Fishing Report for Week Ending May 26, 2013

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY for springs (Chinooks) in most areas. There are more over the slot size wild springs being caught now, especially near Sooke, and they have to be released. Halibut fishing was SLOW on the big tides this past weekend.

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IN SEASON FISHERY RESTRICTIONS

 

Effective until 23:59 hours June 15, 2013 in Subareas 19-1 to 19-4 and Subarea 20-5 (those waters near Victoria between Cadboro Pt to Sheringham Pt.), the daily limit is two (2) chinook salmon per day which may be wild or hatchery marked between 45 cm and 67 cm or hatchery marked greater than 67 cm in length. Effective until 23:59 hours June 14, 2013 in Subareas 18-1 to 18-6, 18-9, 18-11, and 19-5, effective immediately until 23:59 hours June 14, 2013 the daily limit is two (2) chinook salmon per day of which only one (1) chinook may be greater than 67 cm.

Effective April 1, 2013 until further notice: The maximum length for halibut is 126 cm. The daily limit for halibut is one (1). The possession limit for halibut is two (2), only one of which may be greater than 83cm in length. There will be an annual limit of six (6) halibut per license.  All halibut retained by the license holder shall be immediately recorded in ink on the Tidal Waters Sport Fishing license.  The area from which each halibut is caught and its length shall immediately be recorded on license.

 



 

PORT RENFREW – Salmon fishing has been GOOD for springs. There are no size restrictions in this area and anglers are catching good sized springs that they would have to release elsewhere on the south Island. Halibut fishing has been GOOD too. The marina is now open as well.



SOOKE – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY in the area. Hatchery marked springs, weighing up to 15 lbs, were caught this past weekend, and there were more much larger unmarked springs in the area that had to be released. The best action seems to be from Secretary Island westward to Otter Point in about 120 to 220 feet of water with the baits down from 50 ft to 90ft. That said, it wouldn’t hurt to try some of the shallower areas if you’re not getting them in the deeper water. Anchovies are catching the most springs and Green glow, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads are popular when fishing bait for springs.

Halibut – Halibut fishing was SLOW over the weekend out past Muir Creek and towards near Point No Point and Jordan River. A few  halibut up to 30 lbs were caught. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

BECHER BAY–Fishing was FAIR for springs. The best fishing was inside the bay, between the Bedford Island and Beechey Head. Anglers are hitting the fish between 50 to 90 feet on the downrigger. Most of the fish are less than 15 lbs, but larger wild salmon up to 30 lbs have been caught and released. We‘ve been told that about 70% of the smaller springs caught are fin clipped. Many anglers are finding bait out producing artificial lures now, with anchovies being most popular choice of bait. The best teaser heads for anchovies were Green Glow, Purple Haze and the Bloody Nose. Quite a few halibut were also seen coming into the marina.

PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was NOT TOO BAD this past week, but most anglers were not out fishing for salmon. The best areas were near William Head and the Can Buoy at the mouth of the bay and Church Rock.  Don Crow picked up a 19.6 lb hatchery spring near William Head. Church Rock also produced a few fish too. Most hatchery marked springs caught went from 6 to 15 lbs in size. The fish were higher up in the water column, around 50 to 70 feet. Anchovies were the most productive bait with Green Glow, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze teaser heads effective. Squirts will work too with UV colors like the Jellyfish, Purple Haze and Electric Chair the best patterns. The best flashers have been the Purple Glow and Purple Haze. 4” Coyote type spoons have been effective at times, with Green/Silver and Green/White Glow good patterns.

Halibut – Halibut fishing was SLOW in the Race Rocks area. Only a few halibut were caught and they were all on the small size. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

VICTORIA – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week along the waterfront. Strong currents and big tides made fishing difficult and slow at Constance Bank. Most anglers fishing the bank are using artificial lures and trolling with the currents rather than against them. Good lures are Electric Chair, Purple Haze and Glo Below squirts. Closer in, it was spotty as well. Anchovies seem to be working better close in, and the best depths to fish have been from 60 to 90 feet. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and the Glo Below. Coho Killer spoons have been effective also with the UV Purple Haze patterns very popular. Good flashers have been the Green/Glow and Green/Silver Hot Spots.

Halibut – Halibut fishing was SPOTTY over the week at Constance Bank due to the strong currents. Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was SLOW on the Oak Bay Flats. Anglers are catching fin clipped springs up to 16 lbs, but some large wild fish up to 20 lbs have been released there too. The best bet for springs is trolling near the bottom in 70 to 130 feet of water with squirts, Baitrix tiny strip, small anchovy or Coho Killer spoons. Good squirts were the Electric Chair, Pickle Green, J-79 and Jellyfish. With spoons, 3½” or 4” Gypsy, Titans, and Coyotes in Cop Car or Silver/Green colors and the Gold Star Coho Killer. Glow in the dark flashers would be the best choice for springs now.

Halibut – Halibut fishing was SLOW over the weekend. Mackerel, Extra Large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus are the most popular baits for halibut. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was FAIR in the Sidney area. The best locations have been Moresby Island and Coal Island. There’s a mix of mostly smaller salmon with a few big ones thrown in. Many anglers have been fishing for springs using anchovies in Bloody Nose, Purple Haze and UV Green teaser heads. Squirts have been out producing hootchies recently and the hot patterns for springs now are Purple Haze, Glow Below and Electric Chair. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and 50/50 colors.

NOTABLE CATCHES – Don Crow picked up a 19.6 lb hatchery spring near William Head

Please send photos and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

FRESHWATER

We now have a TROUT category as one of our annual leader board contests. To enter, just bring in your catch to be weighed at our store. There will be special prizes for the top 5 trout weighed in this year.

OVERVIEW – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. Bass fishing is PICKING UP. Please remember that bass are closed for retention on all southern island lakes through June 15^th. Anglers are further reminded of the following:" The use of single barbless hooks is mandatory in all streams in Region 1;" All foul hooked (i.e.: hooked other than in the mouth) must be returned to the river immediately.  ALL wild trout must be released on all streams in region 1 as well.

COWICHAN RIVER – The trout fishing is GOOD in the fly only section at the top end of the river. There are rainbows and cutthroat trout, as well as resident brown trout that are active right now. Bead head nymphs are the top producer there. Patterns recently include the Golden Stonefly, Pheasant Tail nymphs, Prince Nymphs, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears and Elk Hair caddis.

TROUT – Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. The Vancouver Island Fish hatchery has released 59,247 trout have been into lakes on Vancouver Island this year.

Warm weather has brought increased activity by both insects and fish. Trout can now be found scattered at all depths and they have been feeding heavily on chironomids and mayflies. Bank anglers are catching trout on both Powerbait, Gulp! Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore. Chartreuse and Orange have been good colours recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are using Chironomids, Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches or Micro Leech patterns and fishing deep. Trollers have been doing OK with a variety of lures but we’ve heard tat the Orange Hot Shot has been good. The Rhys Davis Baitrix Trout lures and UV Mini Strip Teasers work well for larger fish too. Other good trolling lures are the Apex Trout Killers with the police car one of the best and the black with silver glitter spots taking second place. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 5 to 7 in Frog, Yellow with Red Spots or Blue/Silver. Smaller Rapalas in Rainbow Trout or Brown Trout patterns also work well. Lastly, Willow Leaf Lake trolls with a worm-tipped GIBBS Wedding Band will almost always catch some fish. The biggest trout have come from Langford Lake with Elk Lake being your next best bet to hook into a real “lunker”. By the way, all wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.

BASS - Bass fishing is PICKING UP as we get close to spawning time. Crank baits have been effective when fished around 12 feet down with a slow retrieve. Look for the fish suspended by drop offs close to shore. Some bass though have started to move into shallower water prior to spawning.  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. Please remember that bass are closed for retention on all southern island lakes through June 15^th.

Notable Catches – Please send photos and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

When fly fishing for trout in rivers, it is very important to check your flies frequently.  The small hooks are easily damaged or broken by rocks or hard objects. This can occur on a back cast or as the fly bounces along the river bottom.  Nothing is more frustrating than to miss a big fish and then find that the end off the hook was broken off on a previous cast.

Island Outfitters Leader Boards 2013

Salmon

1) 19.1 lbs – Christien MacDonell – Albert Head – Hootchy - January 19^th

Halibut

1) 113.2 lbs - Randy Lowe – Race Rocks – Hootchy/Herring -March 23 ^rd

2) 97.6 lbs – Ryan Prolyshyn – Constance Bank - March 22 ^nd

3) 75.8 lbs – Patrick Cunliffe – Race Rocks – March 17^th

4) 58.4 lbs - Jesse McCullough – Constance – Octopus – March 24^th 

5) 57.5 lbs – Justin Wilson – Race Rocks – Grub & Octopus – April 21^st

Trout

1) 7.1 lbs – Konrad Herrmann – Langford Lake – Leech fly - May 5^th

2) 3.5 lbs – Blair Cox – Elk Lake – March 23 ^rd

2013 DERBIES and EVENTS

Island Outfitters starts and ends the year with the free for fun and prizes Salmon and Halibut Leader Board. Simply weigh your catch in at Island Outfitters and the top five fish in each category on December 31^st wins a special prize. Everybody who enters a fish gets a prize! Maybe it will be you bringing in the big one!  Please let us know as early as possible about your upcoming events in 2013!

See our event pages for upcoming events and like us on facebook!