Gordon River
Gordon River is a stream roughly 48 km long in British Columbia's Vancouver Island region, in management unit 1-3. It lies about 2 km north of the community of Port Renfrew, 19 km southwest of the town of Lake Cowichan and 45 km west of Duncan. Fishing rules include seasonal or area closures and fly-fishing-only restrictions in some areas or seasons.
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Regulations
Waterbody-specific regulationGordon RiverIncludes tributariesView details
Default regulations
Region 1 default regulationsGeneral Regulations3 rulesView details
Summer closure: No Fishing in any stream in Management Units 1-1 to 1-6 from July 15-Aug 31 (see water specific regulations table for exceptions).
Single barbless hook: must be used in all streams of Region 1, all year.
Bait ban: applies to all streams of Region 1, all year, with some important exceptions. Check the tables.
Region 1 default regulationsRegion 1 Daily Quotas (excluding Haida Gwaii)8 rulesView details
Trout: 4, but not more than
- 1 over 50 cm (2 hatchery steelhead over 50 cm allowed, see table for exceptions)
- 2 from streams (must be hatchery)
And you must release:
- All wild steelhead
- All wild trout from streams
- All char (includes Dolly Varden)
NOTE: There is no general minimum size limit for trout in lakes or hatchery origin trout in streams.
Bass: unlimited (see water specific regulations table for exceptions and mercury advisory on this page).
Crayfish: 25
Kokanee: 5 (none from streams)
White Sturgeon: catch and release only
Yellow perch: unlimited
Region 1 default regulationsPossession Quotas1 ruleView details
Possession quotas = 2 daily quotas
Region 1 default regulationsAnnual Quotas1 ruleView details
Annual catch quota for all B.C.: 10 steelhead per licence year (only hatchery steelhead may be retained in B.C.)
Region 1 default regulationsDaily & Annual Quotas for Salmon1 ruleView details
Please refer to the NOTICE on page 77 for Salmon Regulations.
Region 1 default regulationsMercury Advisory1 ruleView details
Mercury levels in larger Smallmouth Bass in lakes on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands may be above national guidelines. Mercury levels tend to increase with the size of the fish and larger Smallmouth Bass generally have higher levels of mercury. The general public, especially children and women of child bearing age, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, are recommended to limit their consumption of Smallmouth Bass. More information on mercury in fish and fish consumption can be found in the HealthLinkBC Food Safety: Mercury in Fish at https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthwise/avoiding-mercury-fish. It is advised to regularly check the online Freshwater Fishing Regulation Synopsis for more up-to-date information at www.gov.bc.ca/FishingRegulations.
Region 1 default regulationsWild Trout Release: All streams regulation1 ruleView details
Anglers note there is a region wide regulation (excluding Haida Gwaii) requiring the release of all wild origin trout in streams. This regulation allows only hatchery origin trout in streams to be harvested. In Region 1, hatchery origin trout from streams can be distinguished from wild origin trout by the presence of a healed scar in place of the adipose fin. Please note, this regulation does not apply to lakes. For more information please contact regional fisheries staff at (250) 751-7220.
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