Fishing Report for Week Ending September 20, 2015

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY most of this past week. The number of chinooks being caught is dropping as these fish head to the rivers. The coho are starting to appear out in the deeper waters of the strait, but they are mostly unmarked and not available for retention. The pink salmon fishing is basically over. Halibut fishing was FAIRfor those targeting this species.

Please note that there are salmon and other fishery closures in effect in numerous areas of BC’s tidal waters. For the latest details on openings and closures in your area:  A) Call 1-866-431-FISH or 604-666-2828 (24-hour phone line); or B) Visit our web page http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm to find applicable fishery notices; orC) 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 – The salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week. The springs were not as abundant and were scattered in all areas. Most of the springs were weighing between 10 to 20 lbs, but there were some into the high twenties caught. The bigger springs are being caught in the 35 - 75 ft depths. Coho are being caught, usually out in the shipping lanes and in 300+ feet of water. Sockeye and wild coho still have to be released. There are very few pink salmon around but a few chum have been caught. Anchovies are the number one choice of bait for Sooke anglers. Teaser heads that have been performing well are Chartreuse, Green Glow Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. G-Force spoons in Outfitters, Irish Cream and No Bananas have been catching their fair number of fish. Coho Killers have been quite effective in catching pinks. The most popular flashers recently have been the Ok’i Betsey, the Gibbs Outfitter and the Madi.

 

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was SPOTTY in East Sooke. The Trap Shack was the most productive location over the week. The best fishing there has been in tight to shore in 100 feet of water or less and between 40 – 75 feet on the downrigger. Most springs were running from 10 to 20 lbs in size with the occasional one in the twenties landed. More hatchery coho are showing up in the catches and a lot fewer pinks. The best coho and pink fishing has been on the flood tide in the tide lines far out in the strait. Anchovies were the most productive bait for the springs and No Bananas and Halloween Candy were productive teaser heads. However, spoons and plastic baits have been popular as well. The Glow/Green Stripe hootchy has been effective for springs this past week. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in the Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were effective. For flashers, the Lemon Lime, Super Betsey and the Purple Onion have been good.

 

PEDDER BAY – Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. The salmon were sparsely spread throughout the area, but Church Rock and Whirl Bay Rock produced the most fish. Some coho (mostly unmarked) and the odd pink salmon were being caught with most of those are coming from deep water (600 feet or more) south of Whirl Bay. Anchovy was the most productive bait when trolling for springs with Glow Green and Bloody Nose being top choices in teaser heads Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in the Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were effective Flashers that remain popular include Super Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Purple Onion.

 

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past midweek. Terry Messer landed a 65.6 lb halibut while fishing near William Head. Anglers that were fishing were using mackerel, extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. 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 – Fishing for springs was SPOTTY along the waterfront. The springs were spread out from Esquimalt to Trial Island, depending on the tide. Anglers have to search quite a bit when looking for a spring, but when they find one it’s usually pretty good in size. Bruce Cook caught a 36.1 lb spring on anchovy while fishing near the Victoria Breakwater. Constance Bank has been good, especially in the earlier part of the week. The coho are still not here in large numbers, but Constance Bank and the shipping lanes have produced best for coho. Anchovies, spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Chartreuse and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and Glow white. Gibbs Coho Killers, AP Needlefish and Coyote spoons in green, moon glow and silver colours have been very effective. The Lemon Lime and Bon Chovy flasher has been very effective recently. The Glow Green Splatter Back Coho Killer has been a very effective out at the Constance Bank.



 

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend. Anglers report that the dogfish were less of a problem this past week. Most anglers that were fishing were using mackerel, extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. 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 SPOTTY this past week. Most salmon were caught when fishing with lures right on the bottom (60-110 ft) on the Flats and by the Gap. The fish were hitting needlefish spoon and squirts. Anglers also caught fish jigging right on the bottom. G-force and Skinny G spoons in No Bananas and Outfitter colours worked just fine. Coho Killers in Gold Nugget and Green Splatterback have been pretty productive too. The best flasher has been the Gibbs Lemon Lime and the Bon Chovy.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend out in Haro Strait and off Discovery Island. 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 near Sidney. The salmon have been most abundant close to Pender Bluffs and most boats are getting fish there. The springs are still there in decent numbers and they have been hitting white hootchies hootchies trolled between 90 - 130 feet on the downrigger. Some of the springs are in the high twenties in size. There are still some pinks around, just not too many. Coho are also in the area and we’ve heard of both wild and hatchery fish caught. The pinks and coho have been holding around the 50 foot depths. Many anglers are fishing using anchovies in Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Squirts have been out-producing hootchies and the hot patterns for springs now are Orange/Black/White, Purple Haze and Electric Chair. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and Gold Nugget. 

 

Notable Catches – Bruce Cook caught a 36.1 lb spring on anchovy while fishing near the Victoria Breakwater.  Terry Messer landed a 65.6 lb halibut while fishing near William Head.

Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

 

FRESHWATER

OVERVIEW – Fishing is GOOD on most lake. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.

The salmon conservation measures that were put in place due to low flows and high water temperature have been rescinded. This notice re-opens the 2015 river opportunities in Regions 1-1 to 1-13 with the exception of the Cowichan River. The Cowichan River remains closed at this time.

TROUT – Trout fishing was GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area this past week. Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore and right on the bottom. Orange Garlic and Pink Garlic have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers have been doing well with Gibbs Gang Trolls and Gibbs Wedding Bands. Other good trolling lures are the Apex Trout Killers in rainbow, green or black and white patterns. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 5 to 7 in Frog, Black with Silver Flake or Rainbow Pattern.

BASS - Bass fishing is GOOD. Soft plastics rigged Carolina style are working well and crank baits too. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks. The most productive colors in 4” Yum baits are Smoke or Pumpkinseed. 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.

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

 

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK 

Go where the fish are! This time of year the salmon are migrating to the rivers to spawn. If you want to catch the big ones now you should head towards river mouths where the fish stage before heading upstream. And be sure to keep abreast of any fishery notices or closures.

 

Island Outfitters Leader Board 2015

Salmon

1) 39.4 lbs – Justin Wilson – Church Rock – Anchovy - July 5^th

2) 38.2 lbs – Jordan Game – Sooke – Anchovy – July 18^th

3) 36.1 lbs – Bruce Cook – Breakwater – Anchovy - September 17^th

4) 34.4 lbs – Peter Tang – Trap shack – Anchovy - September 4^th

5) 33.7 lbs – Dave Byers – Church Rock – Anchovy – September 6^th

 

Halibut

1) 70.4 lbs – Mike Koff – Oak Bay - Octopus – April 26^th

2) 69.1 lbs – Mike Paltinger – Haro Strait – Herring - April 25^th

3) 67.3 lbs – Rick Lelonde – Oak Bay – April 25^th

4) 65.9 lbs – Marty Pinchin – Mud Hole – March 30^th

5) 65.8 lbs – Adam West – Zero Rock – Mackerel – April 25^th

 

Trout

1) 4 lbs 7 oz – Bryan Barter – Fuller Lake – March 8^th

2) 4 lbs 5 oz– Chris Findlow – Elk Lake – August 7^th

3) 4 lbs 3 oz– Paul Tilley – Langford Lake – January 17^th

4) 4 lbs 2 oz– Doug Burnit – Dougan Lake – May 9^th

5) 3 lbs 13 oz – Mike Reid – Elk Lake – March 8^th

 

2015 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 31^st wins a special prize.

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