Dfo...west Coast Tidal Fishing Regulation Question

[Guest Sundancefisher]

If I catch my possession limit at Tofino while salmon fishing (salmon, halibut, ling, snapper etc). and then ship my fish home to Calgary. I then go out fishing again...can I catch a new possession limit since my fish are not with me any longer but back in Calgary?

[canadensis]

My guess is no. They are still in your possession at your home?

[Lundvike]

Umm... NO!

[Guest Sundancefisher]

Umm... NO!

 

Nobody is guessing yes?

[fishpro]

If I remember correctly you can because there is no limit on how many fish you can have stored at home. The possession limits only apply to what you have with you away from home. Unless they're Chinook Salmon, which have an annual limit which you can't go over.

[LynnF]

The answer, as explained by our guide in the Charlottes this year is:

 

You must go home and come back, not just your fish. You have to physically leave the fishing place and then come back.

[Guest Sundancefisher]

Here is the response I got back from DFO on this question...

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The daily possession limit applies to a person who is away from their ordinary residence. That person is permitted to retain their allowable possession limit, and then ship their catch to their ordinary residence. Once the catch has arrived at that person's ordinary residence, they may then start their possession limit over again. If the fish is at that person’s ordinary residence it is not part of their possession limit, with the exception of Chinook salmon which has an annual limit.

 

“Fish caught by an angler that is being prepared, cooked, or consumed away from the angler’s ordinary residence is considered as part of the fisher’s possession limit”(2009-2011 British Columbia Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guide).

 

John Currie

Fishery Officer

Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans

PO Box 99, 1590 Old Beach Rd.

Masset, BC, V0T 1M0

Office:(250)626-3316

Fax:(250)626-3253

john.currie@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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Therefore you don't actually have to go home with the fish...just ship it back.

 

I can see conservation issues with this...but it is the rule.

 

I did not realize this until today.

[canadensis]

And they wonder why there is a crisis with wild salmon stocks.......

[Lundvike]

Well thats a surprise. Either your gonna be there for a while or that is one heck of a courier you got. Sorry your intial post reminded me of the visitors who would catch their daily limit go back to their cabin and then go out and catch their limit again. Enjoy Tofino, beware the swine flu