Vancouver Island · DFO freshwater salmonRiver salmonDFO, federal, fresh water

Somass River

DFO's current salmon fishing rules for Somass 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.

Colonial River - see Cayeghle River

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
AllJune 1 to Aug 24Bait ban

Except in those areas and times listed below

Colonial River - see Cayeghle River

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
ChinookAug 25 to Dec 312 per day, 1 of which may be more than 77cm in length.
CohoAug 25 to Sep 182 per day, hatchery marked only FN0504
CohoSep 19 to Dec 312 per day, 1 of which can be unmarked FN1013

from the northern boundary of Somass Park (off Service Road) downstream to the southern boundary of Somass Park. Square boundary signs may be present to delineate these boundaries.

Colonial River - see Cayeghle River

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
SockeyeMay 1 to July 231 per day, from 05:00 h until 22:00 h only FN0435

from the tidal boundary signs at the top of the rapids at Paper Mill Dam upstream approximately 0.5km to the northeast corner of Collins Farm. Square boundary signs may be present to delineate the upstream boundary.

Colonial River - see Cayeghle River

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
AllAug 25 to Nov 15Finfish closure
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 Somass 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.

See something wrong?

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.