Shinook
OPEN FOR CHINOOK & COHO

Somass River

From the Stamp and Sproat confluence down to the tidal boundary at Paper Mill Dam · closed to all fishing for 0.5 km above the dam Aug 25 to Nov 15 · Region 1 freshwater

Limits and restrictions

May be kept

Chinook

2per day

WhenAug 25–Dec 31
SizeOnly 1 of them over 77 cm (30.3 in)
EarlierJun 1–Aug 24: bait banned
Coho

2per day

WhenSep 19–Dec 31
EarlierJun 1–Aug 24: bait banned
EarlierAug 25–Sep 18: 2 hatchery-marked/day

only 1 unmarked

May not be kept3

SockeyeClosed
Chum Closed.
PinkClosed

Not listed as open

closed unless announced

Across this region, not just this water
Daily
4/day all species of Pacific salmon, tidal and fresh waters combined

Individual species limits also apply. DFO Region 1, daily limit preamble

Possession
8 at a time salmon you may have in your possession, however many days you have fished. Salmon at your ordinary residence do not count.

DFO Region 1, preamble

Annual
10 a year chinook over 50 cm, from all fresh waters combined

DFO Region 1, preamble

Minimum size
25 cm a coho you keep, nose to tail fork

DFO Region 1, preamble

Minimum size
30 cm a chinook or sockeye you keep, nose to tail fork

DFO Region 1, preamble

Where
No fishing is allowed within 100 meters of any government facility operated for counting, passing or rearing fish unless otherwise stated.

DFO Region 1, preamble

River boundaries

The short reach from the Stamp and Sproat confluence down to Alberni Inlet.

Map of Vancouver Island's salmon rivers from the Stamp and Sproat confluence to Alberni Inlet. Status: Somass River open. Other waters are shown for context only.

Sproat Lk.Great Central Lk.Buttle Lk.Somass ParkPaper Mill DamCampbell RiverCourtenayPort AlberniNanaimo
1.0×
Closed to salmon (broken outline) Open (see species & limits) Other waters (context) River gauge (tap for level and flow)

Somass Park. The sockeye fishery runs from the northern boundary of this park downstream to its southern boundary, with square boundary signs on the ground. Those two signs are not in our sources, so the map marks the park rather than either end of the reach.

Paper Mill Dam. The tidal boundary. No fishing for anything from the signs at the top of the rapids here upstream about 0.5 km to the north-east corner of Collins Farm, Aug 25 to Nov 15. Collins Farm is not in our sources; this marks the dam end.

Timing

When you may fish, as opposed to what you may keep. Sun times are for this water, today.

No time-of-day closure listed for this water in the regulations we watch, so the sun times above are for planning rather than a rule. Openings still run only on the dates the limits state.

Fishery regulations and notices

Regulation table
DFO Region 1, Somass River row

Last checked: Tue, Oct 6, 2026 · 7:29 p.m. PDT

A fishery notice outranks the regulation table when the two disagree.

The most recent fishery notices naming this water, in DFO's own words.

Almanac

A day back and two ahead on one clock. Pressure and river level are observed and stop at Now; future rain is ECCC's HRDPS weather model, and the moon is astronomy. Not a fishability call.

A timeline of moon phase, observed rain, observed barometric pressure and the river gauge level across a day back and two ahead. Tide turns, river levels and pressure trend are also given in text on the water pages and map callouts.

Licence

What you need on this water
BC freshwater licence (Region 1) + conservation surcharge stamp to retain salmon. Check the Region 1 table for gear rules and closed stretches before you go. VERIFY
Buy online (WILD)Licence types & fees