Catch and release

Fish that must be released, province-wide and by region.
These are summaries of the synopsis. The synopsis and BC’s in-season changes are the law: check both before you fish.
Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis 2025–2027 · effective 1 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2027
Read the synopsis ↗Check BC’s in-season changes ↗

Region 1: Vancouver Island

Catch and release
Release all wild steelhead.
Synopsis page 15 ↗
Catch and release
Release all wild trout caught in streams.
Synopsis page 15 ↗
Catch and release
Release all char, including Dolly Varden.
Synopsis page 15 ↗
Catch and release
Region-wide (excluding Haida Gwaii): release all wild origin trout in streams. Only hatchery origin trout (healed scar in place of the adipose fin) may be kept from streams. This does not apply to lakes.
Synopsis page 15 ↗

Region 2: Lower Mainland

Catch and release
It is illegal to fish for, or to catch and then keep, protected species.
Not yet checked by a person: confirm it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 23 ↗
Catch and release
Wild trout/char from streams must be released.
Synopsis page 23 ↗
Catch and release
All wild steelhead must be released.
Synopsis page 23 ↗
Catch and release
Hatchery trout/char under 30 cm from streams must be released.
Synopsis page 23 ↗
Catch and release
White sturgeon: catch and release only.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 23 ↗

Region 3: Thompson-Nicola

Catch and release
Release all steelhead.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 30 ↗
Catch and release
Release bull trout (Dolly Varden) from streams, 1 August to 31 October.
Synopsis page 30 ↗
Catch and release
Release lake trout, 15 October to 31 January.
Synopsis page 30 ↗

Region 4: Kootenay

Catch and release
Trout/char catch and release in streams from 1 November to 31 March.
Synopsis page 36 ↗

Region 5: Cariboo

Catch and release
Release all steelhead.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 48 ↗
Catch and release
Release lake trout, 1 October to 30 November.
Synopsis page 48 ↗
Catch and release
Release bull trout (Dolly Varden) caught in streams, 1 August to 31 October.
Synopsis page 48 ↗
Prohibited
White sturgeon: closed to all fishing in the Fraser River Watershed upstream of Williams Lake River.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 48 ↗
Catch and release
White sturgeon: catch and release only in the Fraser River Watershed downstream of and including Williams Lake River.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 48 ↗
Prohibited
White sturgeon: closed to all fishing in the Fraser River downstream of and including Williams Lake River, 15 September to 15 July.
Synopsis page 48 ↗

Region 6: Skeena

Catch and release
Any game fish you catch, other than burbot, must be released.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 55 ↗
Catch and release
Release all Dolly Varden/bull trout from streams, all year.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 55 ↗
Catch and release
Release trout under 30 cm from any stream.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 55 ↗
Catch and release
Release trout of any size from streams, 1 November to 30 June.
Synopsis page 55 ↗
Catch and release
Release lake trout from Fraser and Skeena watersheds, 15 September to 30 November.
Synopsis page 55 ↗
Catch and release
Release all wild steelhead.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 55 ↗

Region 7A: Omineca

Catch and release
Any game fish caught other than burbot must be released.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 64 ↗
Catch and release
Bull trout (Dolly Varden) must be released from streams, all year.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 64 ↗
Catch and release
Bull trout (Dolly Varden): release from streams, all year.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 64 ↗
Catch and release
Bull trout (Dolly Varden): release from lakes, 15 August to 15 October.
Synopsis page 64 ↗
Catch and release
Lake trout of any size must be released, 15 September to 31 October.
Synopsis page 64 ↗
Catch and release
Lake trout under 30 cm must be released, all year.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 64 ↗
Catch and release
Arctic grayling: catch and release only.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 64 ↗
Prohibited
White Sturgeon: closed to all fishing.
Synopsis page 64 ↗
Prohibited
It is illegal to fish for, kill, harm or harass SARA-listed White Sturgeon in the Upper Fraser and Nechako Rivers.
Synopsis page 64 ↗

Region 7B: Peace

Catch and release
Rainbow trout of any size from streams must be released, 1 May to 15 June.
Synopsis page 70 ↗
Catch and release
Lake trout under 30 cm must be released.
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 70 ↗
Catch and release
Lake trout of any size must be released, 15 September to 31 October.
Synopsis page 70 ↗
Catch and release
Bull trout from the Liard River watershed must be released, 15 August to 15 October.
Synopsis page 70 ↗
Catch and release
Bull trout from the Peace River watershed must be released, all year (see tables for exceptions).
The printed line has dates this summary leaves out: read it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 70 ↗
Catch and release
All fish from streams must be released, 1 April to 15 May.
Not yet checked by a person: confirm it on the synopsis page.
Synopsis page 70 ↗

Region 8: Okanagan

Catch and release
Bull trout (Dolly Varden) from streams must be released.
Synopsis page 74 ↗
A water’s own rules are on its page, and can differ from these.
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