Island Outfitters
Corinna Schmidt
Corinna Schmidt with her 17 pound chinook
Island Outfitters
SALTWATER OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT most of this past week. The pink salmon have arrived and limit catches are reported from all areas. There were quite a few chinooks being caught with many in the 30-40 lb size range. It was a very good start to the month! Halibut fishing was GOOD but most anglers were out after salmon.
DFO notices (For all in-season changes, check DFO website)
- Effective until 23:59 hours July 17th, 2015 in subareas 19-1 to 19-4 and 20-5, the daily limit is two (2) chinook salmon per day, of which only one (1) may be greater than 67 cm. The minimum size limit in these areas is 45 cm.
- Effective until 23:59 hours July 17th, 2015 in Subareas 18-1 to 18-6, 18-9 and 18-11, and Subareas 19-5, and that portion of Subareas29-4 and 29-5 that lies south of a line from a point on the east side of Valdes Island located at 49.05.562n/123.39.989W then extending 57 degrees True for 5 nautical miles to a point at 49.08.316N/123.33.669W, the daily limit is two (2) chinook salmon per day of which only one (1) may be greater than 67cm The minimum size limit in these areas is 62cm in length.
- 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 EXCELLENT this past week. The pink salmon are here and most Sooke anglers 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 fair abundance and scattered throughout the area. There were many 30 - 40 lbs springs caught as well as fish in the 20’s and teens. The bigger springs fish seem more consistent in the 35 - 60 ft depths. A few sockeye have been caught but they are closed for retention.
BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT in East Sooke. There are “tons” 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. The spring salmon fishing is a little slower than last week but there are still some good ones being caught. Most of the better sized springs (30’s and high 20’s) fish were caught between the Trap shack and Beechey Head but the springs could show up anywhere. Most springs were running from 15 to 25 lbs in size. The springs have been getting caught most frequently between 35- 75 ft on the downrigger.
PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT this week. Lots of salmon were reported caught from Pedder Bay to Church Rock. The pinks were around in big numbers and the springs were in good numbers as well. Pedder Bay itself was the best location to catch a nice spring. It’s a great time to get the family out to experience the action pinks provide.
Halibut – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week. There were quite a few “chickens” on the fish cleaning table this past weekend.
VICTORIA – Fishing for springs was FAIR off Constance Bank and along the waterfront. Fish weighing into the high teens and mid-twenties are being caught but not very many of them. The pinks have been showing up in good numbers off Victoria, especially in deeper water and along the tide lines.
Halibut – Halibut fishing was FAIR this past weekend. Anglers had mixed reports of success because of lots of dogfish on one day and then none the next.
OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD during this past week. There were big springs up to 30 lbs taken but fewer fish that the previous week. The fish caught were 10- 29 lbs and most were caught when fishing lures right on the bottom (60-120 ft) on the flats.
Halibut – Halibut fishing was FAIR this past week out in Haro Strait and off Discovery Island.
SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT near Sidney. The pink salmon have been running off of the Pender Bluffs and at various depths. Most boats have been getting limit catches in less than two hours of fishing time. A few chinooks were brought in over the past week weighing into the low twenties. The springs have been shallow, 30 to 50 feet and in shallow water. The spring fishing was best near Fairfax Point.
Notable Catches – Corinna Schmidt caught a nice 17 pound chinook while casting a buzz bomb from the rocks at 10 Mile Point.
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
After you catch a fish, always, always, always, check your leader for tooth marks or scratches. It’s amazing how often you seem to hook and lose that big monster of a fish to a broken leader. It probably wouldn’t have happened if you had noticed the small scratches left on the leader during a previous battle with a fish.