Some Island sport fishermen are upset the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is not extending the Atlantic Salmon catch and release season in more rivers on P.E.I.

Closing the season could hurt more than it helps, says Todd Dupuis of the Atlantic Salmon Federation. (CBC)

For as long as avid fly fisher Dwayne Miller can remember, DFO has extended the season beyond Sept. 15 on several Island rivers. But the Dunk and West rivers are now closed. Only Morell River remains open.

"I was quite upset," said Miller.

"Everybody was very eager to have the extension and get a chance to catch a few of those fish."

DFO said fishing is being restricted for conservation reasons. That has Todd Dupuis, executive director of regional programs for the Atlantic Salmon Federation, scratching his head. He said catch and release with fly-fishing may kill a few fish per season, but there are also benefits.

"You lose one or two fish but you're actually saving more fish by maintaining the interest in the species itself and actually having eyes on the river watching for any poachers," said Dupuis.

Bait fishers support closure

Fly fishers are finding themselves in opposition to bait fishers on the season closure.

The P.E.I. Bait Fishers Group had asked that the season not be extended this year. It argued this year's dry, hot summer had hurt the overall health of streams, and extending the season was not sustainable.

"They can start fishing the first time, April the 15th, as us and most of them do. And go until September 15th, the same as we do," said group president Bill Warren.

Provincial biologist Rosanne MacFarlane has no objection to the closure, but she is concerned the last-minute announcement will lead to confusion.

"We would have preferred that this maybe would have been held over till the start of the 2013 season, and give us some time to think about it and get the message out there," said MacFarlane.

"Many people might be confused and might actually be going out without realizing that those two rivers are no longer extended."

Dupuis said if DFO wants to help Atlantic salmon it should delay the opening of the season by two weeks in the spring. He said that's when the fish are the most vulnerable.