WLFN Fisheries Report: August 16, 2023
Currently, all WLFN fishing spots on the Fraser and Chilcotin rivers are closed (between Deadman and Hixon) and will remain closed indefinitely.
Sockeye fishing within WLFN Stewardship lands will remain closed until the population of Summer Sockeye reaches 1,166,980 (presently 247,300).
Chinook fishing within WLFN Stewardship lands will remain closed for the entire 2023 season to allow as many of these fish to reach the spawning grounds as possible. The only Chinook salmon that migrate through WLFN Stewardship lands are the endangered Spring and Summer 5(2) runs.
On a positive note, Pink salmon are arriving in adequate numbers. WLFN anticipates fisheries for Pink salmon may be open soon. If this is the case, it will be essential that great care is taken when fishing for Pink salmon. The present conditions are extremely challenging for Sockeye and Chinook salmon, so their protection is critical. Water temperatures are extremely high, and discharge levels are extremely low. This combination puts an enormous amount of stress on the fish, and drastically reduces the number of successful spawns.
CLOSURES
All WLFN fishing spots on the Fraser and Chilcotin rivers are closed, and will remain closed until further notice. This includes: Deadman-Chilcotin, Chilcotin-Quesnel and Quesnel-Hixon.
POPULATIONS
| SQLELTEN7ÚWI • SOCKEYE | KEKÉSU7 • CHINOOK | S.HENI7 • PINK | |||
| EARLY STUART | EARLY SUMMER | SUMMER (INCLUDING CHILKO) | |||
POPULATION | 41,100 (AUG.15, 2023, MISSION BC) | 272,400 (AUG. 15, 2023, MISSION BC) | 247,300 (AUG. 15, 2023, MISSION BC) | ― (SPAWNS LATER IN SEASON) | 16,200 (AUG. 15, 2023, MISSION BC) |
| FORECASTED POPULATION | 23,000 | 186,000 | 1,167,000 | 49,400 | 6,135,000 |
WATER CONDITIONS
| TEMPERATURE (AVERAGE HISTORICAL TEMP.) | DISCHARGE (AVERAGE HISTORICAL DISCHARGE) | |
MARGUERITE | 18.5°C (18.4°C; +0.1°C) | 1,280m3/s (~1,750m3/s) |
QUESNEL RIVER | 18.7°C (17.1°C, +1.1°C) | 180m3/s (~300m3/s) |
BIG BAR | ― | 1,460m3/s (~2,120m3/s) |
IF YOU CATCH A TAGGED FISH
Researchers with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in partnership with First Nations and the Province of BC, are tagging Chinook, Sockeye, and Coho salmon with radio tracking transmitters. The numbers printed on the radio tracking transmitters uniquely identify individual salmon and will be used to evaluate adult salmon migration success associated with the Big Bar landslide.
Please report the tag numbers along with the date and location of capture or recovery to [email protected] or turn the tags in with the above information through your local catch monitoring program.