Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dude on October 24, 2013, 07:05:23 PM
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What was the opening for on the Fraser today? I saw lots and lots of Commercial boats by the Alex Fraser Bridge with nets out. What ever the opening was for I dont think any fish made it up the river because there was about 15 boats packed in one area with nets out.
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chum
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That would be the area "E" chum gillnet/seine fishery. Controversial due to co-migrating interior Fraser (Thompson/Chilcotin) steelhead.
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Is there a site that lists the fisheries openings? Would really help to plan which days should still have fish for the rest of us.
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How big is the chum run? it felt like the pink salmon gongshow in Septemeber thats how many boats were out there with nets. Honestly I was driving over the river and all I could think was how does any of the fish get through those nets, Wish I could take a picture
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Is there a website or soemthing that lists the openings for the comercial guys?
I was going to go fishing tonight, but knowing the boats are out yesterday and today makes me less interested...
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FN1051-Salmon: Aboriginal Economic Fishing Opportunity - Area 29 and Region 2 - Extension for Lower Fraser Area First Nations - October 23, 2013
Further to FN1036, an extension for commercial economic opportunity fishery for
Fraser Chum salmon is authorized for the following First Nation communities:
Aitchelitz, Chawathil, Cheam, Katzie, Kwantlen, Kwawkwawapilt, Peters, Seabird
Island, Shxw'ow'hamel, Shxwha:y, Shawahlook, Skowkale, Skwah, Soowahlie,
Squiala, Sumas, Tzeachten Yakweakwioose and Yale First Nation using Beach Seine
nets.
Seines open daily from 08:00 hours to 16:00 hours Thursday, October 24 and
Friday October 25 in Area 29 and Region 2 as listed below:
Sub-area 3 - Port Mann Bridge to Kanaka Creek
Those waters of the Fraser River downstream of a line projected from a red
boundary sign located at Kanaka Creek(north side of Fraser River), to a red
boundary sign at the upstream end of Derby Reach (south side of Fraser River),
to the Port Mann Bridge.
Sub-area 4 (Kanaka Creek to Mission Bridge)
Those waters of the Fraser River downstream of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Bridge at Mission, bounded on the west by a line projected from a red boundary
sign located at Kanaka Creek (north side of the Fraser River), to a red
boundary sign at the upstream end of Derby Reach (south side of the Fraser
River).
Sub-area 5 (Mission Bridge to Sumas River Mouth)
Those waters of the Fraser River bounded on the west by the downstream side of
the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge at Mission and on the east by a line from a
white boundary sign on the upstream side of the Fraser River at the mouth of
the Sumas River, thence true north to a white boundary sign on the opposite
shore.
Sub-are 6 (Sumas River to Harrison)
Thos waters of the Fraser River bounded on the west by a line from a white
boundary sign on the upstream side of the Fraser River at the mouth of the
Sumas River, thence true north to a white boundary sign on the opposite shore
and bounded on the east by a line from a white boundary sign on the upstream
side of the Fraser River at the mouth of the Harrison River, thence true south
to a white boundary sign on the southern shore of the Fraser River and those
waters of the Harrison River downstream of the Highway Number 7 Bridge.
Sub-area 7 (Harrison to Agassiz Bridge)
Those waters of the Fraser River bounded on the west by a line from a white
boundary sign on the upstream side of the Fraser River at the mouth of the
Harrison River, thence true south to a white boundary sign on the southern
shore of the Fraser River and bounded on the east by the downstream side of the
bridge across the Fraser River at Agassiz.
Sub-area 8 (Agassiz Bridge to Hope Bridge)
Those waters of the Fraser River bounded on the west by the downstream side of
the bridge across the Fraser River at Hope, and on the north at the upstream
confluence of Emory Creek.
Only individuals designated by the Atchelitz, Chawathil, Cheam, Katzie,
Kwantlen, Kwawkwawapilt, Peters, Seabird Island, Shxw'ow'hamel, Shxwha:y,
Shawahlook, Skowkale, Skwah, Soowahlie, Squiala, Sumas, Tzeachten Yakweakwioose
and Yale Indian Bands are authorized to participate in this fishery.
Notes:
The target species in this fishery is Fraser River chum salmon; the
incidental catch of pink salmon may be retained. Opportunities to harvest chum
salmon will be constrained by management objectives for Interior Fraser
steelhead which is a stock of concern presently co-migrating in the Fraser
River. There will be non-retention of sockeye, coho, chinook, steelhead and
sturgeon. This fishery has been designed to address stocks of concern. All non-
target species will be released back to the water alive and unharmed.
In the interest of planning fisheries, the Department is using a provisional in-
season update of 1.634 million chum assuming a peak run-timing date of October
18th with no further anticipated updates to the run size.
It is mandatory that all salmon retained under the authority of this licence be
transported to the nearest landing station and made available for inspection.
A monitor shall be present during all landing of catch to record the number and
weight of each species of salmon delivered.
Sockeye release mortalities will be calculated using estimates of sockeye
encounter rates (as a percentage of encounters of sockeye and pink) based on
monitor information, the sockeye release mortality rate, and validated landing
information.
In order to collect encounter information to estimate sockeye mortalities, the
following observed coverage levels will be implemented. There will be a monitor
at each beach seine during fishing activity to record set by set information.
At the end of each fishing day the monitors will submit the daily data to the
Fraser Valley Aboriginal Fisheries Society who will then forward to DFO.
Fisher harvesters are advised to contact their local bands for a copy of the
conditions of their fishing licence.
For more information call Sheldon Evers, Resource Manager Lower Fraser at (604)
666-8049.
Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1051
Sent October 24, 2013 at 0856
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The Stave is reported to have less chum than last year. I also don't see massive school of chum at the Vedder? What is the estimate run size of chum that DFO is opening these fisheries before they are sure there are enough chum for spawning?
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Is that the only opening on the Fraser right now Rodney?
OP was talking about boats down by the Alex Fraser Bridge...?
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There were reports of 1000 fish on the first set, and opening the river in zero visibility was interesting as well. ;D
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What do they do with the chums they catch? Is it basically just for roe? You couldn't pay me to eat a chum that's smelled fresh water
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I'm seeing chum salmon selling at a sale price of $3.49/lb at the seafood section.
I ate the chum salmon which I caught last Sunday, and let me say that it tasted better than tuna.
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You couldn't pay me to eat a chum that's smelled fresh water
Oh brother, there's always one in the bunch isn't there. ::) ::) ::)
Seiners usually get between 25 cents to 50 cents a pound for chum, the roe price fluctuates anywhere from $2.50 a pound and up, depending on how much is for sale. Sometimes it reaches 10 or 11 bucks a pound but............
Some Halibut fishermen sell the roe but cut their chum into bait, then bag and freeze it. Then when Halibut fishing time comes around they don't have to buy bait and they save that expense. Some boats will take a bit of herring and squid for bait, as well as their salmon, just to get the gear smelling good, but after that they usually use straight chunks of chum salmon.
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http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/fraser/abor-autoc-eng.html#Lower_Fraser_River (http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/fraser/abor-autoc-eng.html#Lower_Fraser_River)
This should give you most of the openings.
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I'm seeing chum salmon selling at a sale price of $3.49/lb at the seafood section.
I ate the chum salmon which I caught last Sunday, and let me say that it tasted better than tuna.
Took chum filets on last hunting trip and they were great for a few dinners. ;D
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I like deep fried chum fish and chips tastes like cod. bright fish only.
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You can receive the openings for all the West Coast or just what you really want by e-mail from the DFO.
Here's the link:
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=pub_reg
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Chum is actually quite heavily commercially harvested for a variety of different products. It is sold on fillets as well as a whole fish when harvested in the ocean, it's also used in most salmon burgers, salmon candy, jerkies and even dog food.
I've also heard from oldtimers about Stave's stock being on the decline for the past 6-7 years, I don't know if I remember right but I was reading somewhere that the entire Fraser Chum run is something like 900 000 fish.
Considering the small numbers, relatively small profit per pound, and the already present wild Coho and Steelhead, it's beyond my understanding why there's any commercial openings AT ALL.
Just read the other day that Thompson steelhead this year is estimated to be down to 900 adult spawners.. just short of the 10,000 in 1980.
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just short of the 100,000 in 1980.
Great post until that ... did you mean 10,000? even that number is probably high ...
Chum, imo, are far more valuable to a watershed like the Chilliwack for the gull, dipper, crow and eagle populations that rely on them, the fry they produce that juvenile coho and steelhead parr love to eat, and the nutrients their carcasses release into the ecosystem to produce healthy populations of invertebrates - future fish food.
I agree, these fish should not be harvested, for so many reasons, especially after the glut this summer.
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Great post until that ... did you mean 10,000?
Yes, I meant 10,000, I'll correct my post, thank you.