Sept 13 Mitch Culhane on the left – his first coho (~75 cm). Kent Hawley on the right.  Mitch and Kent proudly holding the Coho they landed on their drift with Corey Wakita, Pro Guide for Reliable Guide and Charters.
Congratulations Mitch and Kent!  Well done Corey.  Mitch and Kent took advantage of our 1/2 Day Driftboat Special, $300.00 for 2 clients,
Anyone wishing to Book a Driftboat Trip with Corey please contact Ron 250 632 1275 or wakita@telus.net.

Sept 15 The abnormally high return of PInks were enjoyed by many anglers through out August but has the crazy number of Pink zombies and cadavers left along the Kitimat River has attracted every bear in the valley.  This photo provided by Kody Wiebe is a common sight along the entire shoreline of the Kitimat River.   Both Black bears and Grizzlies are plentiful.    Anglers please be careful and prepared for Bear encounters…
Please practice social distancing away from the bears.  The further away from the bears is always better.

Sept 15 Kody Wiebe

Sept 19 Nickolas Kober shared these pictures of Coho he caught this past week.  Congratulation Nick on some very nice Coho!  Thank You for sharing your photos with our Fishing Report.

Summary

The Kitimat River water level has been exceptionally low all week.  Accordingly the best time for fishing Coho in the lower Kitimat was early morning and in the evenings.  Up river, Coho anglers had the best results fishing roe either below a float or bottom bouncing roe with a spin n glo.  Blue Fox Vibrax Spinners were also effective.  Coho salmon requires the widest range of fishing tackle compared to all other salmon.
Anglers should beware of bears.  There seems to be a Black or Grizzly in almost every run of the Kitimat River.  Please beware and prepared for Bear encounters.
We have some exceptionally high tides (20.0′ on Saturday afternoon) and we receive a little rain which caused a bump in river height.
We are all hoping that the high tides and higher river water level brings some fresh Coho.  We are also hoping the higher river levels flush some of the Pink carcasses down the river.

DOUGLAS CHANNEL

Sept 19 Andreas from Blue Kingfishing Adventures provided this photo of his client holding a Halibut under 90cms.  Regulations allow Recreation Anglers to keep 2 Halibut per day under 90cms.
Congratulations Everyone!  Great Job Skipper!
Anyone wishing to Book a Halibut Trip of a Lifetime with Andreas, please contact Ron 250 632 1275 or wakita@telus.net

Sept 7 John from Blue Heron Charters provided this picture of Stephen who caught 3 lingcod and 1 halibut.  Well done Stephen!  Great Job Skipper.
Anyone wishing to Book a Saltwater Trip of a Lifetime with John please contact, Ron 250 632 1275 or email wakita@telus.net

Supplements
1. Kitimat River Salmon Quotas
2. Public Notice:  Increase of Daily Quota for Halibut
3. Map of the new road to the Lower Dike
4. Nick Hopwood Poster

KITIMAT RIVER REGULATIONS

ANGLERS ARE REMINDED THAT THE BAIT BAN IS IN EFFECT ON THE KITIMAT RIVER MAY 15TH TO AUGUST 31ST.  Starting Sept 1st Bait is permitted on the Kitimat River.

KITIMAT RIVER SALMON QUOTAS

CHINOOK
Closed for Retention on the Kitimat River July 31st

COHO
FOUR per day. Only Two over 50 cms
Min. size 30cms

Closes for Retention Oct 31st

PINK
TWO per day.
Min. size 30cms. Closes for retention Aug 31st

Chum
TWO per day
Min. size 30cms. Closes for retention Aug 31st

Sockeye No retention on Kitimat River

TOTAL SALMON Per Day FOUR/DAY
With each species Daily Quota applying.

TOTAL POSSESSION: EIGHT Salmon Total with each daily species quota applying.  Possession is twice daily limit.
Fresh and Salt Water combined.

PLEASE RETURN HATCHERY HEADS TO KITIMAT HATCHERY
OR RONS FISHING TACKLE SHOP

Fishery Notice

The DFO and Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB) Halibut Committee meets monthly throughout the season to review estimated catches. At the most recent meeting, it was determined that the recreational fishery harvest to June 30, 2020 was approximately 116,276 pounds of the recreational fishery's Total Allowable Catch of 877,750 pounds. Given the current management measures in effect and catch forecasts to December 31, 2020, DFO is proceeding with a change to the daily limit of halibut measuring under 90 cm in length. This Fishery Notice supersedes FN0156 and provides updated coast-wide daily limit measures for halibut as noted below:


Open time:

Effective at 00:01 hours March 1, 2020 fishing for halibut was opened coast-wide until further notice.

Licensing:

The 2020/2021 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences and Conditions of Licence are in effect on April 1, 2020 until March 31, 2021. 

Limits and sizes:

Effective 00:01 hours August 14, 2020 until further notice:

- The maximum length for halibut is 126 cm (97 cm head-off).
- The daily and possession limit for halibut is either of:
---- one (1) halibut measuring 90 cm to 126 cm in length (69 cm to 97 cm head-off), OR
---- two (2) halibut, each measuring under 90 cm in length (69 cm head-off).
 
- The annual limit is six (6) halibut per licence holder per licence year, as set out on the 2020/21 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence.

- All halibut retained by the licence holder between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021 shall be immediately recorded in ink on the 2020/2021 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. The area from which each halibut is caught and its head-on length shall immediately be recorded on the licence.

- Head-off measurements are made from the base of the pectoral fin at its most forward point to the extreme end of the middle of the tail.

The exceptions to these openings are:

Areas 121:
No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in Area 121 outside the 12 nautical mile limit seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.000 minutes and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes W and continues south easterly at a bearing of 116 degrees True to a point at 48 degrees 28.327 minutes and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes W.

Area 121:
Closed to all finfish, year round in the waters of Swiftsure Bank, inside a line from 48 degrees 34.00 minutes N and 125 degrees 06.00 minutes W, thence to 48 degrees 34.00 minutes N and 124 degrees 54.20 minutes W, thence to 48 degrees 29.62 minutes N and 124 degrees 43.40 minutes W, thence following the International Boundary between Canada and the U.S. to 48 degrees 29.55 minutes N and 124 degrees 56.20 minutes W, thence in a straight line to the point of commencement.  

Variation Orders 2019-RCT-201 (Close Time) and 2020-RFQ-420(Quota)


Note: Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) and Glass Sponge Reef (GSR) closures remain in effect - refer to the following web pages for descriptions:

1) RCAs- http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/restricted-restreint-eng.html#rca
2) GSRs- http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/restricted-restreint-eng.html#sponge

Anglers are reminded of mandatory condition of licence for the release of rockfish; all anglers in vessels shall immediately return all rockfish that are not being retained to the water and to a similar depth from which they were caught by use of an inverted weighted barbless hook or other purpose-built descender device.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contacts: Greg Hornby (Regional Recreational Coordinator) - Greg.Hornby@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center – FN0818
Sent August 13, 2020 at 1013

In Honor of Nick Hopwood’s Legacy, Ron’s Fishing Tackle Shop will be offering our Freezer Services and Vacuum Sealer Services, Waders and Life Jacket Rentals by donation to the Kitimat River Search and Rescue.
We hope to raise funds for KSAR but more importantly raise Public Awareness of the Importance of River Safety.
The best way we can honor Nick Hopwood is to promote River Water Safety.
If you observe any anglers or boaters not wearing a wading belt or life jacket, please take a moment to share NICK’s story.