As of Sep 21, 2026, no active Fishery Notice overrides beyond salmon in this zone.
The current rule for salmon in this zone is merged from DFO's baseline regulations and any active Fishery Notice. Halibut, rockfish, lingcod, and crab below show the baseline regulation, plus any notice that names them.
Where this area sits on the coast, and its subareas. Pick a species to colour the map by its current status -- open, closed, or non-retention -- across the area, and by subarea where the rules break it down.
Chinook salmon is open in 18-1 to 18-7 and 18-9 to 18-11 (daily limit 2, minimum size 62cm, barbless hook and line required); catch-and-release only (non-retention) in 18-8. A recent Fishery Notice (FN0800-RECREATIONAL, issued July 30, 2026 at 1104) may change this in-season -- check it before you fish.
From a Fishery Notice, effective July 30, 2026 at 1104 · view source
Pink salmon is open in 18 (daily limit 4, minimum size 30cm, barbless hook and line required). A recent Fishery Notice (FN0723-RECREATIONAL, issued July 15, 2026 at 1534) may change this in-season -- check it before you fish.
From a Fishery Notice, effective July 15, 2026 at 1534 · view source
Chum salmon is open in 18 (daily limit 2, minimum size 30cm, barbless hook and line required). A recent Fishery Notice (FN0723-RECREATIONAL, issued July 15, 2026 at 1534) may change this in-season -- check it before you fish.
From a Fishery Notice, effective July 15, 2026 at 1534 · view source
Coho salmon is open in 18 (daily limit 2 Combined Total, minimum size 30cm, barbless hook and line required). A recent Fishery Notice (FN0723-RECREATIONAL, issued July 15, 2026 at 1534) may change this in-season -- check it before you fish.
From a Fishery Notice, effective July 15, 2026 at 1534 · view source
Sockeye salmon is catch-and-release only (non-retention) in 18. A recent Fishery Notice (FN0723-RECREATIONAL, issued July 15, 2026 at 1534) may change this in-season -- check it before you fish.
From a Fishery Notice, effective July 15, 2026 at 1534 · view source
Every species scraped for this zone, with its baseline rule and source. Salmon above already reflects any active Fishery Notice; everything here is the standing baseline.
| Species | Subarea | Min size | Gear | Daily limit | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook salmon | 18-1 to 18-7 and 18-9 to 18-11 | 62cm | barbless hook and line | 2 | Open | Sep 21, 2026 · view source |
| Chinook salmon | 18-8 | 62cm | barbless hook and line | 0 | Non Retention | Sep 21, 2026 · view source |
| Chum salmon | 18 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 2 | Open | Sep 21, 2026 · view source |
| Coho salmon | 18 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 2 Combined Total * Consisting of no more than: 2 - Hatchery - marked 0 - Wild - unmarked | Open | Sep 21, 2026 · view source |
| Pink salmon | 18 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 4 | Open | Sep 21, 2026 · view source |
| Sockeye salmon | 18 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 0 | Non Retention | Sep 21, 2026 · view source |
| Species | Where | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | Pender Island Vessel Restricted Zone | Closed | No vessels or fishing (with some exceptions) in the Vessel Restricted Zones located in a portion of Subarea 18-4 and in portions of 18-5 and 18-11. Human-powered vessels (kayaks, canoes, etc.) may use a 20 m transit corridor along the shoreline. |
| General | Saturna Island Vessel Restricted Zone | Closed | No vessels or fishing (with some exceptions) in the Vessel Restricted Zones located in a portion of Subarea 18-4 and in portions of 18-5 and 18-11. Human-powered vessels (kayaks, canoes, etc.) may use a 20 m transit corridor along the shoreline. |
| General | Outer Cowichan Bay | Closed | any gear or method (Aug 1 to Oct 15) |
| General | Cowichan Bay | Closed | any gear or method (Aug 1 to Oct 31) |
| General | Outer Cowichan Bay | Closed | any gear or method (Aug 1 to Oct 15) |
FN0800-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Chinook - Subareas 18-6, 18-7, 18-10 and 19-7 to 19-12 - Chinook Management Measures - Effective August 1, 2026
FN0723-RECREATIONAL Salmon - All salmon - Areas 1 to 29, 101 to 111, 121, 123 to 127, 130 and 142 - Coastwide tidal water gear requirements - Effective September 1, 2026
FN0675-Recreational - Salmon - Chinook Management Measures - Southeast Vancouver Island - Areas 18, 19, 20, and Subareas 29-3 to 29-5 and 29-8 - effective August 1, 2026; and Subareas 20-1, 20-2, effective July 15, 2026
We check the government sources every hour. When a rule changes or a Fishery Notice lands for Area 18, 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.