Sinaran, that is indeed an offence.
When you witness such an incident at the Stave, please phone one of the following numbers:
ORR (Observe, record, report) Line: 1-800-663-WILD
Chilliwack Conservation Office: (604) 795-8422
Mission DFO office: 604-814-1055
Chilliwack DFO office: 604-702-2278
Your likelihood of foul hooking fish is bigger when you bottom bounce, especially if the river is thick with fish already. If you find yourself foul hooking fish when float fishing, just shorten up the float depth a bit. All salmon swim just above the river bed, and they look up when they feed. By drifting your wool just above the fish, your chance of hooking a biting fish is bigger. If you observe closely, most people who bottom bounce there are not getting the fish to bite. When the fish is not fouled, it is usually hooked near the gill plate, under the lower jaw, outside the jaw line, etc.
The Stave River unfortunately is a lost cause. Production of chum salmon stock and easy access in that system provide great opportunities for anglers of all ages, but most people (not all) are so caught up with catching fish, all rules and manners are thrown out of the book. During our DFO enforcement briefing last week, their observations reflect what I have just described. It's not hard to write up a couple of books of tickets whenever the officers do a patrol on the Stave.