Island Outfitters
Island Outfitters
SALTWATER OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was FAIR in area 20, SPOTTY in Victoria, Oak Bay and Sidney. The Pink salmon have been larger in size this year. Halibut fishing was SLOW.
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PORT RENFREW – The salmon fishing has been GOOD in Port Renfrew. The off shore fishing has been getting better for fish - springs averaging 10-20 lbs with the occasional larger fish, lots of coho and lots of pinks. Halibut fishing has also been GOOD. Inshore, it has also picked up from East Point to Camper Creek.
SOOKE – The salmon fishing was FAIR over the last week. Otter Point to Muir Creek has been good for to springs. The pink salmon fishing was best in the 400+ foot depths. The pinks have been as large as 8-9 lbs. Most anglers fishing for springs are using bait, with anchovies being the most popular choice. Fishing shallow and close to shore has been the key to catching the larger fish.
BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week when it wasn’t blowing too hard. Most of the springs were coming in from Aldridge Point to Beechey Head. The pink run was a little slower this past week, but some large ones were caught. The best depths to fish have been from 40 to 70 feet. Anchovies are now the most popular bait. Anglers casting off the rocks are also getting into some nice fish. Cheanuh Marina has rental boats available for non-boat owners.
PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD salmon fishing. The most productive area for trollers has been near the can buoy at the mouth of the bay and along the kelp beds. Trollers are doing best trolling from 30-70 feet on the downrigger and/or just off the bottom. The area from Church Rock to the Bedfords picked up as well. Christa Fremont caught a 22 lb 1 oz spring near Church Rock. Jiggers were doing better than the trollers, and have been fishing near the Race. Anchovies are now the most popular bait for trollers.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SPOTTY off Victoria this past week. The most productive area was Constance Bank early in the week, and along the waterfront on the weekend. The area from Brotchie to Trial Island produced some fish. Garth Hallam caught a 19½ lb spring on Saturday off the waterfront. Most boats fishing the waterfront came up empty. Some pink salmon are also starting to be caught offshore. Greg Kutyn landed a 30½ lb lingcod while fishing for rockfish.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend. The halibut have been very deep, with depths of over 300 feet the most productive. Earlier in the week, George Kahan landed a 131 cm, 74 lb halibut off Constance Bank, using salmon belly as bait. That’s the heaviest one so far this year and is now #1 on our leader board.
OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was HOT & COLD in Oak Bay this past week. There has been some good-sized fish coming in from the flats and the Gap, but not too many. Anglers jigging have been catching more and larger salmon than those trolling. When I was out this past week everyone jigging was catching springs, while all the trollers were catching nothing. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 70 to 135 feet, depending on where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend on the big tides, and it was way too windy, as well, for most boats.
SIDNEY – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY in the Sidney area. There have been a few fish coming from the Sidney Channel, Hambley Point and Fairfax. We did hear that there were some large pink salmon off Pender Island. Anglers jigging were consistently catching springs.
FRESHWATER OVERVIEW – Fishing was FAIR in most lakes for trout and GOOD for bass.
COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River’s water level is at summer levels, just under 0.4 meters. Lots of people are now using float tubes to drift down the river during the day, so that can put the trout down. Fishing for trout in the fly-only area has been GOOD at dawn and dusk. Fish a Dry Fly in the early morning and later in the evening or fish a Nymph in the faster water. Both have been working well.
TROUT – Trout fishing is FAIR on most lakes in the South Island. Trollers should fish at the thermocline, where the fish are suspended during the day. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing close to the bottom. Fly anglers are fishing Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines to get into the cooler water levels. Trollers are catching trout with worms fished behind Gibbs Gang Trolls and on Gibbs Wedding Bands. 2” Tomic Plugs have also been working well for trout.
BASS – Bass fishing is GOOD as we enter the summer months. There have been many reports of good catches of fish as large as 6 lbs. Langford Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake, Elk and Beaver Lakes are the best local bass lakes. St. Mary’s Lake on Salt Spring Island is also a great lake for bass fishing.
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
Be alert and courteous to the boats around you! When boats are fishing close together and one boat hooks into a big spring, that fish is going to make a big run (usually straight back). You should always move away from the boat that’s fighting a fish, or get your gear up and away from the fish. You’ll appreciate it when you’ve hooked that slab, and other boats keep out of your way.
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