Here's the most recent info I have from DFO about Canadian halibut fishing. If you're going to fish Areas 121, 23, and 123 you have to purchase your license in Canada. I don't know if they allow for a gift license purchase. Check with on of the contacts listed below.
Subject: FN0310-RECREATIONAL - Fin Fish (Other than Salmon) - Halibut: Management Measures in Effect Starting April 1, 2019
For 2019, the recreational fishery allocation is 890,013 pounds.
The following measures will be in effect as noted below.
Coast-wide:
Open time:
Effective at 00:01 hours April 1, 2019 fishing for halibut will be opened coast-wide until further notice.
Licensing:
The 2019/2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences and Conditions of Licence, are in effect starting 00:01 hours April 1, 2019.
Limits and sizes:
Effective April 1, 2019 until further notice:
- The maximum length for halibut is 126 cm (head-on).
- The daily limit for halibut is one (1).
- The possession limit for halibut is either of:
---- one (1) halibut measuring 90 cm to 126 cm in length (head-on), OR
---- two (2) halibut, each measuring under 90 cm in length (head-on).
- The annual limit is six (6) halibut per licence holder, as set out on the 2019/2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence.
- All halibut retained by the licence holder shall be immediately recorded in ink on the 2019/2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. The area from which each halibut is caught and its head-on length shall immediately be recorded on the licence.
The exceptions to these openings are:
Areas 121:
No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in Area 121 outside the 12 nautical mile limit seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.000 minutes and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes W and continues south easterly at a bearing of 116 degrees True to a point at 48 degrees 28.327 minutes and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes W.
Area 121:
Closed to all finfish, year round in the waters of Swiftsure Bank, inside a line from 48 degrees 34.00 minutes N and 125 degrees 06.00 minutes W, thence to 48 degrees 34.00 minutes N and 124 degrees 54.20 minutes W, thence to 48 degrees 29.62 minutes N and 124 degrees 43.40 minutes W, thence following the International Boundary between Canada and the U.S. to 48 degrees 29.55 minutes
N and 124 degrees 56.20 minutes W, thence in a straight line to the point of commencement.
Variation Orders 2019-RCT-201 (Close Time) and 2019-RFQ-202 (Quota)
Non-residents of Canada wishing to fish for and retain halibut in Management Areas 121, 23 and 123 must purchase an electronic licence through a Canadian Independent Access Provider (IAP). Find an IAP location from our web page:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/iap-fai-eng.htmlNote: Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) and Glass Sponge Reef (GSR) closures remain in effect - refer to the following web pages for descriptions:
1)RCAs-
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/restricted-restreint-eng.html#rca2)GSRs-
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/restricted-restreint-eng.html#sponge
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contacts: Brad Beaith (South Coast) – (250)756-7190, Darren Chow (North Coast) – (250)627-3441, Jason Knight (250) 850-9370.
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