Vancouver Island Fishing Report - Apr 22/18

Island Outfitters

SALTWATER OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing was FAIR around the south Island with most of the Chinooks running from 3-18 lbs in size. Halibut fishing was FAIR during the Just for the Halibut Derby.  

We held our 22nd annual Island Outfitters Just for the Halibut Derby this past weekend. The weather was miserable on Saturday, and only three halibut were caught and entered in the derby. Fortunately, Sunday was the complete opposite weatherwise, and 60 halibut went onto the scale. The winner of $7500 was Al Motiuk who landed a 114.99 cm halibut that weighed 48.5 lbs while fishing in Sooke. Second place, and $2500 went to Brandon Alexander for a 44.3 lb halibut caught in the Mud Hole; and third place of $1000 went to Bill Day who caught a 42.9 lb halibut at Border Bank. We will have a full write up on our web page later this week.  

NEW COAST-WIDE HALIBUT REGULATIONS: Effective at 00:01 hours on April 1, 2018 fishing for halibut will be opened coast-wide until further notice.

  • Limits and sizes: The maximum length for Halibut is 115cm. The daily limit for Halibut is one (1).
  • The possession limit for Halibut is two (2), only one (1) of which may be over  83cm in length.
  • The annual limit is six (6) Halibut per license holder, as set out on the 2018/2019 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing License.

For the latest details on recreational fishery openings and closures in your area: A) Call 1-866-431-FISH or 604-666-2828 (24-hour phone line); B) Visit our web page http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm to find applicable fishery notices; or C) Follow our sport fishing Twitter account https://twitter.com/sportfishingbc

SOOKE – The salmon fishing was GOOD on Sunday. Most of the fish are from 3-8 lbs in size with the occasional larger one to 18 lbs. The winter springs were spread out throughout the Sooke area. Most of the salmon are close to the bottom in 100-140 feet of water, but there are some at mid-water depths. There were a few halibut caught this past weekend.  

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. Most of the fish were caught near the Bedford Islands and Whirl Bay.  The fish have not been too large this past week, with the larger ones topping out in the low teens. Anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 100-140 depths.

PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina reports FAIR salmon fishing. The majority of the salmon have been from 3-6 lbs in size, but some larger ones up to 14 lbs were caught. It’s picked up at Whirl Bay, but was slower inside Pedder Bay. Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 80-140 feet of water. Halibut fishing was FAIR this past Sunday. East Race and William Head were the most productive spots.  

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was GOOD off Constance Bank this past week when the winds weren’t too blustery. Most of the fish are still small, from 3-6 lbs in size, but some larger hatchery springs into the high teens have been caught off the waterfront. In closer, there were springs from Brotchie Ledge to Trial Island, just not too many. The best depths to fish were 90-140 feet but we’ve heard of some larger fish being caught at mid-water depths. Fishing was GOOD for halibut this past Sunday. Constance Bank, the Mud Hole and Albert Head produced a few in the derby.  

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing is FAIR in Oak Bay. There are salmon coming in from the Flats but not lots of them. It was slow around the Gap. Most of the salmon have been on the small side, but some nicer ones up to 18 lbs were caught on Sunday. Martha George landed an 18 lb hatchery spring on the Flats, and is now in second place on our Leader Board. The salmon are feeding on needle fish and close to the bottom where the feed is located. Fishing was FAIR for halibut on Sunday. Border Bank was where most of them were caught.  

SIDNEY – Salmon fishing was FAIR in the Sidney area. That said, the largest spring salmon of the week on the south Island came from Sidney waters. Laura Harris caught a 21 lb spring near Saanichton. There were springs being caught near Pender Island at the 120 foot contour. It was fairly slow around Coal Island.

FRESHWATER OVERVIEW – Fishing was PICKING UP in most lakes for trout and bass, and the steelhead fishing is pretty well over.  

COWICHAN RIVER – The water level has been dropping all week, but it is still high. Near the lake the water level is at 1.41 meters and near Duncan it’s at 1.22 meters. There are very few steelhead in the river now and most of the fish are kelts.  Fishing for trout in the upper river has been picking up. Some warm weather should really increase the trout activity.  

TROUT – Trout fishing has been PICKING UP for trout at the local lakes due to the recent trout stockings and as the water temperatures warm up.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC is currently stocking catchable rainbow trout into  Vancouver Island lakes. To find out about stockings all over the Island and the province, as well as the different strains being released, click on the link http://www.gofishbc.com/Stocked-Fish.aspx  

BASS – Bass fishing is PICKING UP on Island lakes. Most lakes are starting to produce as larger fish are moving into the shallows pre-spawning. Langford Lake, Shawnigan Lake, Prospect Lake, and 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

Its transition time again for Chinook anglers. While there are still deep running winter fish around, returning migratory springs are also starting to show up.  These fish are found much higher in the water column, and anglers who want to catch them should keep at least one line off of the bottom and at middle water depths.

Visit our facebook page to see reports, news and videos by our guides and staff from their most recent trips.

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