That portion of Subarea 25-5 inside Nesook Bay easterly of a line beginning at 49 degrees 46.205'N and 126 degrees 24.997'W, then drawn southerly across the bay to a point located at 49 degrees 45.594'N and 126 degrees 25.018'W. Boundary signs near these locations may be erected;

That portion of Subarea 25-5 northwesterly of a line drawn between square white fishing boundary signs on the opposite sides of the entrance to Head Bay;

That portion of Subarea 25-8, Tahsis Inlet, north of a line beginning at the northeastern tip of Strange Island located at 49 degrees 43.314'N and 126 degrees 37.486'W, then drawn easterly across the inlet to a point located at 49 degrees 43.315'N and 126 degrees 36.817'W;
 
Subareas 25-9, 25-10, 25-11, and 25-12;

Subarea 25-14; 

That portion of Subarea 25-15 located easterly of a line drawn from a point located at 49 degrees 38.640'N and 126 degrees 29.877'W across Zuciarte Channel to a point located at 49 degrees 38.319'N and 126 degrees 28.867'W;

Subarea 25-16;

That portion of Subareas 25-13, 125-1, 125-2 and 125-3 shoreward of  a line drawn from Belmont Point located at 49 degrees 47.528'N and 126 degrees 55.605'W to a point located at 49 degrees 44.965'N and 127 degrees 01.823'W (located approximately 1.9 nautical miles west of Ferrer Point), then southeasterly approximately 13 nautical miles to a point located at 49 degrees 37.900'N and 126 degrees 52.600'W, then southwesterly to a point at 49 degrees 33.500'N and 126 degrees 52.600'W, then to the Red Can Buoy located at 49 degrees 33.806'N and 126 degrees 49.976'W then to a point located approximately 2 nautical miles east at 49 degrees 34.125'N and 126 degrees 46.942'W, then to the Nootka Island shoreline at a point located near Beano Creek at 49 degrees 36.341'N and 126 degrees 45.141'W. The Bajo Reef RCA is located adjacent to this closed area;

That portion of Subareas 25-7, 125-1 and 125-2 inside a line beginning at a point on Vancouver Island at 49 degrees 33.445'N and 126 degrees 33.845'W (north of Escalante Point), then westerly to a point approximately 1 nautical mile offshore located at 49 degrees 33.445'N and 126 degrees 35.967'W, then southerly approximately 8.8 nautical miles to a point intersecting the Estevan Point RCA boundary located at 49 degrees 24.688'N and 126 degrees 35.593'W, then to a point on Vancouver Island (on Hesquiat Peninsula) at 49 degrees 25.067'N and 126 degrees 34.598'W.

Effective 00:01 hours August 15 until 23:59 hours December 31 the following waters have a 15mm point to shank maximum hook size restriction:

Conuma River estuary - That portion of Subarea 25-5 located westerly of a line drawn from the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49 degrees 47.383'N 126 degrees 27.104'W then southerly to a point located at 49 degrees 47.085'N 126 degrees 26.797'W.

DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 until July 31, 2026, in that portion of Area 125 seaward of the 1 nm Boundary Line, the daily limit is two (2) Chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm, and a maximum size limit of 80 cm, excluding the finfish closures listed above. The Boundary Line is approximately 1 nm seaward of the surf line. For a full definition of the Boundary Line please see the bottom of this Fishery Notice.

AREA 26 and 126:

FINFISH CLOSURES: 

Effective July 15 until October 15, 2026, the following areas are closed to fishing for all finfish:

That portion of Subareas 26-1 and 26-6 shoreward of a line drawn from the Rugged Point shoreline beginning at 49 degrees 57.618'N and 127 degrees 15.077'W to a point approximately 0.8 nautical miles south located at 49 degrees 56.904'N  127 degrees 15.677'W, then continuing  approximately 5.2 nautical miles northwest to the light on Amos Island located at 50 degrees 00.768'N and 127 degrees 21.173'W, then from the northwest tip of Amos Island at 50 degrees 01.153'N and 127 degrees 21.554'W, then to the Vancouver Island shoreline to a point located at 50 degrees 01.368'N and 127 degrees 21.529'W;

Subareas 26-2 to 26-5;

That portion of Subareas 26-7 and 26-10 shoreward of a line drawn from a point on Vancouver Island located at 50 degrees 02.149'N and 127 degrees 25.637'W, then to a point on McLean Island located at 50 degrees 01.790'N and 127 degrees 25.556'W, then to a green navigational marker located approximately 3 nautical miles west at 50 degrees 02.587'N and 127 degrees 29.916'W, then continuing northwest approximately 3.2 nautical miles to Cautious Point in the Bunsby Islands Group located at 50 degrees 04.960'N and 127 degrees 33.310'W, then continuing northwest approximately 2.5 nautical miles to the boundary of the Checleset Bay RCA located at 50 degrees 06.097'N and 127 degrees 36.868'W;
 
Subareas 26-8 and 26-9.

SALMON NON-RETENTION AREAS: 

Effective July 15 to October 15, 2026, the following areas are salmon non-retention:

That portion of Subareas 26-11 and 126-4 shoreward of a line drawn from Clerke Point on Vancouver Island located at 50 degrees 04.870'N and 127 degrees 48.856'W, then to a point along the Checleset Bay RCA boundary approximately 1 nautical mile from shore located at 50 degrees 04.059'N and 127 degrees 49.949'W, then to a point approximately 5.4 nautical miles to the northwest located at 50 degrees 06.079'N and 127 degrees 57.696'W, then to Solander Island light at 50 degrees 06.662'N and 127 degrees 56.434'W, then north-easterly approximately 0.8 nautical miles to a point on Vancouver Island (Brooks Peninsula) located at 50 degrees 06.840'N and 127 degrees 54.980'W.

DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 to July 31, 2026, in that portion of Area 126 seaward of the 1 nm Boundary Line, the daily limit is two (2) Chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm, and a maximum size limit of 80 cm, excluding the finfish closures and salmon non-retention areas listed above. The Boundary Line is approximately 1 nm seaward of the surf line. For a full definition of the Boundary Line please see the bottom of this Fishery Notice.

AREA 27 and 127:

FINFISH CLOSURES: 

Effective July 1 to December 31, 2026, the following area is closed to fishing for all finfish:

That portion of Subarea 27-10, from the Marble River tidal boundary downstream to the fishing boundary signs at the entrance to Varney Bay.

SALMON NON-RETENTION AREAS: 

Effective July 15 until September 30, 2026, the following areas are salmon non-retention:

That portion of 27-3 in Winter Harbour north of a line drawn from Hazard Point at 50 degrees 30.055'N and 128 degrees 01.866'W west to the opposite shore at 50 degrees 30.060'N and 128 degrees 02.510'W;

That portion of Subarea 27-11 west of the Holberg Inlet RCA;

That portion of 27-8 southeast of a line drawn from a point located at 50 degrees 24.201'N and 127 degrees 29.979'W to a point on the opposite shore of Neroutsos Inlet located at 50 degrees 24.477'N and 127 degrees 29.138'W.

DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 to September 30, 2026, the daily limit is one (1) Chinook, with a maximum size limit of 77 cm in the following areas:

Subareas 27-7 to 27-11 (Quatsino Sound east of the Cliffe Point Light).

Effective July 15 until July 31, 2026, in that portion of Area 127 seaward of the 1 nm Boundary Line, the daily limit is two (2) Chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm, and a maximum size limit of 80 cm. The Boundary Line is approximately 1 nm seaward of the surf line. 

Full description of the one (1) nautical mile boundary seaward of the surf line for Areas 125 to 127:

The Boundary Line is approximately 1 nm seaward of the surf line and is defined as follows:

A line that begins at Estevan Point, then to 49 degrees 23.869' N 126 degrees 35.333' W seaward of Homais Cove, then to 49 degrees 27.766' N 126 degrees 35.971' W seaward of Split Cape, then to 49 degrees 31.494' N 126 degrees 35.669' W seaward of Escalante Point, then to 49 degrees 34.042' N 126 degrees 41.611' W seaward of Maquinna Point, then to 49 degrees 36.254' N 126 degrees 50.538' W seaward of Bajo Point, then to 49 degrees 39.892' N 126 degrees 55.125' W seaward of Skuna Bay, then to 49 degrees 44.400' N 127 degrees 00.289' W seaward of Ferrer Point, then to 49 degrees 50.767' N 127 degrees 10.151' W seaward of Tatchu Point, then to 49 degrees 59.142' N 127 degrees 28.125' W seaward of Lookout Island, then to 50 degrees 06.948' N 127 degrees 41.617' W seaward of Jackobson Point, then to 50 degrees 03.599' N 127 degrees 47.722' W seaward of Clerke Point, then to 50 degrees 05.868' N 127 degrees 57.906' W seaward of Solander Island, then to 50 degrees 19.284' N 128 degrees 00.130' W seaward of Lawn Point, then to 50 degrees 31.501' N 128 degrees 14.238' W seaward of Topknot Point, then to 50 degrees 35.683' N 128 degrees 19.249' W seaward of Cape Palmerston, then to 50 degrees 39.280' N 128 degrees 23.459' W seaward of Winifred Island, then to 50 degrees 41.116' N 128 degrees 24.166' W seaward of Cape Russell, then to 50 degrees 44.137' N 128 degrees 26.559' W seaward of Strange Rock, then to 50 degrees 47.926' N 128 degrees 27.363' W seaward of Cape Scott, then to Frederiksen Point.

------------------------------------------------------

Variation Orders: 2026-RFQ-295; 2026-RCT-293; 2026-GMB-126 

Coast-wide Recreational Fisheries:

For the recreational fishery, the annual aggregate limit for Chinook salmon is ten (10) in all tidal waters coast-wide, from the period of April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.

Variation Order: 2026-RFQ-009 

NOTES AND REMINDERS:

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal waters of British Columbia.

The term "marked", "hatchery marked", or "adipose fin clipped" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin.

All anglers must have a licence to fish in tidal waters in BC. Apply for your BC tidal waters recreational fishing licence and salmon conservation stamp at: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/index-eng.html.

Anglers are advised to check: http://bcsportfishguide.ca for fishing closures and other recreational fishing information.

Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) are currently in effect and are closed to all fin-fishing.  Descriptions of RCAs and other closures such as finfish closed areas, salmon non-retention areas, and other recreational fishing information, can be found on the internet at: 
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html

Fishers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from hatchery marked Chinook and Coho Salmon to head depots. The head-off measurement can be used by enforcement officers to assess compliance on size limits if you remove the head from Chinook or Coho. Recovery of microscopic coded-wire tags found inside hatchery marked Chinook and Coho heads provide critical information for coast-wide Salmon stock assessment programs. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at 1-866-483-9994 for further information.

Sport fishers are reminded of the importance of catch monitoring programs for recreational fisheries. As a condition of their BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence, fishers are required to provide complete and accurate information regarding their catch and fishing activities upon request of DFO creel surveyors stationed at marinas and boat launches. DFO Creel surveyors are designated authorities of Fisheries and Oceans Canada under s.61(5) of the Fisheries Act; please be respectful when asked to report catch and allow biological sampling. Refusal to report catch and/or harassment of creel surveyors will not be tolerated and may result in charges laid.

Internet Recreational Effort and Catch Reporting program (iREC): Sport Fishers are reminded that it is a condition of their BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence to complete their iREC report online before their reporting deadline. The assigned reporting period, the web address of the iREC reporting program, a unique access ID and the reporting deadline is printed on each adult licence. A report must be completed even if you did not fish during your reporting period, and also if you fished, even if you caught nothing. iREC reports are used to estimate recreational effort and kept and released catches of finfish and shellfish. For further information see FN0330 or contact the Sport Fishing Report Team at DFO.SportFishingReport-RapportPecheSportive.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. Management measures have been implemented to help address the key threats of reduced prey availability (primarily Chinook Salmon), and acoustic and physical disturbance. These measures include salmon fishery closures, Interim Sanctuary Zones that restrict vessels from entering (including fishing), Speed Restricted Zones that restrict vessels to a maximum of 10 knots in designated areas (including fishing), minimum approach distances and a number of voluntary measures including to stop fishing (do not haul gear) and reduce speed to less than 7 knots when within 1,000 metres of killer whales and let them pass, and a voluntary speed reduction zone in Tumbo Channel.

For more information about the current SRKW management measures, please visit https://www.canada.ca/southern-resident-killer-whales or contact the Marine Mammal Team at DFO.SRKW-ERS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. For more information on the best ways to help whales while on the water, please visit: bewhalewise.org.

If a marine mammal becomes entangled in fishing gear, fishers should immediately call the Observe, Record, Report (ORR) line at 1-800-465-4336. Fishers are advised not to attempt to free the animal of the fishing gear as this can pose a serious threat to the safety of the fisher and the animal. If your vessel strikes a whale, or if you observe a sick, injured, distressed, or dead marine mammal in B.C. waters, please contact the hotline immediately: 1-800-465-4336 or VHF Channel 16.

If you see a sea turtle, please call this toll-free phone number: 1-866-I SAW ONE (1-866-472-9663). Please include information such as the species of sea turtle seen (i.e. leatherback), the location and time of sighting. 

Report suspicious activity or violations by email at DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by calling the 24-hour, toll-free Observe, Record, and Report line at 1-800-465-4336 or 604-607-4186 in greater Vancouver.

The 24-hour, toll-free information line for fishery notices regarding openings and closures is 1-866-431-3474 or 604-666-2828 in greater Vancouver.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0673
Sent July 8, 2026 at 1103

Return to Main Menu

Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on September 21, 2026 at 0615