Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rodney on August 14, 2013, 03:37:07 PM
-
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has just issued a fishery notice regarding a total salmon fishing closure in the non-tidal portion of the Fraser River between Mission and Hope, starting on August 16th. Please advise your friends, colleagues and families who have planned to go out so they are aware of the changes.
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=153070&ID=recreational
FN0735-RECREATIONAL - Salmon- Region 2 - Fraser River - Closed time for all Salmon fishing
Effective one hour after sunset on Thursday August 15, 2013 until further
notice, fishing for any salmon species is not permitted on the Fraser River
from the downstream edge of the CPR bridge at Mission, BC to the downstream
edge of the Alexandra Bridge.
Current run size estimates of Fraser River Summer Run sockeye salmon combined
with record water temperatures in the Fraser River have resulted in no
allowable harvest. The Department's priorities are to ensure that there is
sufficient sockeye returning to the spawning grounds. The Department is
continuing to manage fisheries to minimize sockeye impacts and provide priority
access to First Nations' fishing for food, social and ceremonial purposes.
Anglers fishing for chinook salmon in areas that remain open to salmon fishing
are required to take every measure possible to ensure that their fishing
activities are not impacting sockeye salmon. The Department is continuing to
monitor the Fraser River to ensure compliance.
Recreational fishing opportunities for trout, steelhead and sturgeon and other
non-salmon species in this area remain open. In addition, recreational fishing
opportunities on the Fraser River for pink and chum salmon are anticipated.
This reflects a change to the BC Freshwater Salmon Supplement. The on-line
version of this guide will be updated within 24 hours of this notice, please
browse:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html
Variation Order No. 2013-371
Notes:
Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal
waters of British Columbia.
Anglers are requested to release any hatchery marked sockeye. These fish are
hatchery raised sockeye and part of a recovery program designed to increase the
numbers of Cultus Lake sockeye.
The term "hatchery marked" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the
adipose fin.
Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery
program by labelling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and
coho salmon. Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for
coast-wide stock assessment. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program
toll free at (866) 483-9994 for further information.
Rockfish Conservation Areas that are currently in effect and are closed to all
fin fishing. Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing
information, can be found on the Internet at:
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish
Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation? If so, please call
the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line
at (800) 465-4336.
For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at
1-(866)431-FISH (3474).
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact DFO Lower Fraser at (604)666-8266
Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0735
Sent August 14, 2013 at 1521
-
As long as some losers don't bottom bounce for Sturgeon ....great.
-
Well, let the gong show begin on the vedder.
-
And to think you guys thought the Squamish was already busy. ;D
-
Squamish wasn't busy for me at all, had maybe two guys at the run I was fishing. If you care to explore, you will get away from the crowds.
-
Wow...That means the Vedder and Harrison river mouths will be closed for the massive run of pinks due in a week or two.Way to stick it to the guys waiting impatiently for these fish to arrive.Nice. :(
-
Just fish in the river itself? Don't need a boat or anything.
-
Wow...That means the Vedder and Harrison river mouths will be closed for the massive run of pinks due in a week or two.Way to stick it to the guys waiting impatiently for these fish to arrive.Nice. :(
It depends on where near the Vedder and Harrison mouths you are fishing of course. If you are above the boundary, then fishing is still available.
-
All you meat head flossers reading this, now see what you have done?
-
BEST DECISION EVER!
Someone is finally thinking straight.
And don't blame it on the flossers. This crisis goes far beyond betties and long leaders.
The Fraser is experiencing the highest water temperatures on record.
-
Notice how its about sockeye? do you think the people flossing aren't hooking into them causing very high mortality? The amount of sockeye (which is what they are trying to protect) that would be hitting the bar rod is very small. I can guarantee you, the bouncers are hitting MANY sockeye.
-
C'mon Milo, of course one would think that the water temps play a huge impact on this decision, but the floss gang continuing with their methods have also, don't ever think it isn't. Besides, IMO the betty's are a crisis all to themselves, they've ruined a historical part of fishing....learning how to !!
-
BEST DECISION EVER!
Someone is finally thinking straight.
And don't blame it on the flossers. This crisis goes far beyond betties and long leaders.
The Fraser is experiencing the highest water temperatures on record.
Well said Milo.......
-
Great decision, there may be hope for the fish yet.
-
This is 100% about
flossers snaggers. If sockeye weren't being targeted, there wouldn't be an issue.
-
Great decision, there may be hope for the fish yet.
because flossing is a threat to wild salmon ::)
-
Thanks snaggots (and warm temps) for ruining my barfing season.
*sigh* slowly puts barfing gear back in the garage and gets out the pin setup to target pinks, coho and the chinook in the next few weeks...
because flossing is a threat to wild salmon ::)
They want to minimize the impact that man has on the fish and give them every chance they can get so yes the snaggers have an impact all be it minimal. With these dismal returns every fish counts!
-
Has this happened in recent memory? Anyone have any idea or guesses on if it will open in time for the bulk of the pink run?
-
I think if I remember the results from the sockeye bottom bouncing mortality rate were less then 1%
-
Has this happened in recent memory? Anyone have any idea or guesses on if it will open in time for the bulk of the pink run?
Yes, it has occurred in the past, in 2009.
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=119313&ID=recreational
This was issued a few days after anglers were asked to fish selectively by avoid catching and releasing sockeye salmon.
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=119214&ID=recreational
If the late summer sockeye salmon return is as just as low in September, then one can assume this closure will continue as the recreational fishing sector continues to demonstrate that participants are unable to (choose to) fish selectively.
-
bet the Cheam r still out netting ! >:(
-
When the numbers allow for a catch and kill fishery, I enjoy dusting off my Fraser river rod and flossing a few sockeye for the freezer and smoker. But in a situation like this, when every fish counts, I applaud the decision to close the river to ALL angling, preventing the incidental catch of sockeye.
Frankly, I find it disconcerting that the only thing some bar fishermen have to say about it is whine about how flossers ruined the chinook fishery for them. It would be nice for a change to hear anglers of all persuasions endorse a decision whose only purpose is to protect the fish - the very reason we, as a group, exist.
And to all those who now find themselves not knowing what to do...go to your local tackle store, buy some dink floats, pencil lead or split shots, spoons, spinners and yarn, and learn to catch biting fish on artificials. It is a lot more fun that casting and retrieving those heavy betties anyways.
-
bet the Cheam r still out netting ! >:(
No they aren't.
-
because flossing is a threat to wild salmon ::)
I said nothing about flossing there bud. I am more concerned about the water temperature being almost 4 degree's celsius higher than normal. Give the largest number of fish the best chance possible to survive. Less fishing pressure could only help. I don't judge fraser river flossers Hue-nut, so perhaps next time, don't leap to conclusions and assume that I am.
-
I am with Milo. The high temperature is the main reason given the lower than expected return. High temperature will create high mortality rate much higher than the 1% c&r bb can do to harm fish. The BFers likes to bash the BBers for anything under the sun. The fact of the matter is high temperature plus the FN nets will do most of the damage to the fish. The 50 sockeye hookups claimed by one guy in anther thread is just a joke, a troll and a fairy tale. Only those who don't do BB will believe that kind of number. This kind of exaggerated number is only aimed at flaming the authority to shut down the BBers. But unfortunately, it always comes down to total closure.
-
No,it comes to a total closure when those that have a hard time understanding what selective methods means.
Dam rights the flossers have caused this closure.
This whole Sockeye fishery has been a joke since its inception.
-
It IS 100% caused by the snaggers-Like others have stated, if all you fools would have listened to the "selective methods" it would really only be Chinook being hooked with the very odd sockeye. It really blows my mind that people still try and defend flossing these fish! Hats off to the full closure I guess, I can only hope this leads to them saying NO SNAGGING.
-
http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews08131301.html#axzz2bxyTsTNX (http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews08131301.html#axzz2bxyTsTNX)
This link was posted by Rodney in a different thread a couple days ago. You think the FN are going to remain closed to fishing if there are ANY recreational fisherman catching even just one sockeye? And there is no way the bar fisherman can claim that not a single sockeye gets caught by them because some in here have already said they did.
I believe this closure is for a couple reason. First, it is a way to make sure everybody stays closed. Second, it makes enforcement a whole lot easier. One trip up river with a heliocoptor can see if there are any boats or people on the banks. Enforecment is a lot harder when there are a bunch of people that the person fishing illegally can blend in to.
-
http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews08131301.html#axzz2bxyTsTNX (http://www.ubcic.bc.ca/News_Releases/UBCICNews08131301.html#axzz2bxyTsTNX)
This link was posted by Rodney in a different thread a couple days ago. You think the FN are going to remain closed to fishing if there are ANY recreational fisherman catching even just one sockeye? And there is no way the bar fisherman can claim that not a single sockeye gets caught by them because some in here have already said they did.
I believe this closure is for a couple reason. First, it is a way to make sure everybody stays closed. Second, it makes enforcement a whole lot easier. One trip up river with a heliocoptor can see if there are any boats or people on the banks. Enforecment is a lot harder when there are a bunch of people that the person fishing illegally can blend in to.
No one claimed that bar fisherman don't catch sockeye lol however in many years of regular bar fishing I can count the amount on one hand. Compare that number to snagging and you will see the light.
-
No one claimed that bar fisherman don't catch sockeye lol however in many years of regular bar fishing I can count the amount on one hand. Compare that number to snagging and you will see the light.
What light? Another bar fisherman already claimed to have caught 2 or 3 sockeye this year. You think it matters? Did you read the article? It is the fact that people are fishing and possibly catching the fish. Either everything is shut down or at least certain members/tribes of the FN believe they have a right to fish too.
-
you can't avoid catching sockey while bar fishing. I don't understand this much complains from these guys?
-
Bar fishing for chinnook may get you the odd by-catch sockeye here and there but by no means are you going to get the numbers that flossers do with their betty's when their "trying" to catch chinnook.
-
When the numbers allow for a catch and kill fishery, I enjoy dusting off my Fraser river rod and flossing a few sockeye for the freezer and smoker. But in a situation like this, when every fish counts, I applaud the decision to close the river to ALL angling, preventing the incidental catch of sockeye.
Frankly, I find it disconcerting that the only thing some bar fishermen have to say about it is whine about how flossers ruined the chinook fishery for them. It would be nice for a change to hear anglers of all persuasions endorse a decision whose only purpose is to protect the fish - the very reason we, as a group, exist.
And to all those who now find themselves not knowing what to do...go to your local tackle store, buy some dink floats, pencil lead or split shots, spoons, spinners and yarn, and learn to catch biting fish on artificials. It is a lot more fun that casting and retrieving those heavy betties anyways.
well said !
and Hi to Milo
-
Im all for the closure 8) Bar fishing only would have been nice, but i guess its kinda hard to regulate that...
-
Ive said it before, ill say it again (even though I know theres a **** storm coming!)
ABSOLUTELY 100% C&R ALL YEAR ON EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME! No more commercial, no more FN, no retention.
Not likely, but I would love it!
in before "hurr durr feed mah famleh"
-
Bar fishing for chinnook may get you the odd by-catch sockeye here and there but by no means are you going to get the numbers that flossers do with their betty's when their "trying" to catch chinnook.
40 years of bar fishing and have caught or seen caught very few, maybe 10 at the most.
-
Ive said it before, ill say it again (even though I know theres a **** storm coming!)
ABSOLUTELY 100% C&R ALL YEAR ON EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME! No more commercial, no more FN, no retention.
Not likely, but I would love it!
in before "hurr durr feed mah famleh"
Beats the heck out of not fishing at all!
-
What light? Another bar fisherman already claimed to have caught 2 or 3 sockeye this year. You think it matters? Did you read the article? It is the fact that people are fishing and possibly catching the fish. Either everything is shut down or at least certain members/tribes of the FN believe they have a right to fish too.
No, its the fact people did not listen to "selective methods" and continued snagging sockeye day after day.
This doesn't change anything with FN as much as you may think that
-
In 20 yrs of bar fishing we only ever caught 1 sockeye. I do agree with the closure however I hope it opens again once the pinks arrive
Why cant DFO just man up and make BBing illegal whenever there isn't a sockeye opening ?
even put a hefty fine with it, say $500+ and im sure that would stop a lot of the guys out there. If your caught, gear gone, boat (if you used one) gone, fish (if caught) gone and Bang! huge fine as well on top of the rest. NO ACCEPTIONS
-
A fish caught by BB just has to fight a 3 oz betty and the mortality study shows less than 1% fatality. A bar rig with 1 lb lead will exhaust every sockeye caught and forget about them making it to the spawning ground. Go kiss you a x s holier than thou BFers. Your accidental catch highly caused many spawners disappear along the migration after the exhaustion on pulling 1 lb weight. Try swim up the river yourself after pulling a tractor then you know your big chunk of lead besides polluting the Fraser when snagged will cause the death of every sockeye caught. If any one of the BFer can't stand one sockeye killed by accident, better hang up the rod. ;)
The haters can yell bl oody hell all they want about BBers causing the closure. The closure is now tidal too. So those pointing the fingers saying BBers are the ones causing the closure, show us where in the ocean BB have casted their betties??? ;D
-
^^ How many sockeye do you think are caught as by-catch when bar fishing ?? You've heard from some fellows on here that have been doing it for DECADES and some of them have only seen a handful, while others have NEVER ever seen one caught and they've been bar fishing probably longer than most on here have been alive.
Your a pretty....... how do I put it politely.........naive fisherman liketofish, along with being an obvious flosser who will defend forever so it seems.
Put it this way, lot's of faces would look like this :o ??? :o ??? :o ??? if they banned BBing on all the local rivers. They would have to actually "LEARN" how to fish, wich would be great cause half of them would probably give up and then there would be a lot more room on the river for guys who like to trick fish to bite instead of snag.
-
^^ How many sockeye do you think are caught as by-catch when bar fishing ?? You've heard from some fellows on here that have been doing it for DECADES and some of them have only seen a handful, while others have NEVER ever seen one caught and they've been bar fishing probably longer than most on here have been alive.
Your a pretty....... how do I put it politely.........naive fisherman liketofish, along with being an obvious flosser who will defend forever so it seems.
Put it this way, lot's of faces would look like this :o ??? :o ??? :o ??? if they banned BBing on all the local rivers. They would have to actually "LEARN" how to fish, wich would be great cause half of them would probably give up and then there would be a lot more room on the river for guys who like to trick fish to bite instead of snag.
Amen brother....liketofish, you gotta give your head a shake if you really think bar fishing does more damage to sockeye than bbing does. Its people like you who are ruining it for everyone, we need people with a brain and some ethics to teach the next generation the right way to do things.
Edit to say, I am willing to bet more sockeye die each day from being dragged onto the rocks and bonked by flossers calling it a chinook than all the ones caught on a bar rod all season.
-
http://www.theprogress.com/news/219858711.html
-
Catch and release gets out vote! Or at Max 1 fish per day - who needs 4 a day this is just greed.
-
I see flossers willing to get a fine for trespassing on private land ,seen em parking right in front of a no parking sign, blocking peoples drive ways and for what ? To snag a fish for the freezer? It would be a lot cheaper to go save - on don't you think? Its all they know or care about at this point seems its up to DFO to put an end too it !
-
If this whole closure is because of bottom bouncing maybe someone can explain why they closed the tidal portion of the river too .Pretty sure you cant bottom bounce in the mud . >:(
-
I was on the Fraser a few days ago and could not believe how warm the water was. One guy was fishing next to me in his shorts and I envied him as I was getting hot in my waders. I think DFO had no choice but to shut the river down as catch and released sockeyes would have tough time recovering in the warm water let alone get to their spawning grounds.
-
If this whole closure is because of bottom bouncing maybe someone can explain why they closed the tidal portion of the river too .Pretty sure you cant bottom bounce in the mud . >:(
Also closed FN. Perhaps while drift netting, they were also throwing out a bouncing betty.
-
It's going to be exciting tomorrow when I go to Gill Rd. hop in the boat to go look for my lost per scription glasses I lost a couple weeks ago in about a foot of water .We will see if the DFO swat team will be chasing me :o .As stated in a previous post , people need to be more educated on what selected methods means . As for this closure , I think it was only a matter of time before they closed it down . Might as well take the fly rod and try for trout 8) .
-
I hate that the river was closed -ish , I hate the reason that DFO have to do so ..far more! Folks I have a feeling that we'd better get use to the idea of closures, because whether we admit it or not, those stocks are in trouble.
low return, warmer than ideal water temps, does not bode well for the return cycles in the next 2-3-4 years.
edit: eijit spellin!
-
I hate that the river was closed -ish , I hate the reason that DFO have to do so ..far more! Folks I have a feeling that we'd better get use to the idea of closures, because whether we admit it or not, those stocks are in trouble.
low return, warmer than ideal water temps, does not bode well for the return cycles in the next 2-3-4 years.
edit: eijit spellin!
It sucks really bad but if it gives you any hope, the closures are coming years ahead of what WA did. The runs do recover if they are able to shut it down completely and some of them in WA are starting to come back. Some of the rivers there had only a couple pairs of spawners before they got shut down and they are just now getting up to a spot where they are opening them for some retention.
-
It's going to be exciting tomorrow when I go to Gill Rd. hop in the boat to go look for my lost per scription glasses I lost a couple weeks ago in about a foot of water .We will see if the DFO swat team will be chasing me :o .As stated in a previous post , people need to be more educated on what selected methods means . As for this closure , I think it was only a matter of time before they closed it down . Might as well take the fly rod and try for trout 8) .
Sent ya an email.
-
http://www.theprogress.com/news/219858711.html
.
Please note, this story has now been updated as of today.
Chilliwack Progress says,"This is a modified version of the original story in which some factual errors were corrected, including the location of the fishing guide during the interview, which was on the Fraser RIver, and not the Hope River."
-
OK, I have to lay out my 2-cents. I am amazed at the hatred towards flossers, I myself am a flosser..... since 1999 .....here come the insults. How on earth can your eyes be so open to flossers as the problem of the demise of the runs on the Fraser? yet, closed to the Natives nets in the rivers? It makes no sense to me. You have no way to argue with a newbie or old-school flosser when the nets are lodged in every corner. Then Dfo opens the fishery to drift net fishing. The end of the Fraser river is near and if you do not unite you have lost the battle already. The problem is the nets and the poaching that takes place by FN's. Have any of you camped on the river before.
One time in the 8-times I have camped overnight did I not here the Natives running through the night raping the river banks. Is that legal?
Also, I was out shrimping this last May and launching out of the Lummi Ferry landing in Washington ( I am American ). I started a conversation with a old-timer Lummi Native...he commented on my sled, and I said ya I use it on the salt but its home is on the Fraser....he then says oh ya I have relatives on the Fraser fishing right now, they are getting good numbers and they are only getting a few bucks a pound for their fish, then he says I am trying to get them to bring the springs down here so they can get more money for their fish.
I did not realize it till a month ago,but the FN's have never had a subsistence fishery yet this year. Check it out.
So, the problem is not 100% the recreational guys regardless of method. It is the nets, pollution, poaching, fish farms, climate, and habitat destruction etc.
The cure is going to have to cross the border folk's. We need to unite. Not get into a pissing match about being holier than thou.
-
This is why it is going to be tough to win the bottom bouncing argument.
First Nations 92,000 sockeye to date, kept from their spawning beds
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/firstnations/PDFs/SockeyeKeptCatch.pdf
And the link showing no economic opportunity yet
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/firstnations/PDFs/EconomicOpportunityOpeningTimes_Previous.pdf
Even if 200 sockeye were caught per day and died to poaching or a BBQ, or stressed out by sportsman (flosser) since the Fraser opened in July that would be a whopping 4,000 fish compared to the 92,000 reported FN fish. How many fish were damaged or slipped out of the net dead to get that 92,000?
-
Salmonhunter 71
I agree with you 100%.
It's hard to believe that recreational fishermen whether bottom bouncing or bar fishing with a single barbless hook can be the cause of the collapse of the Fraser fishery, especially since the decline only really started in the mid 2000's when coincidentally so did the beach seining by the natives in the Bailiwick area. Also note that the pink stocks are as strong as ever. IMO because they are netted neither for their meat nor eggs to any extent.
-
Sorry, so much for spellcheck. Correct Balliwick area to read the Chilliwack area
-
For me its not so much the fact that you guys are snagging to many, the nets will ALWAYS be the number 1 problem. You flossers are just looking for more excuses to not be hated lol all of the flossing haters understand the nets make more impact. The problem we all have is that you guys seem to use that as an excuse to continue snagging these fish. It may not make that big of an impact but it sure as heck still DOES cause a negative impact on the fish-Not to mention one hell of a mess. Have some ethics, until then you all just contribute to the problem. You are SNAGGING fish. In my books you are no better then the people running nets.
-
For me its not so much the fact that you guys are snagging to many, the nets will ALWAYS be the number 1 problem. You flossers are just looking for more excuses to not be hated lol all of the flossing haters understand the nets make more impact. The problem we all have is that you guys seem to use that as an excuse to continue snagging these fish. It may not make that big of an impact but it sure as heck still DOES cause a negative impact on the fish-Not to mention one hell of a mess. Have some ethics, until then you all just contribute to the problem. You are SNAGGING fish. In my books you are no better then the people running nets.
So who cares about your book? You are a biased hater and spreading nothing but hateful image of others who are fishing a legal method allowed by DFO. Don't blame me for the sockeye problem. I only went out once and didn't catch anything, and saw less than 10 sockeye hooked in the entire bar for 7 hours. If the study shows less than 1% of mortality, it is 1/10 of a sockeye dead for the day of all bbers on the far. Be real, FN took 92,000 and as the other poster says, who know how many are not reported and how many just slipped out of the net strangulated half dead and never made it to spawning ground. If you care about sockeye so much for sockeye sake (not for holier than thou sake), then go walk the Fraser and report any poaching. You will do much better for the fish than blowing empty hatred here. Some of you haters are here day in and day out as a computer fishermen speculating what is happening out there. Go out and breathe some fresh air and report any violation than wasting your time here.
-
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=33395.0