Vancouver Island Fishing Report - July 20-26

Island Outfitters

SALTWATER OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was VERY GOOD most of this past week. Limit catches of Pink salmon are coming from all areas. There were chinooks being caught, mostly fish in the teens and twenties, but it was slower than last week. Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD but most anglers were out after salmon.

DFO notices (For all in-season changes, check DFO website)

  • The daily limit for coho is two (2) per day, hatchery marked only from June 1 to December 31, 2015.

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SOOKE – The salmon fishing was VERY GOOD this past week. The pink salmon are here and most Sooke anglers targeting them have reported limit catches! Now that the pinks are running, it is a great opportunity to get new anglers and kids out. The springs were in less common and scattered throughout the area. Most chinooks are weighing in the 20’s and teens. The bigger springs are being caught in the 35 - 60 ft depths. A few sockeye have been caught but they are closed for retention.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was VERY GOOD in East Sooke. There are lots of pink salmon and boats are getting limit catches. The pinks are throughout the entire area so you don’t have to search very far to find them. The best fishing has been on the flood tide in the tide rips and tide lines. The spring salmon fishing is pretty steady inside the bay. The best fishing there has been in tight to shore in 100 feet of water and between 40 – 70 feet on the downrigger. Anglers are also catching some springs between the Trap Shack and Beechey Head but a big spring could show up anywhere. Most springs were running from 15 to 25 lbs in size with a 31 lb spring the largest on the weekend.

PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT this week. Limits of pink salmon, some nice springs, a few hatchery coho and some catch and release sockeye were reported at Pedder Bay Marina. Pedder Bay itself was the prime location to catch a nice spring, especially in shallow and near the Deep Hole. All of the pink salmon has kept the rental boat fleet very busy and there are usually waits at peak times. It’s a great place to take the family for lots of action. Anglers jigging inside of the bay were also catching springs.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past week. Duane Mousseau and his fishing partner landed 56 & 41 lb halibut from the Race one day this past week.

VICTORIA – Fishing for springs was GOOD at Constance Bank if you could get your lure past the pink salmon. Springs are being caught by trolling and jigging at the bank with the jiggers having an easier time of not hooking pinks. The pinks were less frequent this week off Victoria waterfront. The best spot to find the pinks has been in deeper water and along the tide lines. It’s still spotty for springs off the harbour entrance and the breakwater but some springs have been caught there.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend. Anglers report that the dogfish were less of a problem this past week.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week. There were springs caught but fewer fish that during the previous week. Most salmon caught were when fishing lures right on the bottom (60-120 ft) on the flats.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was VERY GOOD this past weekend out in Haro Strait and off Discovery Island.

SIDNEY - Salmon fishing was VERY GOOD near Sidney. The pink salmon have been running off of the Pender Bluffs and lots of boats are getting limits there. A few chinooks were brought in over the past week but not too many. The springs have been shallow, at 30 to 50 feet and in shallow water, first thing in the morning.

FRESHWATER OVERVIEW – Fishing is GOOD on most lakes as the water temperatures climb. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake. Only single barb less hooks are allowed for all fishing on island streams and rivers.

Effective July 4, 2015, virtually all angling in streams and rivers in Wildlife Management Units 1-1 through 1-6 is suspended. The geographic area covers:

  • Bamfield south to Victoria on the west coast
  • Campbell River south to Victoria on the east coast

Key rivers affected by the order include the Caycuse, Chemainus, Cowichan, Englishman, Gordon, Little Qualicum, Nanaimo, Nitinat, Oyster, Puntledge, San Juan, Sooke, Trent and Tsable. Lake fishing is not affected by the order.

The angling closure order is for southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands only at this time, but B.C. government fisheries biologists are monitoring approximately 75 other key angling streams across the province, and if conditions warrant, additional closures are possible.

TROUT – Trout fishing was GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area this past week. The biggest trout this year have come from Langford Lake.

BASS - Bass fishing is EXCELLENT. At this time of year most of the bass are in the shallows. 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

Keep your rod tip up! Most anglers know that by keeping your rod tip up, your chances of landing a fish are greatly improved. This lets the rod tire the fish and provides flexibility to counter sudden movements by the fish. The best way to keep your rod tip up is by keeping the non reeling hand away from the reel and far up on the rod handle while the rod butt is kept low.

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