Vancouver Island · DFO freshwater salmonRiver salmonDFO, federal, fresh water
Qualicum River
DFO's current salmon fishing rules for Qualicum River: species, season dates, and daily limits. Rules can change without notice, check current Fishery Notices.
You need a licence before you fishThe licence you need depends on the water, not the fish. In non-tidal fresh water (rivers and lakes above the tidal boundary), salmon go on the BC freshwater fishing licence (Province of BC) plus a Salmon Conservation Stamp. The BC Tidal Waters licence (DFO) is only for tidal waters. The rules on this page are DFO's either way.
All open portions of the Qualicum River
Colonial River - see Cayeghle River
Species
Dates
Limits / Gear
All
Apr 1 to Mar 31
Hook restriction, single barbless hook less than 15mm from point to shank
downstream of the upper weir (located approximately 125 m downstream of the E&N railway bridge) to the QFN boundary fence located approximately 100 m downstream of the hatchery counting fence
Colonial River - see Cayeghle River
Species
Dates
Limits / Gear
All
Aug 15 to Oct 15
No fishing for salmon
those waters upstream of the Big Qualicum Hatchery upper weir (located approximately 125 m downstream of the E&N railway bridge).
waters below the QFN boundary fence, downstream to the Hwy 19A bridge
Colonial River - see Cayeghle River
Species
Dates
Limits / Gear
All
Apr 1 to Mar 31
No fishing for salmon
This is a plain-language summary, not the regulation itself. Always confirm at the source link before you fish. Rules can change without notice, and daily/possession limits for all species of Pacific salmon combined also apply on top of any individual species limit shown here.
Get told when this changes
We check DFO every hour. When the rules for Qualicum River change, or a Fishery Notice names it or closes Region 1, you get one email.
We email to confirm before anything else, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Alerts point at the live page; they are never the rule themselves.
Rules change in-season and we'd rather hear it from you than have someone fish on bad information. Tell us what looks off and we'll check it against the source.