Fight breaks out over fish in Chilliwack

GRAPHIC WARNING: The following images and details may disturb some readers. 

Fishermen on the crowded shoreline of the Fraser River broke out in violence over the weekend during a limited opening for catching salmon.

Amid bumper returns of millions of prized sockeye salmon, Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued a rare notice weeks ago, opening recreational fishing for the species on a stretch of the Fraser River for 11 days, from Aug. 22 until Sept. 1.

But on the penultimate day of the recreational period, Sunday, things turned bloody.

Video from the scene shows two anglers trading punches over a fish. It includes violence and explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.

A local fisherman witnessed the fight, explaining that it started over one man taking another’s pink salmon by accident.

“And then they got into a verbal altercation, which turned physical, which then turned into a big brawl with around five other people involved in it,” the fisherman explained.

He says he’s “disgusted” by their actions.

“They’ve given us a one-week opening, and I’m not happy to see people fighting and acting like that at the family-friendly event. People have kids out there… It’s very upsetting to see.”

Fortunately, he says violence is a rare event in that setting.

“People need to come out with a good attitude. Just remember, it’s just fishing. They don’t need to get riled up at other people. I understand that it’s shoulder-to-shoulder, and it may be frustrating, but we need to be thankful for the opportunity that we have.”

—With files from Jan Schuermann