BC's Treble-Hook Ban Is Now Law
If you fish salmon in British Columbia's salt water and haven't re-rigged yet, you're now out of compliance. As of September 1, 2026, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) bans treble hooks and caps hook size for anyone fishing salmon in BC's tidal waters. The change came after a messy summer rollout. Here's what the rule says, where it applies and how we got here.
The rule
DFO's Fishery Notice FN0723 (issued July 15, 2026) sets these requirements for salmon fishing in all tidal waters: • No hooks with more than one point. Treble hooks, and any other multi-point hooks, are not allowed when fishing for salmon in tidal waters. • Maximum hook gap of 22 mm. You can't use a single hook that measures more than 22 millimetres from point to shank. • Tandem single hooks are OK. DFO says more than one single hook is allowed, such as two single hooks in a tandem rig. • Barbless is still required. This didn't change. Barbless hooks are already mandatory for salmon in both tidal and non-tidal BC waters.
Bottom line: in BC salt water, salmon hooks must now be single-point, barbless and no wider than 22 mm at the gap.
Where it applies
DFO's notice lists all tidal waters in the Pacific Region: Areas 1 to 29, 101 to 111, 121, 123 to 127, 130 and 142. That's the whole BC coast, from the Strait of Georgia and Juan de Fuca to the west coast of Vancouver Island, the North Coast and Haida Gwaii. This is a tidal-water rule for salmon. Your non-tidal (freshwater) regulations still apply separately, and so do any area-specific gear limits, which were already stricter in some tidal river mouths.
How we got here
The rollout changed three times in one week:
- Early July: DFO's first 2026 salmon notice (FN0667) announced the treble ban and 22 mm gap limit, effective July 15. That landed right before the July 15 Chinook opening in many areas.
- July 13: An amended notice (FN0701) dropped the hook section entirely, which left anglers and tackle shops unsure whether the rule was dead.
- July 15: FN0723 brought the rule back with a September 1 start date. It was implemented under Variation Order 2026-GMB-294, as reported by Island Fisherman Magazine. Tackle retailers, lodges and guides had stocked trebles and pre-tied rigs for the season, and the sport-fishing sector was critical of how little consultation and notice DFO gave. DFO's stated goal is better survival for released Chinook and coho. Island Fisherman's editorial argues that landing nets and handling cause more release injury than hook type. That's their argument, not a DFO finding, but it's worth knowing the debate exists.
What to do before your next trip
• Swap trebles on spoons, plugs and hoochies/teaser heads for single hooks. Tandem singles are legal and are the usual fix for bait and teaser-head rigs. • Check your gaps. Many salmon anglers run big single hooks, and some common sizes can go over 22 mm depending on the pattern and brand. Measure the gap from point to shank. Don't assume a hook is legal just because of its size number. • Keep barbs crushed flat. DFO's salmon page says partially crimped barbs aren't allowed. • Check the current notices for your area before you go. In-season changes to limits, size rules and closures are posted on DFO's Fishery Notices system and the BC tidal-waters limits page.
Note on DFO's own website
As of this writing, DFO's general "Salmon fishing information" page still says a barbless treble hook "is acceptable in most tidal water areas." That text predates the September 1 change. The Fishery Notice is what's legally in force. When a static guide page and a current Fishery Notice disagree, go with the notice. Sources • Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fishery Notice FN0723 (July 15, 2026): https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=360784&ID=all • Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Recreational fishing limits, openings and closures in BC: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/bc-zones-cb-eng.html • Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Salmon fishing information (BC sport fishing guide): https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/salmon-saumon-eng.html • Island Fisherman Magazine, "DFO Regulations 2026: Sudden Hook Ban & New Salmon Rules" (updated July 15, 2026): https://islandfishermanmagazine.com/dfo-regulations-2026/ • Outsider Charters (Campbell River), "New Salmon Fishing Regulations for 2026" (Aug. 1, 2026): https://outsidercharters.com/salmon-fishing-regulations-2026-single-hook-chinook-salmon-limits-lingcod-and-rockfish-limits/