Canadian CG Boat Certification required to fish Canada Waters?

BIGALSURF · 07-22-2007, 04:49 PM

I searched the previous posts, but can't find anything. I want to take my boat up and launch at Port Angeles, then fish waters around Sooke. Is there any Canadian Coast Guard Certification I have to procure for my boat? Any other words from the wise would be great, i.e. where do you check in at Canada for customs and entry and any other tips? Thanks in advance.

tracker · 07-22-2007, 05:29 PM

Donyt think so! I go all the time without one!

WhalerOne · 07-22-2007, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGALSURF

I searched the previous posts, but can't find anything. I want to take my boat up and launch at Port Angeles, then fish waters around Sooke. Is there any Canadian Coast Guard Certification I have to procure for my boat? Any other words from the wise would be great, i.e. where do you check in at Canada for customs and entry and any other tips? Thanks in advance.

BigAl, there is no certification needed as far as your boat goes, but you will have to deal possibly with customs. You are supposed to clear customs when entering Canadian waters Now. We fish the Canada side all the time up here, out of Blaine. We have the Nexus pass and all it takes is a phone call to go into Canada and a phone call to get back into U.S. waters. A couple weeks ago there was a Bellingham boat that went to fish the Canada side for the day and did not clear customs. HE WAS FINED $5000.00 It might not be worth it to clear customs and fish for a day, but go for a couple days and make a weekend of it. We fish Sooke, it can be a lot of fun. I am not sure what your closest port would be to clear at, probably Victoria. Good Luck!

Chum Bucket · 07-22-2007, 08:39 PM

Canada does not require a boater's license YET, but it is in the works. It been a awhile since I researched it, but I think it was 2009 before it's trequired. I've got my WA and OR boaters card. What's one more?

Canada is not lenient on US boaters who fail to clear customs. If I remember correctly believe Ucluelet, Sooke and Victoria are the only customs offices on the west side for boaters. You are required to get a customs clearance certificate before venturing to any other Canadian port.

Here's the link to the Canada fisheries site, you can get to the customs site from there. If you thought OR and WA had a big book of fishn regs, wait till you see Canada!

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish/default_e.htm

Chum Bucket · 07-22-2007, 09:06 PM

And some more insight:

Like Tracker said, day trips into Canadian waters are not a problem. You still need a Canadian license. The fines are very steep by US standards if you're caught fishing in their waters without one. Even if you have a Canadian fishing licence, Canadian caught/tagged salmon must be of legal size, species and limits for the WA port you return to like Port Angeles.

Oh, but there's more...the ONLY exception is if you obtain a Canadian customs clearance certificate (i.e. stay the night night in Canada), then you can bring back Canadian limits which is 4 per day or 8 in possession. There's some gray area with this too...what I'm not real clear on is whether the WA port has to be open for salmon before bringing Canuck salmon to the dock? The answer seems to be muddled in the regs.

It's all mute if your not checked by WDFW, but could be some costly fish if not in compliance when you are.

PM'd you my phone number to discuss further.

BIGALSURF · 07-22-2007, 10:13 PM

Thanks so much, I'll call tomorrow.

rkh · 07-23-2007, 08:20 AM

It is hard to know how all the different agencies will interpret the rules/laws.
Before 9/11 we used to fish in Canadian waters from Orcas Island w/ Canadian and WA licenses. Then we never thought any need to check in with customs. Now, especially without Nexus card and phone checkin we might have to checkin at Bedwell Harbor going and maybe with US Customs at Frideay Harbor returning.
When fishing in early June from Orcas we were checked by Coast Guard and I asked them if needed to go through customs if fishing in Canadian waters and were told only if landed at a port. Later in the trip while fishing near the buoy between Patos and Saturna (Canada) we were checked by a Coast Guard and US Customs inflatable (with three 275 outboards). The manager of the place we were staying said what the Coast Guard told us might not hold up with another CG boat or other agencies. He said there are a number of agencies covering the waters and they do not coordinate with other.