Fishing Report for Week Ending August 4, 2013
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing is EXCELLLENT in most areas. Halibut fishing has also been FAIR TO GOOD, but there are lots of dogfish around.
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FISHERY RESTRICTIONS
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.
For the latest updates in DFO regulations go to http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=search_results&lang=en&ID=recreational&Year=2013
PORT RENFREW – Salmon fishing has been EXCELLENT both on the beach and out at Swiftsure Bank. On the banks there are lots of teen size springs and coho. Six inch Delta G Force spoons in Outfitters or No Bananas colors have been slaying the fish. Inshore, the “beach area” is producing mature springs into the forties, usually with anchovies for bait. Halibut fishing in the area remains strong.
SOOKE – Salmon fishing remains EXCELLENT for salmon. Most boats were catching limits of pinks all week and the number of springs taken has been increasing. Anglers fishing for springs are finding it difficult because the pinks are hitting their baits before the springs have a chance to get to them! Springs in the 20′s and 30′s were caught near Sherringham Point, Otter Point, the Bluffs and Possession Point, or just about anywhere. The best action seems to be in about 120 feet of water with the baits down from 50 ft to 75ft. Anchovies and herring are catching the most springs and Green glow, Bloody Nose, Mint Pearl and Purple Haze teaser heads are popular when fishing bait for springs. Flashers to use include the Super Betsy, Purple Onion, Sooke Specials, and the new Green Onion.
Halibut – Halibut fishing was GOOD over the weekend out past Muir Creek and towards near Point No Point and Jordan River. 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.
Rcik Taylor with his 57.2 lb spring salmon
BEECHER BAY– Fishing was EXCELLENT salmon. Limits of pinks are being caught by just about everyone who is targeting them. Spring fishing has been relatively good too with the fish running from 10 to 57.2 lbs. The best fishing for springs was around the Trap Shack and Beechey Head/Aldridge point area. Anglers are hitting the fish between 50 to 95 feet on the downrigger. The big fish of the week, if not the year, was a 57.2 lb spring caught by Rick Taylor near the Trap Shack. Many anglers are finding bait out producing artificial lures now, with anchovies being the most popular choice of bait. But bring lots of bait as the pinks are biting steadily. The best teaser heads for anchovies were Green Glow, Peanut Butter, Purple Haze, Chartreuse/Green Chrome and the Bloody Nose.
PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was EXCELLENT this past week. Lots of pinks were caught and most boats targeting pinks had limit catches. Most of the pinks are out in 300 to 500 feet of water and near the tide lines but you can get them closer in, even in the bay, on the flood tides. It hasn’t been too bad for springs either. The best areas were near Whirl Bay and Church Rock and towards the shipping lanes. 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 GOOD in the Race Rocks area. The 27 and 17 fathom banks and the reef off of William Head all produced halibut on the weekend. 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 GOOD this past week near Victoria. On Constance Bank anglers were catching lots of salmon, both springs and pinks and some big ones too! Springs as heavy as 30 lbs were caught on Coho Killer spoons on the bank. Closer in it was relatively good for springs, but the fishi were a bit smaller in size. Jim Hale caught 24½ & 21½ lb springs near Finlayson Point. Also, some pink salmon are now being caught closer in to shore on the start of the flooding currents. Most anglers fishing are using artificial lures and trolling close to bottom while fishing the Constance Bank. In close, anchovies are the lure of choice. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and the Glo Below. Gibbs Coho Killer, Kingfisher and Coyote spoons in all colours have been very effective. Good flashers have been the Green/Glow and Green/Silver Hot Spots.
Halibut – Halibut fishing was FAIR over the week at Constance Bank. 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 FAIR this past week. Spring salmon are the only fishing being caught here as the pinks have not shown up on the flats yet. The most popular method for catching springs is trolling near the bottom in 75 to 130 feet of water with squirts or spoons, Baitrix tiny strip, or small anchovy. That said, anglers jigging for salmon were catching as many if not more fish than the trollers this past week. Coho Killer spoons in Glow/Green worked well this past week. With spoons, 3” to 4” G-Force, Gypsy, Titans, and Coyotes in Cop Car or Silver/Green color will work just fine. Good squirts were the Electric Chair, Pickle Green, J-79 and Jellyfish.
Halibut – Halibut fishing was FAIR 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 GOOD in the Sidney area. The best location has been the Pender Bluffs where both spring and pink salmon are now being caught. The pinks have been between 30 to 80 feet down. Some springs are also being caught off the tip of Sidney Spit very early in the morning. There’s a mix of mostly smaller spring salmon with a few big ones up to 18lbs 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. Crabbing has been excellent.
NOTABLE CATCHES –The big salmon of the week, if not the year, was a 57.2 lb spring caught by Rick Taylor near the Trap Shack. Jim Hale caught 24½ & 21½ lb springs near Finlayson Point.
Please send photos and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FRESHWATER
OVERVIEW – Trout fishing is FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area. Bass fishing is GOOD as well. Carp fishing is EXCELLENT. Anglers are 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 SLOW in the fly only section at the top end of the river. It’s the time of year when the tubers outnumber the anglers! There are a few rainbows and cutthroat trout, as well as resident brown trout that are active right now. Bead head nymphs are the top producer. Patterns working recently include the Golden Stonefly, Pheasant Tail nymphs, Prince Nymphs, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears, Elk Hair caddis’ and Stimulators. With all the salmon fry in the river fly anglers should try streamers, such as muddlers and fry patterns swinging through pools on full sink or long sink tip fly lines, especially for the Brown’s and Cutthroat.
TROUT – Trout fishing is FAIR on most lakes in the South Island area. Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore. Chartreuse and Orange have been good colours recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are trolling Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers have been doing well with a variety of lures. 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, the jointed Rapalas have also been great for larger fish. Larger Willow Leaf Lake trolls with a size 6 hook tipped with a small 1-2″ piece of worm always produce fish. If fishing with a down rigger for trout, try finding the thermocline, this is usually between 15 and 25 feet this time of year in the local lakes. The biggest trout have come from Langford Lake and Elk Lake. All wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.
BASS - Bass fishing is GOOD. Crank baits have been effective when fished around 12 feet down with a fast retrieve. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks. Look for the fish suspended by drop offs close to shore along docks, branches, and any overhanging structure. 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. Gordy Cauthers caught and released a 5.5 lb smallmouth bass at Prospect Lake.
Carp- The simplest bait to prepare when time is an issue can be bought at your local grocery store. A few pieces of toast or bread rolls can sometimes be your best ticket to carp numbers. Bread balls are deadly. The preparation is simple and clean. Roll a small piece of bread into a ball, wet it with your saliva and onto the hook it goes. Use bread balls for surface feeders, as your bait has a tendency to float. A can of corn can provide a season of fun carping. They may seem to be unscented, but carp often find them irresistible. Thread several onto the hook so it is completely covered. If you want to make your own “Boilies”, a cup of flour mixed with a cup of corn meal should be the basic ingredients of your. Whatever you add on top of this will depend on you, or the fish. Since scent is strong factor, the addition of a strong, yet new smell to your bait can often produce surprising result. Scents that are commonly used include strawberry, vanilla, peanut butter, corn, yam, and curry. Just like other fisheries, use what you have confidence in and be sure to switch if one becomes unproductive. The magical bait does not exist; experimentation is the recipe to success.
Notable Catches – Please send photos and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
When checking your gear while salmon fishing, try to do it while you’re in a location where salmon are least likely to be caught. Most trolling locations have key areas of structure where the chance of getting a fish is most likely. Have your gear in the water there and check it when moving between hot spots, not at the hot spot.
Island Outfitters Leader Boards 2013
Salmon
1) 34.0 lbs – Duncan Watts – Sheringham Pt – Anchovy - July 6th
2) 31.6 lbs – Daryl Quenet – August 2nd
3) 28 lbs 14 oz – Jim Phillion - Port Renfrew – Anchovy -June 30th
4) 22 lbs 14 oz - Brian Sluggett- Port Renfrew – Anchovy -June 30th
5) 22.3 lbs – Antonio Soto - July 26th
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 17th
4) 58.4 lbs - Jesse McCullough – Constance – Octopus – March 24th
5) 57.5 lbs – Justin Wilson – Race Rocks – Grub & Octopus – April 21st
Trout
1) 7.1 lbs – Konrad Herrmann – Langford Lake – Leech fly - May 5th
2) 4 lbs15 oz -Duncan Watts – Langford Lake- Green Powerbait Eggs – May 27th
3) 3.5 lbs – Blair Cox – Elk Lake – March 23 rd
Carp
1) William Oliver – 34 carp weighed in, total 136.12 lbs.
2) Dan Morris – 6 carp weighed in, total 58 lbs 3 oz
3) Jodey Hillard - 7 carp weighed in, total 32 lbs 5 oz.
4) Paul Carreia- 3 carp weighed in, total 29.14 lbs.
5) Jayson Chavez – 3 carp weighed in, 25 lbs 10 oz
2013 DERBIES and EVENTS
Island Outfitters starts and ends the year with the free for fun and prizes Salmon, Trout and Halibut Leader Boards. Simply weigh your catch in at Island Outfitters and the top five fish in each category on December 31st wins a special prize. Everybody who enters a fish gets a prize! To enter, just bring in your catch to be weighed at our store.
We also have a CARP CULLING CONTEST. It’s time to get the carp numbers down in our local lakes. The Top 5 Carp anglers with the top combined total weights weighed in to our store will win a prize! The contest will go until June 1, 2014.
See our event pages for upcoming events and like us on facebook!