Skeena · DFO freshwater salmonRiver salmonDFO, federal, fresh water

Skeena River

DFO's current salmon fishing rules for Skeena 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 waters within the 4 triangular fishing boundary signs located at the confluence of the Kispiox River with the Skeena River

B. Part (i): Skeena River Watershed-Waters upstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
AllApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for salmon

mainstem waters downstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

B(ii). Skeena River Watershed-Waters downstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
ChinookApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for chinook
ChumApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for chum
CohoJul 15 to Aug 314 per day, only 2 over 50 cm.
CohoSep 1 to Nov 304 per day, only 1 over 50 cm.
PinkApr 1 to Mar 312 per day
SockeyeApr 1 to July 9No fishing for sockeye
SockeyeAug 17 to Aug 272 per day FN0868
SockeyeAug 28 to Mar 31No fishing for sockeye FN0919
SockeyeJuly 10 to July 282 per day FN0679
SockeyeJuly 29 to Aug 164 per day FN0787

mainstem waters near the Kitsumkalum River mouth, from the confluence with the Zymagotitz River (also known as Zymachord River) upstream to the Classified Waters boundary at the top of Hell’s Gate.

B(ii). Skeena River Watershed-Waters downstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
AllJul 1 to Aug 31No fishing for salmon
SockeyeSep 1 to Sep 152 per day FN0679

mainstem waters near the Kitwanga River mouth, from Mill Creek upstream to the Highway 37 Bridge

B. Part (i): Skeena River Watershed-Waters upstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
AllApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for salmon

mainstem waters only

B. Part (i): Skeena River Watershed-Waters upstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
PinkJun 16 to Dec 312 per day

mainstem waters only, between Cedarvale and the CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace

B. Part (i): Skeena River Watershed-Waters upstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
ChinookApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for chinook

mainstem waters only, upstream of Cedarvale

B. Part (i): Skeena River Watershed-Waters upstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
AllJan 1 to May 31No fishing for salmon
ChinookApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for chinook

mainstem waters only, upstream of CNR bridge at Terrace, B.C. to a point above the confluence with the Babine River

B. Part (i): Skeena River Watershed-Waters upstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
SockeyeAug 17 to Aug 272 per day FN0868
SockeyeAug 28 to Mar 31No fishing for sockeye FN0919
SockeyeJuly 10 to July 282 per day FN0679
SockeyeJuly 29 to Aug 164 per day FN0787

upstream of CNR bridge at Terrace, B.C. to a point above the confluence with the Babine River, excluding the areas below

B. Part (i): Skeena River Watershed-Waters upstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
SockeyeApr 1 to Mar 31No fishing for sockeye

upstream of the CNR Bridge located at Terrace

B. Part (i): Skeena River Watershed-Waters upstream of CNR Railway Bridge at Terrace.

SpeciesDatesLimits / Gear
CohoJul 15 to Oct 154 per day, only 2 over 50 cm.
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 Skeena River change, or a Fishery Notice names it or closes Region 6, 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.

Scraped Sep 21, 2026 from DFO's Skeena freshwater salmon regulations page. All Skeena waters · Search another water · Current Fishery Notices

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.