B.C.’s Family Fishing Weekend June 16, 17 and 18, 2017

Now’s the time to get out those family members and friends who never buy a fishing license, but often say they’d love to go fishing. The barrier to participation is as low as it can get this coming weekend. See this news release from DFO for full details.

Get together with family and friends to celebrate the great tradition of sport fishing!

During B.C.’s annual Family Fishing Weekend (June 16, 17 and 18), Canadian residents can go fishing in B.C. at no cost. We’re offering British Columbians an opportunity to fish without a licence for Father’s Day weekend (see exceptions below).

All area closures, fishing limits and restrictions apply. See the B.C. Sport Fishing Guide for details. Please learn about when and where you can fish and do your part to conserve and protect B.C. fisheries.

The B.C. Government also offers a complimentary three-day basic freshwater licence valid only for Father’s Day weekend.

The exceptions noted translate to:

  • get a complimentary salt water license for the 3 days to fish for halibut in any tidal waters, and for lingcod in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Subarea 12-14), and Subareas 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5.
  • get a complimentary salt water license for the 3 days but also pay for a salmon enhancement stamp to fish for salmon in any tidal waters.

As noted in the excerpt above, all other rules apply, so while there may be more people fishing, it’s not a free for all!