Fishing Report for Week Ending August 21, 2016

FR August 21, 2016SALTWATER


OVERVIEW – Salmon fishing was GOOD much of this past week. It was probably the best week of the year so far. Halibut fishing was GOOD 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


 

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 GOOD and better than last week. Sherringham Point, Muir Creek, Otter Point, Possession Point and Secretary Island all produced salmon. There were some big springs in the 20’s, lots of “teeners” and a lot of small ones too. The coho fishing also picked up and many of them were big. The hatchery fish were running from 8 – 12 lbs and the wild, unmarked coho were even bigger. Except for the weather on Sunday it was a good week to be fishing. 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. For flashers, you can’t go wrong with a Super 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 GOOD this past week and better than the week before. The action was greatest mid week and it tapered off on the weekend.  Most of the springs have been in the mid to high teens and low twenties. The Trap Shack, Beechey Head and Aldridge Point were the most productive locations to fish. The coho fishing also picked up with anglers getting 8 – 12 lb hatchery fish and releasing wild fish up to 15 lbs. Those who targeted coho did quite well. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working best. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours were also effective. For flashers, the Betsey, Lemon Lime and Bon Chovi have been good.

PEDDER BAY –Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. The best fishing was mid week and it did taper off towards the weekend. Most of the fish being caught are springs but some respectable hatchery coho were also caught, mostly by angers targeting the coho. The entrance of Pedder Bay was good as well as off the Bedfords and Church Rock. The largest chinook that we heard of was a 37 lb spring caught off Bentick Island. Coho were coming from both offshore and inshore. Anchovies were the top bait this past week. 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.

Pedder Bay Marina was the weigh in location for the Alpine Juan de Fuca Salmon Derby. There were lots of fish (we heard 170) weighed in on Saturday and the two day total was over 200 fish caught. Windy weather on Sunday kept most of the boats off the water but a few hardy souls did manage to get out. First place in the derby went to Brian Crossley with a 28.7 lb chinook. Second place went to Alan Woodrow with a 28.2 lb spring and third went to James Heggelund with a 26.7 lb fish. Largest halibut was a 51.3 lb fish caught by Gerrit Schoeman. Largest hatchery fish was a 20.7 lb spring caught by Al Teng. Teegan Harding was the top junior angler with a 13 lb spring and Jean Kennedy was the top lady angler with a 21.8 lb spring.

08-21-16 JDF Leaderboard

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD early 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 GOOD. It really turned on Wednesday with just about every one landing springs. Thursday was also quite good but it did slow down by the weekend. There were some nice springs as large as 30 lbs caught but mostly “teenagers”. There were, however, a ton of” shakers” caught and released. These were juvenile chinooks. Anchovies have been a good bait to use (12  or 10 pack) and Bloody Nose, UV Green and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Spoons have been successful in getting hook ups as well. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers or 4” cop Car spoons trolling behind a Moon Jelly flasher has also brought results in Victoria.. Red/Glow Hot Spot flashers have also been good to use.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD early this past week with the best areas 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 were some fish caught, just not too many of them. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons and. Anglers jigging have been using Needlefish Darts or Deep.

HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was GOOD early 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.

Herb Isherwood caught this 14 lb spring near Fairfax Point Herb Isherwood caught this 14 lb spring near Fairfax Point


SIDNEY- Salmon fishing was VERY SLOW this past week. The Pender Bluffs produced a couple of springs up to 12-14 lbs. There were fish in the Sidney Spit area as well. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks 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 – First place in the Juan de Fuca fishing derby went to Brian Crossley with a 28.7 lb chinook. Second place went to Alan Woodrow with a 28.2 lb spring and third went to James Heggelund with a 26.7 lb fish. Largest halibut was a 51.3 lb fish caught by Gerrit Schoeman. Largest hatchery fish was a 20.7 lb spring caught by Al Teng. Teegan Harding was the top junior angler with a 13 lb spring and Jean Kennedy was the top lady angler with a 21.8 lb spring. 

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


Take some binoculars fishing! You can use them to see what other successful anglers are using for bait, spot bait ball ups from a distance, or check for changes in the weather conditions by scanning the horizon. Or you can just enjoy the views or nature and make your day fishing more enjoyable.


 


2016 Island Outfitters Leader Board


Halibut

1) 76.4 lbs – Jordyn Dornblut – Race Rocks – August 13th

2) 75.8 lbs – Walker Grant – Waterfront – Herring - March 27th

3) 73.9 lbs – Jeff Brohman - Sooke Bluffs – April 30th

4) 71.3 lbs – Marty Antcil – William Head – April 30th

5) 68.9 lbs – Kevin Hicks – Trial Island – April 30th

 

Trout

1) 5 lbs – Simon Arney – Langford Lake – Powerbait - July 24th

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

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

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

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

 

Salmon

1) 40.2 lbs – Kayden Tyler – Anchovy – Victoria – August 3rd

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

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

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

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

 

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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