Burbot
How to tell a burbot from the fish it's most often mistaken for, and what you can keep in each BC region.
How to confirm it's a burbot
- A single whisker (barbel) under the chin
- Long second dorsal and anal fins reaching the tail
- Mottled brown, slimy, eel-like body
Could it be something else?
Burbot quotas by region
Each region's quota rule that covers burbot, in the synopsis' words. Many waters set their own, lower quota or require release; check the water.
Region 1 · Vancouver Island
- No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.
Region 2 · Lower Mainland
- No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.
Region 3 · Thompson-Nicola
- Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing. Burbot: 2. Crayfish: 25. Kokanee: 5 (none from streams). Whitefish: 15 (all species combined). White sturgeon: catch and release only. Yellow perch: 0 quota, closed to fishing.
Region 4 · Kootenay
- No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.
Region 5 · Cariboo
- No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.
Region 6 · Skeena
- No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.
Region 7A · Omineca
- Arctic grayling: catch and release only. Burbot: 5. Kokanee: 10 (none from streams). White sturgeon: closed to all fishing. Whitefish: 15 (all species combined).
Region 7B · Peace
- No regional quota listed; see the rules for each water.
Region 8 · Okanagan
- Bass: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions). Burbot: 2. Crappie: 20. Crayfish: 25. Kokanee: 5 (none from streams). Walleye: 8. Whitefish: 15 (all species combined). Yellow perch: 0 quota, closed to fishing (see tables for exceptions).
Waters with their own burbot rules
Nicola Lake · Kootenay Lake · Kootenay River · Columbia River · Moyie Lake · Windermere Lake · Columbia Lake · Pine River