Salmon runs, limits and closures for Gabriola & Valdez Islands · DFO Area 17
Gabriola & Valdez Islands sits in DFO Pacific Area 17 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 Gabriola & Valdez Islands forecast.
Chinook move along these shores on migration and resident winter fish hold on the nearby banks and reefs. Coho appear later in the season. The islands sit on a natural migration route between the strait and the inner channels, so the fishing tends to follow the movement of fish through the passes.
chinook 2 per day in 17-1 to 17-4, 17-8, 17-10 to 17-12 and 17-21, non retention in 17-5 to 17-7, 17-9 and 17-13 to 17-20; chum 2 per day; coho 2 per day; pink 4 per day; sockeye non retention.
Three salmon closure areas are in effect today, including Chemainus River, Departure Bay Finfish Closure and Nanaimo Harbour Finfish Closure. A closure overrides the area-wide limit where they overlap.
See the full Area 17 regulations for the complete limits tables and subarea boundaries. Openings change in-season - always confirm on DFO before fishing.
The full Gabriola & Valdez Islands 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.