Fishing Report for Week Ending May 1, 2016
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW –Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT for the 20th Annual Just for the Halibut Derby. Go to our facebook page for over 100 pictures of the derby and the anglers with their catches. Salmon fishing was FAIR to GOOD in most areas. Lingcod and rockfish opened for retention on May 1st with a daily limit of 1 lingcod and 1 rockfish.
For the latest details on recreational fishery 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; or C) Follow our sport fishing Twitter account https://twitter.com/sportfishingbc
The 20th Annual Just for Halibut Derby was held this past weekend and it was a great success! Fabulous weather and light wind conditions contributed to making this derby one of the best ever. There were 480 tickets sold and 168 halibut entered in the derby. First place and winner of a $7,500 cash prize was Jeff Brohman who caught a 73.9 lb halibut off the Sooke bluffs on Saturday. Second place and a $2,500 cash prize went to Marty Antcil who caught a 71.3 lb halibut near William Head. Third place and winner of a $1,000 cash prize was Kevin Hicks who caught a 38.9 lb halibut south of Trial Island. Kinglsey Grant was the winner of the oversize release halibut and winner of a Port Renfrew charter fishing trip. He released 2 big halibut, one at 184 cm in length and an estimated 200 lbs. Gary Fiege also released a 180+ cm long halibut. Visit our facebook page for pictures of the final leader board and top 24 prizes as well as pictures of all the fish as they were being weighed in. 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 FAIR for springs this past week. Most of the salmon have not been very large, with the exception of some unclipped springs that were caught and released. Anchovies have been the top bait recently, especially with Cop Car and Purple Haze teaser heads. The 3”-4” Kingfisher, Gypsy and G-Force spoons, as well as hoochies, are also top choices for Sooke anglers. Good colors have been Kitchen Sink, Irish Cream and No Bananas. Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been ones with Moon Jelly patterns such as the Madi and the Lemon Lime.
BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD for anglers at Beechey Head and in the Bay. Most of the chinooks were running from 7 to 12 lbs in size but there were some larger hatchery springs around. There some good size unclipped springs that were caught and released as well. Anglers have been successful with all types of gear. Anchovies in glow teaser heads have been very effective. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Cop Car, Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were also effective. For flashers, the Madi, Lemon Lime and Purple Onion have been good. Some halibut up to 50 lbs were also brought back to the marina. There were also quite a lot of halibut brought into Cheanuh Marina from Race Rocks and points east.
PEDDER BAY –Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. There were lots of springs in the mid teens at Whirl Bay but also some small ones. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom, often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom, in 120-150 feet of water, while others are getting nice fish at 60 – 80 feet in 80’ of water along the kelp beds and rocky shore lines.. Small spoons, such as the G-Force, Coyote and Gypsy, in the glow and/or green colours were very effective. Hootchies and squirts also produced well. Flashers that remain popular include Glow green, Lemon-Lime and Madi.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past week. Best areas were Race Rocks, William Head, 27 Fathom reef and Constance Bank. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was FAIR off Victoria but GOOD at Constance Bank. Most of the fish on the bank have been just around the minimum size for retention. However, if you stick ip out, there are some better fish to 16 lbs available. Not many of the fish were reported to have come from close in along the waterfront, although I did hear of a 15 lb hatchery Chinook that was caught off Brotchie Ledge. Anchovies were a good bait to use and Bloody Nose and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and White Glow. Coho Killers, AP Needlefish, G Force and Coyote spoons in Green Splatterback, Moon Glow and Cop Car colours have also been good. The Lemon Lime and Madi have been effective flashers lately.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past weekend. The best areas have been Constance Bank, Border Bank and the Mud Hole. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week and much slower than the week before. The Flats have been holding some springs up to 12 lbs and the fish have been feeding heavily on needle fish. It’s been best in 60-140 depths. Good trolling lures have been Green Splatterback Coho Killers, Skinny G spoons and APT Needlefish spoons. Drift anglers have been getting fish on Needlefish Darts.
HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was EXCELLENT this past weekend. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use Mudraker, Lucky or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.
SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was HOT early in the week but was cooling down by the weekend. Coal Island and both sides of Fairfax Point were the hot spots this past week. That said, all areas around Sidney produced springs into the teens and low twenties. Many trollers are fishing with tiny strip or anchovies in Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Others are using Coho Killer, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackle needlefish spoons and they are catching fish as well. Anglers jigging have also been catching a lot of springs and are using Needlefish Darts and Deep Stingers. The Powder wharf area has been especially good for jigging salmon.
Notable Catches – Miles Desroches was fishing about 4 miles from Pedder Bay and 2-3 miles east of Race Rocks on a shallow bank in about 160 feet water depth when he pulled up a complete halibut fishing rod and reel with some line still on the reel. It looked like it's been down there at least a year from all the barnacles and weeds attached to it.
Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FRESHWATER
OVERVIEW – Fishing is PICKING UP in most lakes for both trout and bass. Warmer weather has really made the fish more active and the insect hatches have increased. All bass fishing is closed to retention until June 15th.
COWICHAN RIVER – The water level is still fairly low for this time of year and the water level is 0.70 meters at the lake and 0.68 meters near Duncan today. Fly fishing at the top end of the river for trout has been good and insect hatches are becoming common. The rainbows, cutthroats and resident brown trout are actively feeding on these hatches and migrating salmon fry. Bead head nymphs are the top producer there. Good patterns are Pheasant Tail, Prince, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears and Stone fly nymphs. A fry imitation or a Wooly Bugger will also work, especially for the brown trout. When the fish are feeding on the surface, the Goddard Caddis has been a good fly to fish..
TROUT – Trout fishing is PICKING UP on most lakes in the South Island area. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing close to 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 are catching trout 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. Ron flower caught a 3 lb 9 oz rainbow trout at Quamichan Lake on a Black Wedding Band spinner.
BASS - All bass fishing is closed to retention until June 15th. Bass fishing is PICKIING UP. At this time of year some of the bass are moving into the shallows and many are on spawning beds. Look for the fish suspended by drop offs close to shore along docks, branches, and any overhanging structure. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. Crank baits have been effective too when fished with a fast retrieve. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is also a good choice when fishing drop offs and docks, most productive in 4” Yum bait colors 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 – Fishing buddies Matt Beeby, Ryan Rock, and Bernard Schedler came in to the store with three nice trout from a small mountain lake near Duncan. Matt’s rainbow trout was the largest at 2 lbs 11 oz and the other two anglers each had a 2 lb 4 oz rainbow. All the trout were caught on a Black Leech fly.
Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
When fishing for trout with Power Bait, always make sure the hook is completely covered by the bait. You don’t want the trout to feel any metal when they gently mouth the bait. And don’t use too heavy a weight as to alarm the fish when it picks up the bait.
2016 Island Outfitters Leader Board
Halibut
1) 75.8 lbs – Walker Grant – Waterfront – Herring - March 27th
2) 73.9 lbs – Jeff Brohman - Sooke Bluffs – April 30th
3) 71.3 lbs – Marty Antcil – William Head – April 30th
4) 68.9 lbs – Kevin Hicks – Trial Island – April 30th
5) 68.4 lbs – Wayne Boyd – Constance Bank - February 7th
Trout
1) 3 lbs 14 oz – Kody Stofer – Elk Lake – Salmon Eggs - January 26th
2) 3 lbs 9 oz – Ron Flower – Quamichan Lake – Wedding Band- April 23rd
3) 2 lbs 11 oz – Matt Beeby – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30th
4) 2 lbs 4 oz – Ryan Rock – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30th
5) 2 lbs 4 oz – Bernard Schedler – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30th
Salmon
We are now waiting for the first salmon of the year to be weighed in at thestore. So, bring your next big salmon in for the contest!
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.
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