Plan to have a fishing trip in BC? Here’s some things that you need to know!
Keyword: fishing license BC, fishing regulations, recreational fishing BC
People travel all over the world to go fishing in British Columbia. It’s known for its beautiful landscapes with rocky mountains in the backdrop almost wherever you go. The gorgeous climate and outdoor living that people from all over Canada enjoy so much they move here to retire for their golden years. Young people come here to get lost in the breathtaking scenery away from their busy working life in cities elsewhere to get recharged and revitalized with our natural way of living and abundance of amazing fresh seafood and outdoor activities that will make memories that will last a lifetime.
To go fishing in British Columbia, anyone who wants to fish must have a fishing licence. There are two types of fishing licenses, one is for fishing in freshwater and the other is for fishing in the ocean. We will now go over both respectively.
The B.C. recreational freshwater fishing licence is for fishing in freshwater. Depending on how frequently you go fishing, you can get a license for a single day or a whole year. You can either buy your license online
or get it from a Licence Vendor
The annual fishing Licence costs vary depending on if you live in Canada or not, here’s is how much you are expected to spent for your licence
Resident (Currently $36)
Non-Residents ($55)
Non- resident Aliens ($80)
Annual licence for Residents with Disabilities ($1)
Annual licence for Residents 65 years of age or older ($5).
One day fishing Licence
Non-Resident alien ($20)
Non-Resident ($20)
Resident ($10)
Eight day Fishing Licence
Non-Resident alien ($50)
Non-Resident ($36)
Resident ($20)
A tidal waters fishing licence is what you will need for fishing in saltwater. I would suggest you buy/apply for it online as there are a lot of fishing locations but a lot of them do not have someone you can buy a licence from. So, if you do not wish to purchase online make sure you look here to find out where to buy in person
You can Apply for purchase online
Here’s the price for Licence fees for tidal waters fishing licence (saltwater licence)
Juvenile Licence (under 16 years old) Free
1 day resident: $5.48, non resident $7.29
3 day resident: $11.47, non-resident $19.81
5 day resident: $16.68, non-resident $32.31
yearly licence for (16-64 years of age) $21.89 for a resident and $105.28 for a non- resident
yearly license for someone 65 years of age and older is $11.47 for resident and $105.28 for a non resident.
Those are the fees for the year 2021/2022. You can also check to see if these prices have changed in the future
There are many places to go fishing on the island. If you’re Going to fish in the ocean, I recommend just getting a chartered fishing trip but if you want to go freshwater fishing, I would Check out gofishbc.com and use their map and stocking reports to find out where to fish.
Fishing is a great thing to do, fun thing to do and it can be very relaxing too. It can also not be fun so I have a few pointers if you are thinking about going fishing that will help make the experience a pleasant one.
- Be prepared to get wet, I always bring an extra pair of socks and shoes with a towel in case I slip into the water or some water drips onto my shoes when fishing. This makes the ride home more enjoyable, and I can’t imagine anyone liking that wet sock feeling.
- Bring someone who isn’t much of a complainer. We all can complain sometimes but fishing requires patience, good conversation and a little bit of toughness. You may have to get some worm guts on your hand while baiting the hook or you may get your foot wet. The boat might sway from side to side a bit because well… it’s a boat and not everyone can mentally handle these small inconveniences as well as others can. Sometimes a bit of disclaimer of these things can go a long way with these types of people and can save you a bit of a headache.
- Bring someone you can talk for hours with easily. Nothing is worse than having to be on a boat alone with someone who just stares at their phone and you’re left baiting all the hooks wishing you brought your other friend who can talk and joke around more.
- Bring food, and lots of snacks. Sometimes things can get a bit boring and when you’re out fishing the best way to not be bored is to just eat, drink and talk and smoke or vape if you’re into that… I would advise you not to drink alcohol on the boat though. Nothing is worse than watching your dad drown to death on a fishing trip. It has happened before, trust me.
- Be quiet…. Seriously! Fish can hear you and the best times to fish are early morning when everything is quiet so whisper and try not to make a lot of noise and be gentle putting that canoe in etc.. Other fishermen might give you dirty looks otherwise. Sound travels very easily and far on the water. Also, fish have eyes too so don’t be waving your arms outside the boat because fish under the water will think you are a predator which you are to them.
- If someone isn’t very forthcoming about where they fish, then don’t push… Some fishermen will not tell you their best fishing spots to strangers and if someone is taking you fishing look at them and get them to answer questions from strangers pertaining as to where you went fishing that day, type of bait you used etc. You don’t want to give away your friends fishing secrets unknowingly. So, no need to act surprised if someone plays dumb etc. Fishermen know this and they will approach the less experienced out of the two fishermen sometimes to ask questions and sometimes trick you to try and get this information by engaging in polite conversation. Karen’s who fish will act insulted and entitled when you don’t give this information but relax. It’s just part of fishing and makes for a good laugh.
If you’re traveling you may not have a fishing guide. Some people cannot afford one and many do not want to fish alone and risk spending a day on the ocean with no Seafood to show for it. I know this might come off a bit biased, but it does have some truth to it. A lot of people traveling just want to see the sights and explore and buy the food when they are done with their adventures. If you are one of them, our market has some amazing seafood that will tantalize your senses.