Fishing Report for Week Ending July 24, 2016

SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Both salmon and halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. That said, some larger, mature chinooks are being caught.

For the latest details on recreational fishery openings and closures in your area:

1. A) Call 1-866-431-FISH or 604-666-2828 (24-hour phone line);


2. B) Visit our web page http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm to find applicable fishery notices; or


3. C) Follow our sport fishing Twitter account https://twitter.com/sportfishingbc

Effective July 25, 2016 at 00:01 hours until October 14, 2016 at 23:59 hours, you may not retain Chinook salmon in the following waters: Subareas 18-6 to 18-8, 18-10.

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 SLOW this past week. Muir Creek, Otter Point and Secretary Island were the best spots for fish. Most of the springs are not very big but there are some larger springs up to 34.5 lbs in the area. Neil Webb caught a 25 lb spring off Otter Point on Sunday. today 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 and Irish Cream Coho Killers, trolled behind a Betsey, Madi or Bon Chovi Flasher. Hootchies in Cop Car, Purple haze and White have been effective in the past month.

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Beechey Head and Aldridge Point were the most productive locations to fish. Debbie Campbell caught a 34.4 lb spring off Beechy Head Sunday, on an anchovy fished in a Rhys Davis Bloody nose teaser head behind OK’I gold Betsey flasher at 53 feet. Debbie takes over first place on our leader board. Ryan Mace caught a 28. 5 lb spring Sunday on anchovy in a Glow Mint Pearl teaser head off the Head as well. 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 SLOW this past week. Almost all the salmon caught near the entrance of Pedder Bay. Jeff Zamluk caught 3 springs on Wednesday night including one fatty at 27lbs! Jeff was fishing in the flood tide rips, using a green/yellow hoochie with a green/yellow/green flasher with 80-110 feet of line in about 130-180 of water. 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 SLOW 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 VERY SLOW off Victoria. There were a few caught along the waterfront near Esquimalt, and some of good size, but not very many. About 1 in 10 boats has been catching a salmon. Anchovies have been a good bait to use and Bloody Nose 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. Green/Gold Hot Spot flashers have also been good to use.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW 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. Anglers jigging have been using Needlefish Darts or Deep Stingers and have been doing much better than those trolling for salmon, with some anglers getting limits of 11-20 lb springs.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. 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.

Effective July 25, 2016 at 00:01 hours until October 14, 2016 at 23:59 hours, you may not retain chinook salmon in the following waters: Subareas 18-6 to 18-8, 18-10.

Notable Catches – Debbie Campbell caught a 34.4 lb spring off Beechy Head on an anchovy fished in a Rhys Davis Bloody nose teaser head behind OK’I gold Betsey flasher at 53 feet. Debbie takes over first place on our leader board. Ryan Mace caught a 28. 5 lb spring on anchovy in a glow Mint Pearl teaser head off the Head as well. Jeff Zamluk caught 3 springs on Wednesday night including one fatty at 27lbs! Neil Webb caught a 25 lb spring off Otter Point on Sunday. 

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 – Simon Arney caught a 5 lb rainbow trout off the main dock on Langford Lake on Sunday at mid day on Powerbait. 

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

 

FISH TIP OF THE WEEK

Keep your rod tip up! Most anglers know that by keeping your rod tip up, your chances of landing a fish are greatly improved. This lets the rod tire the fish and provides flexibility to counter sudden movements by the fish. The best way to keep your rod tip up is by keeping the non reeling hand away from the reel and far up on the rod handle while the rod butt is kept low.

 

 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) 5 lbs – Simon Arney – Langford Lake – Powerbait - July 24^th

2) 3 lbs 14 oz – Kody Stofer – Elk Lake – Salmon Eggs - January 26^th

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

4) 2 lbs 11 oz – Matt Beeby – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30^th

5) 2 lbs 4 oz – Ryan Rock – Duncan – Black Leech – April 30^th

 

 Salmon

1) 34.4 lbs – Debbie Campbell – Anchovy - Beechey Head - July 24^th

2) 33.7 lbs – Archie Currie – Anchovy – Point Renfrew – July 1^st

3) 28.5 lbs – Ryan Mace – Anchovy – Beechey Head - July 24^th

4) 24.0 lbs – Kieran Cardinal – Anchovy – Sheringham Point - July 8^th

5) 20.0 lbs – Thomas Brandwood - Anchovy – Sheringham Point - July 7^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.

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