Island Outfitters
Hunter Grant with his 25 lb Lingcod
Hunter Grant with his 25 lb Lingcod
Island Outfitters
SALTWATER OVERVIEW – The chinook fishing has definitely SLOWED DOWN. The Pink salmon run is FAIR, with larger than usual pinks being caught. Coho fishing has IMPROVED. Due to the net pen collapse in Washington State, some Atlantic salmon escapes are being caught in local waters. Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past week.
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
PORT RENFREW – Salmon fishing remains HOT and COLD for springs averaging 10-20 lbs with the occasional larger fish into the upper 20’s. Off shore there are lots of coho, pinks and springs. Inshore, it’s been best from East Point to Camper Creek. Bottom fishing has also been GOOD. Hunter Grant landed a 20 lb chinook and a 25 lb Lingcod, along with other fish, while filling out his limit in Port Renfrew.
SOOKE– The salmon fishing was SLOW TO FAIR over most of last week. Springs are spread sparsely throughout the area. 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. The pink salmon fishing was best in the 400+ foot depths, and the pinks have been as large as 9 lbs.
BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week for mostly smaller stuff. The springs are spread out from the Bedfords to the Trap Shack. The best depths to fish for the springs have been from 40 to 70 feet. The pink salmon have been running from 7 to 9 lbs on the average, and best fishing for them has been far out on the tide lines. Anchovies are the most popular bait. Anglers casting off the rocks are also getting into some nice fish. Cheanuh Marina now has rental boats available.
PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports FAIR salmon fishing. All areas from Church Rock to William Head produced some Chinook salmon, but there was no real hotspot. There were more fin clipped coho come in, and they, as well as the pinks, were mostly caught in 500+ feet of water. With the coho and the pinks, you were either in them or not. You just had to search for the schools and then try to stay with them. For chinooks, trollers are doing best trolling close to the shore and the kelp, from 30 – 70 feet on the downrigger and with anchovies for bait.
HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past week.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SLOW off the waterfront this past week. The most productive area was from Esquimalt to Clover Point. Most of the salmon caught were chinooks running from 8 to 15 lbs in size. However, a run of 4 to 7 lb hatchery coho came through on Saturday. Some pink salmon are also being caught and they have been from 4 to 9 lbs in size. The best fishing for pinks was way off shore.
HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past week. The halibut have been very deep with depths of over 300 feet the most productive.
OAK BAY– Salmon fishing was SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. There were a few salmon coming in from the Flats and the Gap, but not very many. Anglers jigging have been catching more and larger salmon than those trolling. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 40 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 GOOD this past weekend.
SIDNEY– Salmon fishing was FAIR in the Pender Island area. We did hear that there were some large pink salmon off Pender Island at 90 feet and an Atlantic salmon was also caught near there. Anglers also reported lots of small grilse in the area. A few springs were found much deeper at 150-180 feet. Hambley Point also held some springs with fish up to 12 lbs caught there. Anglers jigging were also catching some fish.
FRESHWATER OVERVIEW – Fishing was FAIR in most lakes for trout and GOOD for bass. No changes from previous reports.
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 most of the time, 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. Soft plastics rigged Carolina style and crank baits are working well. Top water plugs are also fun and effective in the summer, especially at dawn and dusk. 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
At this time of the year you have to pay particular attention to fishery openings and closures. It almost seems as if some areas are only open for fishing on a day-to-day basis. What is closed one day may be open the next, and vice versa. So the day before you go fishing, phone federal fisheries or visit their website to find out what opportunities are available and avoid any unpleasant surprises.
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