Fishing Canadian Waters for Halibut ?

[robodad]

I plan on giving this a shot this year and just curious if any of you have any friendly advice or even tactics or locations to try ??

 I'll be using the Port Angeles area launches primarily.

I just don't want to run into any expensive lessons if I can avoid it, The season begins next month from what I read and I know there are restrictions for size and annual limits.

Anyone know where I can get a tape measure that measures in centimeters lol !! 

[Cap.Silver]

 I might have one for you  it has both cm & inch.
From what I know : no guns aboard
now this is very important : read the Safety requirements for vessels in Canada -here is link ( you should have some extra stuff in case you get checked I think )
and last not least :Wear mexican sombrero while fishing 

[h20hunter]

My understanding is that you MUST know where the boundry line is if you are only targeting US waters and like mentioned before....know the differences in regs because they will intentionally target US vessels in their waters.

[Cap.Silver]

Sorry forgot the link          http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-equipment-size-menu-690.htm

[snowpack]

know laws for what kind of guns are on board (if any).

[Mfowl]

  I could be mistaken but I thought BC changed thier rules on fishing in thier waters. I was under the belief that you must return to a Canadian port after having fished Canadian waters. Years ago we used to go on a halibit charter out of Neah Bay to the Canadian side of Swiftsure. We would spend a day crossing the border prior to our charter to get our licences then spend a long weekend at Neah Bay fishing, used to be a blast. Perhaps they changed that rule back to increase nonresident licencse sales but I haven't heard anything about it. Worth looking in to before planning any fishing trips.   

[robodad]

  I could be mistaken but I thought BC changed thier rules on fishing in thier waters. I was under the belief that you must return to a Canadian port after having fished Canadian waters. Years ago we used to go on a halibit charter out of Neah Bay to the Canadian side of Swiftsure. We would spend a day crossing the border prior to our charter to get our licences then spend a long weekend at Neah Bay fishing, used to be a blast. Perhaps they changed that rule back to increase nonresident licencse sales but I haven't heard anything about it. Worth looking in to before planning any fishing trips.   

It is set up now where you can purchase a license online and report any catch on the web as well so no need to land in a port and deal with customs as far as I know but thanks for the heads up, I will definitely look into this !!

know laws for what kind of guns are on board (if any).

No guns on board !!

I believe all the safety equipment and regulations need to conform to US rules as long as I am not in Canadian waters longer then 45 consecutive days. All my equipment is up to date and in good working order and I have all required equipment on board (I know this because I was checked twice by the WDFW and Sheriff and once by USCG during the salmon derby Presidents' day weekend) 

Wear mexican sombrero while fishing

Does it have to have 15 meters of floating heaving line attached to be legal ?? Maybe I'll email her Majesty just to be sure !! 

[Hunterman]

Best advice I can give is to call WDFG. There have been some rule changes regarding this. I think that I read one time that you have to go by the rules for the Port that you are landing in. So if you launch and land in Port Angeles, to fish Canada, and Washington water are not open at the time, even though you have a Canada license, you could get into some trouble.

I'd give the state a call just to be on the safe side.

Hunterman(Tony)

[robodad]

Best advice I can give is to call WDFG. There have been some rule changes regarding this. I think that I read one time that you have to go by the rules for the Port that you are landing in. So if you launch and land in Port Angeles, to fish Canada, and Washington water are not open at the time, even though you have a Canada license, you could get into some trouble.

I'd give the state a call just to be on the safe side.

Hunterman(Tony)

I think the rule reads that if I catch fish on a Canadian license and the season is closed in US waters I cannot stop to fish in US waters, in fact if I have a Canadian caught limit of fish on board I cannot stop to fish US waters for a limit of the same species and I'm not so sure I could stop to fish any species for that matter !!

Something I will definitely look up, thanks for the heads up !!

[sneakyjake]

I have been fishing Canadian swiftsure for years out of Neah Bay.  In following the rules for both sides we never fish the US side when returning.  We don't goto a Canadian port, we return to Neah Bay.  Customs is done over the phone.  If you want to retain halibut, you must have a paper license.  As of this year, we all have Nexus cards and have our boat registered with customs with every persons name and card number on file.  If any rule changes have occurred, I am not aware of them yet.  The Nexus card is new and is a big deal.

[Crunchy]

Could you dock your boat, put your Canadian caught fish in a cooler in your truck, and then go out and fish U.S waters?

[sneakyjake]

You could, but you might be breaking possesion limit laws.  Besides, when you get back from swiftsure you won't have time to fish.  It is a very long day and you have a lot of fish to clean.  Kings, lings, and halibut.  You  have to leave time for cocktail hour don't you?

[lokidog]

Tagging

[robodad]

I have been fishing Canadian swiftsure for years out of Neah Bay.  In following the rules for both sides we never fish the US side when returning.  We don't goto a Canadian port, we return to Neah Bay.  Customs is done over the phone.  If you want to retain halibut, you must have a paper license.  As of this year, we all have Nexus cards and have our boat registered with customs with every persons name and card number on file.  If any rule changes have occurred, I am not aware of them yet.  The Nexus card is new and is a big deal.

Wonder if you could give me a clue on fishing the US side of Swiftsure, I know most folks that go there are fishing the canadian side just curious if the US side is worth making that trip for ??

[huntnphool]

Last time I fished there they were quite upset that I had a "fish club" on the boat, apparently it was illegal to club our fish.