CartIsland Outfitters Fishing Report
Week Ending September 3, 2023
Saltwater Report
Saltwater Overview
Salmon fishing is VERY GOOD and multiple salmon species are here. Many anglers have been saying that the fishing has been the best in years during the previous weeks, but we are seeing it starting to slow down. The chinook fishing is VERY GOOD and lots of smaller feeder springs are being caught. The pink salmon fishing is SLOWING DOWN but still GOOD. Coho fishing is PICKING UP and the rate Halibut, Lingcod and Rockfish fishing was SPOTTY with the big tide changes. Crabbing is still HIT OR MISS while prawning is GOOD.
It’s critical that everybody is courteous and safe when going fishing. Do not park in a trailer spot if you do not have a trailer! Make sure your friends/guests know this as well. Whoever has the right rod to shore has right of way, try and observe this as much as possible. Everybody likes to get in tight to the rocks but be sure to give boats space if they are hooked up. It’s tempting to run right behind them when you see them hook up, but this will cause nothing but problems. Also, in fog, go slow, especially if you do not have a radar on your boat.
Thank you all for the support throughout the years and for being part of our Fam, we couldn't do what we love without you!
For all your Port Renfrew and Victoria fishing charter inquiries please email us at charters@fishingvictoria.com
If you wish to book a Victoria Fishing Charter, please call 250 475-4969.
For the latest details on recreational fishery openings and closures in your area:
Call 1-866-431-FISH or 604-666-2828 (24-hour phone line); Visit our web page http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfmto find applicable fishery notices; or Follow our sport fishing Twitter account https://twitter.com/sportfishingbc
Visit our Facebook page to see reports, news and videos by our guides and staff from their most recent trips.
Sooke
Salmon fishing is EXCELLENT in the area. Pinks, coho and chinooks are abundant and everyone going out is bringing back fish. Chinook fishing has been peaking. Secretary Island, Possession Point, and Otter Point were once again the best spots for springs while the Sooke Bluffs was the most popular area to catch pinks and coho. The pink run is slowing down but anglers targeting them are getting limits. The coho have been increasing in numbers and are relatively shallow, within the top 50 feet of water. Most of the coho are unclipped. If you’re not getting action close to shore, try fishing deeper or farther out in the strait. Most of the coho being caught are not clipped, but many are being seen at the docks. Halibut fishing was SLOW. Crabbing and shrimping has been HIT OR MISS in Sooke Basin.
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT this past week. Cheanuh Marina reports “STELLAR” salmon fishing, with most boats limiting out. Pink and coho salmon are inside the bay as well as outside in the strait, so anglers can escape the wind and still catch limits. The Trap Shack and Beechey Head was the hot spot for chinooks. Smaller sized spoons, pink squirts and anchovies have been the most popular lures. Spoons such as Krippled “KC”, Skinny G’s, Wee G’s, and AP Tackleworks have been working well. Anchovies in the 12 pack or smaller sizes were best and popular choices for teaser head colors being Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Popular flashers have been the Betsey, the Bon Chovy, the Madi and Blue/Silver Hot Spots. It really didn’t matter too much what you were using as all methods produced fish. Crabbing has been HIT OR MISS. Halibut fishing was SLOW.
The South Vancouver Island Action Committee held their 2023 Salish Sea Salmon Challenge Derby on Saturday. This year there were 146 tickets sold, the most in the derby’s history. The winning fish was a 34.1 lb chinook caught by Breanne Harvey. Breanne won the $2,920 first place prize and the side bet of $1,850. Just 2 weekends before, Breanne won the Pacific Gateway Marina Summer Chinook Shootout held in Port Renfrew!
Pedder Bay
Salmon fishing has been EXCELLENT around Pedder Bay. The chinook fishing has been best around the Navy Can at the mouth of the bay and by church Rock. There are lots of feeder springs being caught as well as the adult chinooks. The pink fishing has been SLOWING DOWN but anglers targeting them are still getting limits. Church Rocks and the Bedfords have been the best spots for pinks. More coho are being caught and about 1/5 of them are clipped. Spoons such as Krippled “KC”, Skinny G’s, Wee G’s, and AP Tackleworks have been working well. Anchovies in the 12 pack or smaller sizes were best and popular choices for teaser head colors being Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Popular flashers have been the Betsey, the Bon Chovy, and Green/Glow Hot Spots. It really didn’t matter too much what you were using as all methods produced fish. Halibut fishing was SLOW Lingcod and rockfish fishing was FAIR. Crabbing has been HIT OR MISS with a mix of Dungeness and Red Rock crabs.
Victoria
Salmon fishing has been GOOD all along the waterfront. The pink salmon run is slowing down but there are still pinks being caught. Constance Bank and Albert Head were GOOD as well, but you don’t have to travel that far to get into good fishing. Chinook fishing was best off the waterfront at Macaulay Point, Clover Point and Trial Island. Small spoons, pink squirts and anchovies have been the most popular lures. There are lots of smaller feeder springs being caught as well as the mature returning salmon. Spoons such as Krippled “KC”, Skinny G’s, Wee G’s, and AP Tackleworks have been working very well. Anchovies in the 12 pack or smaller sizes were best and popular choices for teaser head colors being Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Popular flashers have been the Betsey, the Bon Chovy, the Madi and Blue/Silver Hot Spots. It really didn’t matter too much what you were using as all methods produced fish. Halibut fishing was SLOW at Constance Bank. Crabbing has been HIT OR MISS with a mix of Dungeness and Red Rock crabs.
The Clover Point Anglers’ Association held their 29th Annual Salmn Derby this past week. The winning fish was a 15 lb 8 oz chinook caught by Lance Foreman. Secon place went to Rebecca Tessaro for a 14 lb 5 oz chinook. Third place went to Paul Wardell for a 12 lb 8 oz chinook.
Oak Bay
Salmon fishing has been SPOTTY in this area. Springs are being caught on the Flats and in the Gap while pink and coho salmon are coming from Discovery and Trial Islands. Most anglers have been trolling, but anglers jigging have been doing just as well. The best chinook fishing has been for fish holding close to the bottom, but some catches are coming from midwater levels. Effective spoons this past week were the AP Margarita, Green/Glow Skinny Gs, Wee Gs. and Coho Killers. Lingcod fishing was SLOW by Discovery Island. Crabbing has been HIT OR MISS.
Sidney
Chinook fishing was GOOD for springs being near Fairfax, Coal Island and Hamley Point.,. Some lingcod have also been taken this past week near Coal Island. Lingcod and rockfish fishing has been FAIR. Prawning has been FAIR in the Inlet. Crabbing has been HIT OR MISS.
Recreational prawn and shrimp fishers are advised that the harvest of prawns and shrimp by trap, ring net, or spear while diving, will close in the following Subareas as described in the Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations: Subareas 19-7 to 19-12 inclusive (Saanich Inlet);
These areas will be closed for the following periods:
from 00:01 hours September 5 until 23:59 hours September 15,
from 00:01 hours October 1 until 23:59 hours October 15,
from 00:01 hours November 1 until 23:59 hours November 15,
from 00:01 hours December 1 until 23:59 hours December 15,
from 00:01 hours January 1, 2024, until further notice.
Saltwater Notable Catches
The South Vancouver Island Action Committee held their 2023 Salish Sea Salmon Challenge Derby on Saturday and the winning fish was a 34.1 lb chinook caught by Breanne Harvey. The Clover Point Anglers’ Association held their 29th Annual Salmn Derby this past week. The winning fish was a 15 lb 8 oz chinook caught by Lance Foreman. Secon place went to Rebecca Tessaro for a 14 lb 5 oz chinook. Third place went to Paul Wardell for a 12 lb 8 oz chinook.
Freshwater Report
Freshwater Overview
Trout and bass fishing was SLOW this past week.
The Cowichan River downstream of the weir at Cowichan Lake is now closed until November 15th.
Single barbless hooks: must be used in all streams of region 1, all year. Bait ban: applies to all streams of region 1, all year, with some important exceptions (see water specific regulations table in the synopsis for exceptions). All wild trout caught in streams must be released.
Notices
Cowichan River
The Cowichan River is now closed until November 15th.
Trout
Trout fishing has been SLOW at most local lakes. The best fishing has been in the Elk and Langford Lake where there is colder deep water. Shore anglers use Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, and worms while fishing close to the bottom. Fly anglers are mostly fishing Woolly Buggers, Leeches and Chironomid patterns. Trollers are catching the most trout with worms fished on Gibbs Wedding Bands behind Gang Trolls.
To find out about fish 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
Fishing is SLOWER in all lakes. The bass are now in the summer pattern. From what we’ve heard, we are between summer and fall patterns. The bigger bass are holding around 15 to 20 feet deep but coming up to feed. There’s not many around the shallows but small ones. Bass caught this past weekend were taking reaction baits, dropshot with minnows, or similar lures. Most of the action has been in the mornings and evenings.
Fish Tip of the Week
At this time of the year, you need to pay particular attention to fishery openings and closures. It almost seems as if some areas are only open for salmon 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 web site to find out what opportunities are available and avoid any unpleasant surprises.
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