Salmon runs, limits and closures for Barkley Sound · DFO Area 23
Barkley Sound sits in DFO Pacific Area 23 on the West Coast VI coast. This page covers when salmon run here and the recreational salmon limits and closures in effect. For live wind, waves, tides and an hourly fishing score, see the Barkley Sound forecast.
Chinook and coho are the main summer and autumn species, with fish staging off the entrance before moving inland. The Somass system at the head of Alberni Inlet draws a substantial summer sockeye return, which is the defining seasonal event for the inlet. Halibut are taken on the offshore banks.
chinook 2 per day; chum non retention in 23, 2 per day in 123; coho 4 per day in 23-1 to 23-3, 2 per day in 23-4 to 23-11, 2 per day in 123; pink non retention in 23, 4 per day in 123; sockeye 4 per day in 23, non retention in 123.
Six salmon closure areas are in effect today, including Nahmint Bay, Numukamis Bay and Paper Mill Dam Pool Closure and others. A closure overrides the area-wide limit where they overlap.
See the full Area 23 regulations for the complete limits tables and subarea boundaries. Openings change in-season - always confirm on DFO before fishing.
The full Barkley Sound guide covers the setting, hazards and how the water behaves, with the live forecast and fishing score. See which areas are calmest tomorrow or this weekend, or browse fishing by species and all BC locations.