Fishing Report for Week Ending July 17, 2016

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Both salmon and halibut fishing was SPOTTY this past week. Some hatchery coho are being 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 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

 

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. Otter Point and Secretary Island were the best spots for fish. Anglers fishing off Sherringham Point, Otter Point and the Bluffs have had the most success this past week. Most of the springs not very big but there are some large springs up to 30 lbs in the area. Anchovies are now the top choice for bait. and good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse , Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. The top spoons 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.

The 11th Annual Consultants Invitational Fishing Derby, an invitational event hosted by the civil engineering community of Victoria to raise funds for the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society, was held this past Saturday. The winning salmon was a 30 lb 3 oz chinook caught by Lorne Mitchell. The 2^nd place salmon was a 25 lb 6 oz chinook caught by David Bonella. Scott Adams placed 3^rd with a 24 lb 10 oz chinook. The largest bottomfish was a 3 lb 3 oz Rockfish caught by Hayden Earle. All told, there were 32 chinook, 2 pink salmon and 3 rockfish weighed in. Only 6 salmon weighed more than twenty pounds. It was very slow fishing considering how many boats and anglers were in the derby.

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY 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. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working well. 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.

PEDDER BAY –Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week. Almost all the salmon caught near the entrance of Pedder Bay. There was a lot of bait in the bay and anglers jigging near the bait schools were hooking the most salmon. Many of the jiggers were getting limits while anglers trolling were getting skunked. The springs were mostly on the small side, but fish up to 20 lbs were taken.. Anchovies also caught fish, but not as many as the ones taken jigging. Good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Flashers that are popular include the Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Madi.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was FAIR 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 off Victoria. The best fishing was out at Constance Bank where most fish were taken. There were a few caught along the waterfront near Esquimalt, but not very many. On Saturday, Garth Hallum caught a 7 lb hatchery coho on a spoon fished at 30’ off the waterfront.. Anchovies have been a good bait to use and Glow Green and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads.  Spoons and squirts have been 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 FAIR 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. There has been a lot of bait to hold fish, but the just haven’t shown up in any numbers. 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.



HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was FAIR this past week John Kinihan, Mike Kinihan, 17 year old Ben Kinihan and 19 year old Anthony Kinihan and Kingsley Grant had a good day with 3 of 4 halibut around the 50+ pound mark as well as Lingcod, Rockfish and a small salmon. The Halibut were all in 285 feet of water in South West Haro Strait on caught on salmon and greenling heads tipped with Gulp baits and Octopus to make the meal too big for the dogfish. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut 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. We’ve heard on one spring about 12 lbs being taken at Pender Bluffs and that’s about it. 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 – Garth Hallum caught a 7 lb hatchery coho on a spoon fished at 30’ off the waterfront. John Kinihan, Mike Kinihan, 17 year old Ben Kinihan and 19 year old Anthony Kinihan and Kingsley Grant had a good day with 3 of 4 halibut around the 50+ pound mark as well as Lingcod, Rockfish and a small salmon while fishing near Oak Bay. 

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

Now is the time to use to heavier leaders (40 to 50 lb Test) as the big mature chinook salmon migrate though local waters. With a lighter leader, your chance of losing a big spring to a weak spot or a nick in the leader is greatly increased. Be sure to check your leader after catching each fish to make sure that it is still in good shape. 

 

2016 Island Outfitters Leader Board

Halibut

1) 75.8 lbs – Walker Grant – Waterfront – Herring - March 27^th

2) 73.9 lbs – Jeff Brohman - Sooke Bluffs – April 30^th

3) 71.3 lbs – Marty Antcil – William Head – April 30^th

4) 68.9 lbs – Kevin Hicks – Trial Island – April 30^th

5) 68.4 lbs – Wayne Boyd – Constance Bank - February 7^th

 

Trout

1) 3 lbs 14 oz – Kody Stofer – Elk Lake – Salmon Eggs - January 26^th

2) 3 lbs 9 oz – Ron Flower – Quamichan Lake – Wedding Band- April 23^rd

3) 2 lbs 11 oz – Matt Beeby – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30^th

4) 2 lbs 4 oz – Ryan Rock – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30^th

5) 2 lbs 4 oz – Bernard Schedler – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30^th

 

Salmon

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

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

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

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

 

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 31^st wins a special prize.

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