Pursuit Sport Fishing
Pursuit Sport Fishing
It hasn't been a 'red hot' winter chinook fishery here in Vancouver like last year, but it has been consistent. We are seeing huge amounts of under-size chinook in the area, which is a good sign and the fish that are legal, are big. Several reports of 20lb+ fish coming in and we are hooking lots of fish in the high teens.
January we saw lots of stinker/slow days and some days of non-stop under-size action with the odd keeper in the mix. February had a few slow days but quite a few more days of 10-25 fish days and around 10% of those are legal fish. The percentage of sub-legal / legal fish will get better through March and April, which I am excited about. The shear number of fish being hooked and the amount of bait in the area is a great sign for March and April fishing.
Howe Sound has been the most consistent place to fish. Various locations such as Tunstall Bay, Pt. Cowan, the Water Fall, Grace Islands, Hole in the Wall, Defence Island, Porteau Cove and many other areas around Bowen and deeper up the sound. The Coal Ports and the south Fraser arm have been average for fishing - a few nice fish being taken, but not a lot of reports to get an accurate idea of the fishing. The Vancouver harbour has been hit and miss over the last month with some slow days and some great days. Every week gets better from our perspective and typically late Feb to April is more consistent chinook fishing. There is lots of 3" herring in the area and the fish are gorging themselves every day.
The usual gear has been working: Gibbs/Delta spoons in a variety of colors but mostly glow combos, behind glow and UV flashers. LureCharge spoons, made in Courtenay, are also producing well. Small anchovy in a teaser head has been a good bet as well lately.
Crab fishing has been good to very good and the prawn fishing has been average to good.
Get your boat uncovered and the motors tuned up or go ahead and book a fishing charter with a professional guide in Vancouver and get out there and enjoy this wonderful winter fishery.