Tofino / Ucluelet Fishing Report:
2008 B.C. Coast Halibut Sport Fishing Regulations Change
March 2008
Many of you regular visitors to our site, and those that are near to the B.C. Coastal Fisheries are aware that Halibut Fishing opportunities
have been a topic of discussion.
A very important factor to understand while one learns about the changes to B.C. recreational Halibut fishing catch limits, is that there
is not a shortage of Pacific Halibut that is causing the decreased catch and possesion. It is due to a current shift in the healthy biomass
of Pacific Halibut, and an allocation of 12 % of the total B.C. catch of Halibut for recreational anglers in B.C.
With recent growth in the B.C. recreational Halibut fishing, this Allocation policy administered by the Canadian Government has forced a "cap" of
12% catch to stay within.
Halibut Numbers are strong and Fishing for Halibut is still Good.
After many meetings and some consultation with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the following regulations now outline recreational
Halibut fishing for coastal B.C.
When reading any fisheries order or regulations, remember that the Tofino B.C. area is Area 24.
More on Chinook and Coho Salmon, following upcoming meetings over the next 3 weeks.
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0077-Halibut: All Tidal Waters - Further to FN0044 - Changes to the Recreational Fishery
Further to Fishery Notice FN0044:
In order to manage within domestic halibut allocations, the following changes
will be implemented in the 2008 recreational fishery:
Coastwide
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March 1 to 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 3.
April 1 to May 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 2.
June 1 to Dec 31: Daily limit of two. Possession limit of 2.
Areas 121, 23 and 123
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April 1 to Dec 31:
• No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in that
portion of Area 121 seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.000 minutes
north latitude and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes west longitude and continues
southeasterly at a bearing of 116 degrees true to a point at 48 degrees 28.327
minutes north latitude and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes west longitude. [12
nautical mile limit]
April 1/08 to March 31/09:
• Electronic licence conditions will be expanded as follows:
"no person who is not a Canadian resident may fish for or retain halibut under
this licence in Areas 121, 23 and 123."
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