Fishing Report for Week Ending August 7, 2016

   SALTWATER

OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week. That said, it is slowly picking up and a few more big chinooks were caught. Halibut fishing was SLOW with the big tides this past week.

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

This year’s rescheduled Alpine Group Juan de Fuca Fishing Tournament is rapidly approaching so, if you’re not in the derby yet, now is a great time to get your hands on tickets. The fishing derby is on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August and will be headquartered at Pedder Bay RV Resort and Marina in Metchosin as before. There is a huge list of prizes, with the winning entry taking home $20,000. Go to http://jdfderby.ca/ for details.

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. Sherringham Point, Otter Point and Secretary Island were the best spots for fish. There were some big spring in the 20’s and 30’s caught but still not large numbers of salmon. 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 but a little better than the week before. There were a few fish in the mid 30’s caught but not very man and certainly more than in the last couple of weeks. The Trap Shack, Beechey Head and Aldridge Point were the most productive locations to fish. 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 IMPROVED this past week. There were three days when in really was good but it slowed down again for the weekend. Almost all the salmon were caught near the entrance of Pedder Bay. Springs up to 30 lbs were seen being cleaned at the marina. There was a lot of bait in the bay and that’s where most salmon were caught. This week, both trollers and jiggers fishing near the bait schools were hooking salmon. 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 SLOW but has picked up a little from the previous week off Victoria. Springs were caught along the waterfront near the harbour entrance, and some big ones, but not very many. The best fishing was in the earlier part of the week. That said, Kayden Tyler was fishing with his grandfather Cao when they caught a 40.2 lb spring off the waterfront on Wednesday. Kayden caught the fish on an anchovy in a red teaser to take the number one spot on our salmon leader board. On Monday, Ban Tran caught a 36.2 lb spring off the waterfront, also on anchovy. 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.



The Esquimalt Anglers Association has CANCELLED their annual members derby that was to be held at the end of this month.

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 VERY 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.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. However, 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. The Pender Bluffs have been very slow and only rumors of fish being caught there. Everyone we’ve talked too has been skunked there. We’ve heard of undersize springs being taken east of Fairfax Point. 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 – Kayden Tyler was fishing with his grandfather Cao when they caught a 40.2 lb spring off the waterfront on Wednesday. Kayden caught the fish on an anchovy in a red teaser to take the number one spot on our salmon leader board. On Monday, Ban Tran caught a 36.2 lb spring off the waterfront. 

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

Be alert and courteous to the boats around you! When boats are fishing close together and one boat hooks into a big spring, well that fish is going to make a big run (usually straight back). You should always move away from the boat that’s fighting a fish or get your gear up and away from the fish. You’ll appreciate it when you’ve hooked that slab and other boats keep out of your way.

 

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) 40.2 lbs – Kayden Tyler – Anchovy – Victoria – August 3^rd

2) 38.5 lbs – Dalton Laubru – Anchovy – Sooke – July 29^th

3) 36.2 lbs – Ban Tran – Anchovy – Victoria – August 1^st

4) 34.4 lbs – Debbie Campbell – Anchovy - Beechey Head - July 24^th

5) 33.7 lbs – Archie Currie – Anchovy – Point Renfrew – July 1^st

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!