Good News Release

GOOD NEWS RELEASE – 2019 B.C. Recreational Fishing Regulations

After much anticipation, speculation, rumours & delays, the Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) Canada has finally released the sport fishing regulations for this summer. The good news for our customers is that the catch limits in Rivers Inlet will remain unchanged & everything will be status quo.
 
You may have already heard rumours that there are conservation concerns regarding some Chinook/King salmon runs in BC & that there may be some adjustments to the catch limits in specific areas. Many of you may have even heard incorrectly that “salmon fishing in BC is closed”. We are reaching out to assure you that this is NOT the case.
 
For 2019 significant areas in Southern BC are becoming non-retention for Chinook salmon during certain times & specifically in areas where the key runs of concern, the Fraser River Chinook salmon migrate. However, on the Central BC coast where the Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club (RISC) is located, it will be business as usual. We will have the same generous salmon limits in place that we have had during our over 35 years of operation!
 
The 2019 possession/take-home limits are:
8 Salmon – of which up to 4 can be Chinook.
2 Halibut, 4 Lingcod. Daily limits are ½ these numbers.
 
Your fish are cleaned, processed, vacuum sealed, flash frozen & packed for travel home in an insulated airline approved fish box. There will be many BBQs with friends & family where you recount the stories of your wonderful wilderness fishing adventures in Canada with every eager & envious listener.
Before your departure from the lodge you can decide to send all or part of your catch to St. Jean’s Cannery for smoking &/or canning. The St. Jean’s bound fish boxes will be sent directly from the lodge to the smoke house/canning facility & will be shipped to you at your home a few months later.
 
And there is more good news! The DFO are predicting the BEST returns in over 20 years for many BC salmon runs. We are so excited to be living in this time where conservation & environmental concerns are a priority. As a result of less commercial fishing pressure, better stewardship of our oceans, rivers & watersheds, we are seeing some of the strongest returns & best fishing we have ever had in our 35 + year history of our lodge!