Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: roeman on October 06, 2025, 09:05:36 PM
-
So I hate dealing with a fish when I get home. So if I was to fillet a coho leaving it connected at the tail section showing it was a hatchery fish and it measured more than 25cms is this legal? Regs state a retained coho must measure 25cms, so if the tail is intact but no head and it measures at least 25cms with no head I should be ok. Pretty easy to identify a hatchery coho.
-
FWIW The regs do state the following:
Leave the head, tail, and all fins on your catch until you get them to your permanent (ordinary) residence.
In order to enforce quotas and size limits, our officers must be able to count, measure and identify your catch. ... Ensure your fish can be identified, counted and measured if necessary
I totally get where you're coming from and I do think it should be OK, but I guess it comes down to your comfort level as to how much you trust someone else's ability to ID a species from a partial carcass. I personally wouldnt press my luck, but you do you...
Regs state a retained coho must measure 25cms, so if the tail is intact but no head and it measures at least 25cms with no head I should be ok. Pretty easy to identify a hatchery coho.
Probably OK? but beware of the '2+2' systems where only two adults are permitted, and if there's any question as to whether something is a jack or not. If it's missing a head, it might appear mighty suspicious ...
-
The regs you quote do not apply to salmon
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/sports-recreation-arts-and-culture/outdoor-recreation/fishing-and-hunting/freshwater-fishing/transporting_and_exporting_fish.pdf
These are the appropriate regs
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/salmon-saumon-eng.html
See “Packaging and Transporting”
-
I do an annual ocean trip to the west coast , we catch lots of fish , it’s absolutely beautiful .
We go home with pieces of fillets about a pound to pound and a half with no tails or heads attached , I have no idea how the regs would work if we got pulled over .
-
done the same on similar trips though had the fish processed by a place licensed to handle sport caught fish. They label it. Kept the receipt for the ridiculous possibility of an FO wanting to inspect the catch.
-
I do an annual ocean trip to the west coast , we catch lots of fish , it’s absolutely beautiful .
We go home with pieces of fillets about a pound to pound and a half with no tails or heads attached , I have no idea how the regs would work if we got pulled over .
It will not go well if you ever get checked. Packaging needs to be labelled "fish 1 piece 1,2,3,4 and so on for each fish. So they can easily determine how many fish you have. Hatchery or wild if there are coho involved depending on the area if you can kill wild coho.
-
done the same on similar trips though had the fish processed by a place licensed to handle sport caught fish. They label it. Kept the receipt for the ridiculous possibility of an FO wanting to inspect the catch.
Like Roeman said, it wouldn't go well. When I worked at a lodge in Rivers Inlet, we would fillet the fish and leave one section with the tail attached for identification. I can't remember if the pieces were packaged together, but it was otherwise labelled, side 1 and 2 of said fish on the tag.
-
I was once checked by a CO at a parking lot on the Vedder when I was carrying 2 cleaned and beheaded hatchery coho to the car after a good day of fishing. I showed him my license and my catch.
When the CO asked why I'm not carrying the whole fish as per the regs, I argued that the lack of head does not prevent him from unequivocally identifying my catch: Clipped adipose, spots on the top tail fin only, spots on the upper part of the body = hatchery coho. He nodded his head and proceeded to ask me other questions about my day out there. We had a nice chat and then parted ways.
-
I was once checked by a CO at a parking lot on the Vedder when I was carrying 2 cleaned and beheaded hatchery coho to the car after a good day of fishing. I showed him my license and my catch.
When the CO asked why I'm not carrying the whole fish as per the regs, I argued that the lack of head does not prevent him from unequivocally identifying my catch: Clipped adipose, spots on the top tail fin only, spots on the upper part of the body = hatchery coho. He nodded his head and proceeded to ask me other questions about my day out there. We had a nice chat and then parted ways.
you can cut off the head but the length must meet the min size if there is one, or the head off min length requirements if there is one.
-
you can cut off the head but the length must meet the min size if there is one, or the head off min length requirements if there is one.
True, and something to consider if you catch a very small coho.
In my case, it was a non-issue. Both fish were good size coho, well in excess of the minimum length requirement even with their heads off.