TightLinesBC

Nootka Sound & Esperanza Inlet

Tahsis, Gold River and Zeballos - Nootka Sound, Esperanza Inlet and offshore Areas 25/125.

What's working now

No fresh, dated local catch report verified for October yet.

The September Esperanza report remains linked below with its original date. Check current DFO restrictions before fishing.

Latest reports

Sep 1, 2026

Esperanza Inlet: John Falavolito's September report describes coho gathering around Centre Island. September observations, not confirmed October catches.

Source: Island Fisherman / Westview Marina report, Sep 1, 2026.

Weather, wind and water

Marine ForecastWest Coast Vancouver Island North

Official Environment Canada wind, waves and warnings for the exposed coast. Inlet conditions vary.

Current marine forecast and warnings →

TidesGold River - Muchalat Inlet

CHS tide predictions - station 08650 →

Predictions, not a live gauge. Timing differs across Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet; use the station for your exact location.

DFO openings + closuresAreas 25/125 - Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet

Current Area 25/125 regulations and closures →

Click here for DFO area map tailored to each area

Species limits and openings

DFO tables checked October 13, 2026. Closures and subarea exceptions on the official page override the general limits. Always re-check before keeping fish.

Species Areas Min size Gear Daily Limits Status
Chinook salmon (hatchery and wild combined) 25,125 45cm barbless hook and line 2 Open
Chum salmon 25 30cm barbless hook and line 0 Non Retention
125 30cm barbless hook and line 4 Open
Coho salmon (hatchery and wild combined) 25-1 to 25-3 and 25-6 to 25-16 30cm barbless hook and line 2 Combined Total
* Consisting of no more than:
  • 2 - Hatchery - marked
  • 1 - Wild - unmarked
Open
25-4 and 25-5 30cm barbless hook and line 4 Combined Total
* Consisting of no more than:
  • 4 - Hatchery - marked
  • 1 - Wild - unmarked
Open
125 30cm barbless hook and line 2 Combined Total
* Consisting of no more than:
  • 2 - Hatchery - marked
  • 0 - Wild - unmarked
Open
Pink salmon 25 30cm barbless hook and line 0 Non Retention
125 30cm barbless hook and line 4 Open
Sockeye salmon 25,125 30cm barbless hook and line 0 Non Retention
Species Areas Min size Gear Daily Limits Status
Codfish 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 8 Open
Eulachon 25,125 0kg Closed
Finfish - all other species 25,125 angling, dip net, herring jig, herring rake, spear fishing while diving 20 Open
Greenling 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 3 Open
Halibut 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 2 Open
Herring 25,125 cast net, dip net, herring jig, herring rake 20kg Open
Lingcod 25,125 65cm angling, spear fishing while diving 3 Open
Mackerel 25,125 angling, dip net, herring jig, herring rake, spear fishing while diving 100 Open
Northern Anchovy 25,125 cast net, dip net, herring jig, herring rake 20kg Open
Pacific sand lance 25,125 cast net, dip net, herring jig, herring rake 5kg Open
Pacific sardine 25,125 angling, dip net, herring jig, herring rake, spear fishing while diving 100 Open
Rockfish - Yelloweye 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 0 Non Retention
Rockfish - all species except Yelloweye 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 3 Open
Sablefish 25,125 angling 4 Open
Sculpin 25,125 angling 8 Open
Shark - Basking 25,125 0 Closed
Shark - Blue 25,125 0 Closed
Shark - Brown Cat 25,125 0 Closed
Shark - Great White 25,125 0 Closed
Shark - Salmon 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 1 Open
Shark - Sixgill 25,125 0 Closed
Shark - Tope 25,125 0 Closed
Shark - all other species 25,125 0 Closed
Skate 25,125 angling 1 Open
Smelt 25,125 dip net, gill net 20kg Open
Sole or Flounder 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 8 Open
Spiny Dogfish 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 0 Non Retention
Surfperch 25,125 angling 8 Open
Tuna - Albacore 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 20 Open
Tuna - Pacific bluefin 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 20 Open
Tuna - all other species 25,125 angling, spear fishing while diving 20 Open
White Sturgeon 25,125 angling 0 Non Retention
Wolf Eel 25,125 angling 0 Non Retention
Species Areas Min size Gear Daily Limits Status
Trout (hatchery and wild combined) 25,125 30cm angling 2 Combined Total
* Consisting of no more than:
  • 2 - Hatchery - marked
  • 0 - Wild - unmarked
Open
Species Areas Gear Daily Limits
Clam - Butter 25,125 hand digging, hand picking 20
Clam - Horse 25,125 hand digging, hand picking 6
Clam - Littleneck 25,125 hand digging 60
Clam - Manila 25,125 hand digging 60
Clam - Razor 25,125 hand digging 12
Clam - Softshell 25,125 hand digging 25
Clam - Varnish 25,125 hand digging 60
Clam - all species combined 25,125 hand digging, hand picking 60
Cockles 25,125 hand digging, hand picking 25
Geoduck 25,125 hand digging, hand picking 3
Mussel - Blue 25,125 hand picking 75
Mussel - California 25,125 hand picking 25
Mussels - all species combined 25,125 hand picking 75
Oyster - Olympia 25,125 0
Oyster - all species except Olympia 25,125 hand picking 12
Scallop - Pink and Spiny 25,125 hand picking, hand picking while diving 75
Scallop - Purple-hinged rock 25,125 hand picking, hand picking while diving 6
Scallop - Weathervane 25,125 hand picking, hand picking while diving 6
Scallop - Weathervane and Purple-hinged rock combined 25,125 hand picking, hand picking while diving 6
Snail - Moon 25,125 hand picking 2
Snail - other 25,125 hand picking 75
Whelks 25,125 hand picking 75
Species Areas Min size Gear Daily Limits Status
Crab - Box 25,125 dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap 1 Open
Crab - Dungeness 25,125 165mm dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap 6 Open
Crab - Dungeness, Red Rock and King combined 25,125 dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap 6 Open
Crab - King 25,125 dip net, diving, ring net, trap 2 Open
Crab - Puget Sound King 25,125 dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap 1 Open
Crab - Red Rock 25,125 115mm dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap 6 Open
Crab - Shore 25,125 hand picking 25 Open
Crab - other 25,125 dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap 4 Open
Species Areas Gear Daily Limits Status
Abalone 25,125 0 Closed
Barnacles - Giant 25,125 diving 6 Open
Barnacles - Goose 25,125 hand picking 2kg Open
Invertebrates - all other species 25,125 angling, dip net, hand digging, hand picking, hand picking while diving, hand picking while snorkeling, hand pump, ring net, spear fishing while diving, trap 20 Open
Limpet 25,125 hand picking 75 Open
Octopus 25,125 angling, hand picking, hand picking while diving, trap 1 Open
Sand Dollar 25,125 hand picking 6 Open
Sea Cucumber 25,125 hand picking, hand picking while diving 12 Open
Sea Star or Starfish 25,125 diving, hand picking 6 Open
Sea Urchin 25,125 hand picking, hand picking while diving 12 Open
Shellfish - all other species 25,125 angling, dip net, hand digging, hand picking, hand picking while diving, hand pump, ring net, spear fishing while diving, trap 20 Open
Shrimp - Ghost 25,125 hand digging, hand pump 50 Open
Shrimp including prawn 25,125 ring net, spear fishing while diving, trap 125 Open
Squid - Opal 25,125 cast net, jigging 200 Open
Squid - all other species 25,125 cast net, jigging 20 Open
Region coverageTahsis, Gold River and Zeballos

Nootka Sound, Muchalat, Tlupana and Tahsis inlets; Esperanza Inlet, Zeballos, Espinosa and Port Eliza inlets; adjacent offshore Area 125.

Clayoquot / Tofino and Barkley Sound remain under West Vancouver Island. Kyuquot lies north of this page's Area 25/125 boundary.

Guides, charters and lodges

Free listings - real operators serving this region, no paid placement.

Critter Cove Fishing ResortLodge - Nootka Sound. All-inclusive or bring-your-own-boat fishing resort in Nootka Sound.Reel Obsession Fishing LodgeLodge - Zeballos. Lodge and charters at Zeballos - salmon, halibut and tuna.Zeballos Oceanfront LodgeLodge - Zeballos. Oceanfront lodge in Zeballos with fishing adventure packages.Zeballos InnLodge - Zeballos. Zeballos inn running fishing charters into Nootka Sound.Steamer Point LodgeLodge - Tahsis. Fishing lodge at Tahsis on Nootka Sound.The Lodge at Gold RiverLodge - Gold River. Lodge at Gold River for Muchalat Inlet and Nootka Sound fishing.Sportsman Fishing AdventuresCharter - Gold River. Salmon charters out of Gold River.Westview Marina & LodgeTahsis - marina, lodging and fishing charters for Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet.

Run a guide, charter or lodge in this region? Get listed free: contact@tightlinesbc.com

Tips and techniques - by species

Chinook salmon

Coho salmon

Halibut

Prawns

Bottomfish

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Wind, waves and swell (Windy)

Official wave forecast and marine warnings - exposed coast, not inlet wave observations.

Check the regs yourself before you fish. Openings, closures and limits change without notice, sometimes mid-season and area by area. Everything here is an aggregation for convenience, not an official source. Always confirm the current rules for your specific management area directly with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (saltwater / salmon) and the B.C. Freshwater Fishing Regulations before you go.