Salmon runs, limits and closures for Cowichan Bay · DFO Area 18
Cowichan Bay sits in DFO Pacific Area 18 on the Strait of Georgia 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 Cowichan Bay forecast.
The bay is closely tied to returns to the Cowichan River system, and autumn is the significant season as fish stage off the estuary before moving upriver. Chinook and coho are the species of interest, with chum also returning to the system in the late season. Regulations around river-mouth areas are frequently specific and change in-season.
chinook 2 per day in 18-1 to 18-7 and 18-9 to 18-11, non retention in 18-8; chum 2 per day; coho 2 per day; pink 4 per day; sockeye non retention.
Five salmon closure areas are in effect today, including Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) Recreational Salmon Fishing Closure, Cowichan Bay and Outer Cowichan Bay and others. A closure overrides the area-wide limit where they overlap.
See the full Area 18 regulations for the complete limits tables and subarea boundaries. Openings change in-season - always confirm on DFO before fishing.
The full Cowichan Bay 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.