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Author Topic: Crayfish in Lower Fraser  (Read 13184 times)

DBM

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Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« on: April 21, 2017, 07:21:46 AM »

It takes awhile to hear back from the ministry so I thought maybe someone here would know.  I want to throw a crayfish trap into the lower fraser but don't know if because it's tidal waters if I'll need a tidal licence.  DFO is saying the crayfish fishery is mandated by the province - so is it covered under a freshwater licence or tidal one?
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Jk47

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2017, 07:34:16 AM »

Tidal licence is required anywhere below Mission bridge for any type of fishing
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psd1179

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2017, 03:15:58 PM »

Are there crayfish in Fraser river? no kidding
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living_blind

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2017, 04:50:23 PM »

I have no idea how the licensing works (whether a tidal or freshwater would cover it), but there are certainly crayfish in the lower. We have a local otter who devours them on a weekly basis, and leaves the remains from time to time. They are quite large down here, compared to the specimens I've seen in smaller creeks.
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bunnta

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2017, 06:36:07 PM »

Are there crayfish in Fraser river? no kidding

i heard there are more of them around the lower fraser but i don't see why not especially around rivers that have them flowing to the fraser.
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mr.bean

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2017, 07:48:00 PM »

caught two large crayfish by accident last year  on my sturgeon rig, just above the mission bridge.
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firebird

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2017, 07:34:23 AM »

Tidal licence is required anywhere below Mission bridge for any type of fishing
This is correct and I think the quota is 20/day under "other shellfish" - c.f. 25/day upstream of Mission Bridge.
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Silver

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2017, 06:10:36 PM »

Are there crayfish in Fraser river? no kidding









South Arm bycatch
« Last Edit: April 23, 2017, 07:39:41 PM by Silver »
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hrenya

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2017, 06:25:34 AM »

me and my bud fished in Richmond for chubs , but all of the sudden we start getting crayfish , after some modification to crab traps , we casted them out , and we were getting quite a few of them .
CO stopped by few times to check us out , we were fishing for sturgeon too (depending on tide) , and I showed him crayfish , he was a bit surprised , he said he didn't see them for a while :)
but yeah , crayfish present in tidal fraser :)
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redtide

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2017, 03:49:33 PM »

lower fraser has some large sized crayfish in some spots. caught one bottom fishing with roe a few years ago. if you plan on keeping them be advised they may have industrial contamination in them that flow downstream from the interior mills and other good stuff. :P
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Dave

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2017, 03:53:18 PM »

lower fraser has some large sized crayfish in some spots. caught one bottom fishing with roe a few years ago. if you plan on keeping them be advised they may have industrial contamination in them that flow downstream from the interior mills and other good stuff. :P
I was about to post something along that line ... you beat me to it ;)
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Silver

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2017, 07:42:44 PM »

They were swarming with parasites too...nematodes? Not sure, but off putting nevertheless.

Although, some have said they are normal and of no consequence.
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Damien

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2017, 09:11:24 PM »

Ya'll think the lower Fraser is worse off than the lower Mississippi where crawfish are eaten by the millions every year, both by locals, tourists paying top dollar and shipped worldwide?

Eating any type of fish requires a certain level of diligence, sure.

To the crawfish in the pictures above, it should be handled and respected just like any other fish we catch.  If keeping it legally, dispatch it.  If being returned, do so without harm.
« Last Edit: April 23, 2017, 09:14:43 PM by Damien »
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RalphH

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #13 on: April 24, 2017, 07:19:11 AM »

Like all shellfish crayfish have to be kept alive until it's time to cook them or freeze them.
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typhoon

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Re: Crayfish in Lower Fraser
« Reply #14 on: April 24, 2017, 07:49:24 AM »

Like all shellfish crayfish have to be kept alive until it's time to cook them or freeze them.
Is that legal in BC?
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