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[Spudcote]

This is NOT a discussion on fish farming, I wish to clarify this right form the start. 

The item I wish to discuss is, is it open season on Atlantic Salmon ? I realize that they're not "meant" to be here, and that a few have been turning up in nets in the ocean, and other guys in the rivers. 

The question is, are we free to kill as many Atlantics a day if, in the unlikely event that we catch one ? I know that DFO has a program in place to report all caught Atlantics, but can we still kill them for personal consumption (if you so wish to do so  ), wiht no limits ?

I realize that a problem could arise with people keeping lots of salmon with the belief they are "all Atlantics," when none of them are, and then play dumb by saying "but I thought they were Atlantics, and that I was doing the province a favour..."

Any thoughts ?

[Spudcote]

I'll start off by saying that these fish aren't meant to be here, and that we should have every right to kill one, AFTER a positive ID on the fish.

But definately there could be issues with people killing fish other than Atlantics, intentionally, or otherwise, face it, it's gonna happen either way, who hasn't confused a fish since they started the sport ? I know I have, unintentionally though.

This would definately take some time to do, and get everyone on the same track as to what an Atlantic looks like.

Also, there should be a similar thing like we do with hatchery chinooks, and have head depots in the parking lots of some of the major rivers to deposit any info regarding the fish caught, but by asking too much, people could just say "screw it" and keep the fish pretending nothing ever happened. Kinda defeats the purpose of it eh ?

[Matuka Jack]

Ignorance is not a defense for breaking any law.  If you are going to bonk a fish you better know exactly what it is you are bonking.  If you are not sure consult someone who is knowledgeable and you can trust.  The final option is just let it go back into the water if you cannot ID what it is.

[Sterling C]

Those are wise words Matuka, you won't belive how many times I've seen people who can't tell the difference between a jack spring and a pink. Even worse is they don't listen when I correct them 

[BwiBwi]

I believe for "exotic" species the entire specimen is to be submitted.

[Gooey]

With Atlantics classification as an exotic species, indeed they are open season.  DFO's  main concern is that Atlantics would displace local species; that said, I think it is a safe assumption that you could kill any/all atlantics you catch.

In terms of identification, Matucka is bang on, you need to know what you are harvesting before you bonk it.  Luckily atlanitics are soooo easy to distinguish.  Ingeneral, they are much more spotted than pacific salmon (below th lateral line even) and  with the big black dots that appear on their gill plate and heads, they are easy to identify:

http://www.canadian-sportfishing.com/NationalChampionship/Championship%20Results/2002%20Results/images/atlantic-salmon.jpg

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/fish/salmon/images/atlanticsalmon.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/fish/salmon/atlantic.htm&h=306&w=450&sz=53&tbnid=HMb_3vNXQ4gJ:&tbnh=84&tbnw=124&start=33&prev=/images%3Fq%3Datlantic%2Bsalmon%26start%3D20%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN   -  this second pic is great...look at how low the spots are below the laterla line

[Sam Salmon]

Last I heard the limit was 30 in the chuck and 50 in fresh open 24/7/365 so no worries bonk away!

[Sterling C]

Atlantics do look quite unique to most speceis with exception of brown trout. How mayn of you can tell the difference.

[Fish Assassin]

Top picture is an Atlantic salmon, the bottom is a Brown Trout

[Rodney]

Are you sure?

Browns have a square tail, while atlantic salmon have a slightly forked tail.

[Gooey]

I thought the spots on a brown have a colored hugh, kinda like a dolly but with a black dot in the middle...never caught a brown tho!

Atlantics dont have spots on the tail...browns do....doesnt help with these pics...

Oh man, you know what this means....I have to agree with FA

[DragonSpeed]

I thought the spots on a brown have a colored hugh, kinda like a dolly but with a black dot in the middle...never caught a brown tho!

Atlantics dont have spots on the tail...browns do....doesnt help with these pics...

Oh man, you know what this means....I have to agree with FA

It's all in the link name    Top is a brown trout, and bottom is an atlantic (according to the sites at which they are posted).  I would have got it wrong.

[Rodney]

Actually, the caudal fin/tail of both brown trout and atlantic salmon is not spotted.

Brown trout




The post-glacial divergence between brown trout and atlantic salmon is a pretty interesting subject. Even just within the brown trout species, there are at least ten variations.

When Linnaeus in Sweden started his classification work, he came up with three types of brown trout: S.trutta, the trout of large rivers; S.fario, the trout of small brooks; and S.criox, the migraratory sea trout.

DS, you're cheating again! Those links maybe a trick.

[Fish Assassin]

Brown trout have black spots with red halos.

[Sterling C]

Brown trout have black spots with red halos.

I've caught brown trout without red halos, and seen pics of atlantics with red halos.