Out-of-season salmon fishers nabbed by B.C. conservation officers

Conservation officers responded to “numerous” reports about salmon fishing this week ahead of a rare Fraser River opening set for Labour Day.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said complaints flooded its RAPP (report all poachers and polluters) line about fishing in Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack, most in the Rosedale area.

Officers have increased their presence in the area all week, patrolling in the early morning before sunrise and well into the night after dark.

Fines were issued for several infractions, including fishing during a closure, over-possession, barbed hooks, angling with a licence, lack of conservation surcharge stamps, multiple lines and multiple hooks.

By the end of the week, there were no more issues with compliance, and the service thanked the public for repo