Fishing Report Week Ending July 10, 2016

SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Both salmon and halibut fishing PICKED UP A LTTLE this past week. Some hatchery coho are starting to be caught in Juan de Fuca strait as well as the chinooks.

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); 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

Effective until 23:59 hours July 15, 2016 in Waters: Subareas 19-1 to 19-4 and Subareas 20-4 and 20-5, the daily limit is two (2) chinook which must be either wild or hatchery-marked if between 45 and 85 cm or hatchery marked if greater. The minimum size limit for chinook salmon in these waters is 45 cm.

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 BUT PICKING UP this past week. Sombrio and Sheringham Points were the best spots for fish. One day, the creel survey recorded 20 salmon kept from 20 boats surveyed. A few hatchery coho were in the mix. Most springs are not too large but there are some large, unclipped springs in the area as well as some fin clipped springs up to 24 lbs. Kieran Cardinal picked up a 24 lb spring on anchovy at 55’ in a UV Chart Flash teaser head. Thomas Brandwood picked up a 20 lb spring on anchovy at 47’ in a UV Chart Flash teaser head while fishing with Kieran. The top choices for Sooke anglers are the White Lightening or Irish Cream Coho Killers trolling behind the Madi or Bon Chovi Flasher. Hootchies in Cop Car, Purple haze and White have been effective in the past month. Anglers fishing off Sherringham Point, Otter Point and the Bluffs have had the most success this past week.

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY BUT PICKING UP this past week. The Trap Shack, Beechey Head, and Aldridge Point were the most productive locations to fish. Most of the chinooks were running less than 10 lbs in size but there were few larger ones too. Gordy Caruthers caught a 14 lb spring at the Trap shack on anchovy fished in a glow green/white teaser fished at 69’. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working well still. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours were also effective. For flashers, the Purple Onion, Lemon Lime and Bon Chovi have been good. Very few halibut were brought into the marina.

PEDDER BAY –Salmon fishing was HOT AND COLD this past week. Almost all the salmon were caught inside the bay. There was a lot of bait in the bay and anglers jigging near the bait schools were hooking salmon. The springs were mostly on the small side, but fish up to 18 lbs were taken. There has also been the occasional chinook that is over the slot limit size for retention. Anchovies also caught fish, but not as many. Flashers that are popular include the Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Madi.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend. The 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 9” Jumbo Squids if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SPOTTY BUT PICKING UP off Victoria. The best fishing was out at Constance Bank where most fish were taken. There were a few caught along the waterfront too. On Saturday, Ken Bury used a 2½ oz Delta Mac Fish jig to land a 21¼ lb hatchery fish while jigging near a bait ball in 35 feet of water. He also had 3 other springs on the line for a while. Anchovies were a good bait to use and Glow and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads.  Spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups as well. Good choices in plastic baits are the Pink Haze and White Glow. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers, Gibbs Outfitters or Bon Chovi Skinny G trolling behind a Moon Jelly flasher has also brought results in Victoria.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week with the best areas remaining being East Constance Bank, Border Bank and the Mud Hole. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well, and discouraging to dogfish, was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. There are some fish in the area, just not too many of them and they were scattered. Anglers fishing with bait have been using anchovies or tiny strip in Glow teaser heads.  Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons and APT Needlefish spoons. Drift anglers have been using Needlefish Darts or Deep Stingers.

Rich Allen, son Tom, Greg Wild and son Jack caught halibut with weights of 54, 52, 51 and 43 lbs in southwest Haro Strait. Rich Allen, son Tom, Greg Wild and son Jack caught halibut with weights of 54, 52, 51 and 43 lbs in southwest Haro Strait.


HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week. The halibut being brought in were ranging from 20- 60 lbs. Rich Allen, son Tom, Greg Wild and son Jack caught halibut with weights of 54, 52, 51 and 43 lbs in southwest Haro Strait. They were using salmon and greenling heads to fend off the dogfish and fishing  in 275 feet of water. Anglers that were fishing were using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow. Also working well, and discouraging to dogfish, was the 9” Jumbo Squid in Green Glow.

SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was VERY SLOW this past week. Most everyone was getting skunked.  Trollers fishing with tiny strip or anchovies were using Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackle needlefish spoons were successful. Anglers jigging have also been catching springs and are using Needlefish Darts and Deep Stingers. The Powder Wharf and Shag Rocks area are popular for jigging salmon.

Notable Catches – Kieran Cardinal picked up a 24 lb spring on anchovy at 55’ in a UV Chart Flash teaser head. Thomas Brandwood picked up a 20 lb spring on anchovy at 47’ in a UV Chart Flash teaser head while fishing with Kieran at Sheringham. Ken Bury used a 2½ oz Delta Mac Fish jig to land a 21¼ lb hatchery spring while jigging near a bait ball in 35 feet of water off the waterfront. Rich Allen, son Tom, Greg Wild and son Jack caught halibut with weights of 54, 52, 51 and 43lbs in southwest Haro Strait. 

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

 

FRESHWATER


OVERVIEW – Fishing is GOOD in most lakes for both trout and bass. All streams within Management Units 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6, except the Big Qualicum River, the Puntledge River and the Quinsam River are closed to fishing until further notice.

TROUT – Trout fishing is GOOD 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. Chartreuse and Fluorescent Yellow 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.  2” Tomic Plugs have also been working well for Trout.

BASS - Bass fishing is EXCELLENT. At this time of year most of the bass are in the shallows.  During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well too. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style” are 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


After you catch a fish, always, always, always, check your leader for tooth marks or scratches. It’s amazing how often you seem to hook and lose that big monster of a fish to a broken leader. It probably wouldn’t have happened if you had noticed the small scratches left on the leader during a previous battle with a fish.


 

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

1) 33.7 lbs – Archie Currie – Anchovy – Point Renfrew – July 1st

2) 24.0 lbs – Kieran Cardinal – Anchovy – Sherringham Point - July 8th

3) 20.0 lbs – Thomas Brandwood - Anchovy – Sherringham Point - July 7th

4) 14.0 lbs – Gordy Caruthers – Anchovy – Trap Shack – July 9th

 

We are now waiting for the first salmon of the year to be weighed in at the store. 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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