CartFishing Report for Week Ending July 30, 2017
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – Another week of windy weather put a damper on fishing this past week. Salmon fishing was GOOD in area 20, SPOTTY in Victoria, Oak Bay and Sidney. The Pink salmon run picked up in the Sooke area and the salmon appear to be of greater average size this year. Halibut fishing was SLOW.
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.cfmto 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.
PORT RENFREW – The salmon fishing has been GOOD in Port Renfrew, especially on the flood tides. The off shore fishing has been getting better for fish averaging 10-15 lbs with the occasional larger fish. Inshore, it has also picked up from East Point to Camper Creek. Cut plug herring and spoons have been the most productive lures recently.
SOOKE– The salmon fishing was GOOD over the last week. Secretary Island to Otter Point has been good for to springs up to 33 lbs. More pink salmon were also caught, especially in the 400 foot depths. The pinks have been as large as 9 lbs. Most anglers are fishing for springs are using bait with anchovies being the most popular choice. Fishing shallow has also been the key to catching the larger fish. Good choices for teaser head colors are Red, Tiger Prawn, Glow chartreuse Tiger Prawn and Bloody Nose. For flashers, the Delta Homeland Security, Red/Silver Hot Spot and Betsey have been working well. Hootchies in all White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been effective teaser head colors recently. Spoons have also been catching salmon and Coho Killers and Skinny G’s have been good in No Bananas and Outfitters color patterns.
The Consultants Invitational Fishing Derby was held on July 29th. There were 44 chinook salmon and 46 Pink salmon weighed in at the derby. The winning chinook weighed 21 lbs 10 oz and was caught by Dave Bonella. The second place finisher was Bruce Moore with a 19 lb 4 oz chinook. Third place went to Jay Shilling for an 18 lb 5 oz chinook.
BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week when it wasn’t blowing too hard, which was most of the week. Most of the springs were coming in from Aldridge Point to Beechey Head. The springs are getting larger and fish as large as 33 lbs have been weighed in at Cheanuh Marina. The pinks have also been showing up in increasing numbers. The best depths to fish have been from 40 to 70 feet. Anchovies are now the most popular bait. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose and Mint Pearl. Trolling Skinny G spoons on a 36” leader has been working great. The best color combinations being Nickel/Blue, Outfitters and No Bananas. For flashers, the Homeland Security and Raspberry Jelly have been working well. Anglers casting of the rocks are also getting into some nice fish. Cheanuh Marina nonce again has rental boats available for non boat owners.
PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD salmon fishing. The bay was fishing well again this week, and it was out of the wind as well. Several 30+ lb springs were caught inside the bay, close to the kelp beds. The most productive area for trollers has been near the can buoy at the mouth of the bay and along the kelp beds. Trollers are doing best trolling from 30 – 70 feet on the downrigger and/or just off the bottom. The area from Church Rock to the Bedfords has started to pick up as well, especially for pinks. Jiggers were doing better than the trollers and have been fishing near the Race. Anchovies are now the most popular bait for trollers. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose and Mint Pearl. Spoons are also producing well, especially the smaller ones around 3.5”. Needlefish spoons worked the best with Skinny G’s, Left Coast Hammers, AP Tackleworks needlefish and Coho Killers the ones to use. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or UV white have been popular color choices this week. Flashers that are popular include the Hot Spot Silver Fever, Bon Chovy and Betsey.
The Take a Kid Fishing Festival was held on Saturday at Pedder Bay Marina. Even though it was windy and rough, 90 kids got to fish with almost all boats catching pink salmon. It was another successful year for this great fishing festival.
HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week plus it’s been too windy for most boats much of the week. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well are the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was SPOTTY off Victoria this past week when the wind didn’t keep you off the water. The most productive area again was Constance Bank as the currents weakened. The area from Albert Head to Trial Island has been spotty although Clover Point produced some fish. Most boats fishing the waterfront came up empty. Some pink salmon are also starting to be caught offshore. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups, Nickel/Blue Skinny G’s and Blue/Silver Coyotes, Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons have brought some hookups. Greg Kutyn landed a 30½ lb lingcod while fishing for rockfish.
HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week. The halibut have been very deep with depths of over 300 feet the most productive. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.
OAK BAY– Salmon fishing was HOT & COLD in Oak Bay this past week. There has been some good-sized fish over 20 lbs coming in from the flats and the Gap but not too many. Anglers jigging have been catching more and larger salmon than those trolling. When I was out this past week everyone jigging was catching springs while all the trollers were catching nothing. Good jigging lures have been 2¼ oz Point Wilson Darts, GIBBS Minnows and the Delta Mac Fish. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 40 to 135 feet, depending on where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom.
HALIBUT– Halibut fishing was SLOW this past weekend on the big tides and it was way too windy as well for most boats. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.
SIDNEY– Salmon fishing was SPOTTY in the Sidney area. There have been a few fish coming from Coal Island and Hambley Point. We did hear that it has picked up off Pender Island. However, anglers jigging near the Powder Wharf were consistently catching springs. Good jigging lures have been 2¼ oz Point Wilson Darts, GIBBS Minnows and the Delta Mac Fish. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most productive spoons this past week. Suggested colours are Trap Shack and Bon Chovy. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish with teaser heads in UV Purple.
Notable Catches – he Consultants Invitational Fishing Derby was held on July 29th. The winning chinook weighed 21 lbs 10 oz and was caught by Dave Bonella. The second place finisher was Bruce Moore with a 19 lb 4 oz chinook. Third place went to Jay Shilling for an 18 lb 5 oz chinook. On Greg Kutyn landed a 30½ lb lingcod while fishing for rockfish off the Victoria waterfront.
Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FRESHWATER
OVERVIEW – Fishing was FAIR in most lakes for trout and GOOD for bass.
COWICHAN RIVER – The Cowichan River’s water level is at summer levels, just under 0.4 meters. Lots of people are now using float tubes to drift down the river during the day, so that can put the trout down. Fishing for trout in the fly only area has been GOOD at dawn and dusk. Fish a Dry Fly in the early morning and later in the evening or fish a Nymph in the faster water. Both have been working well.
TROUT– Trout fishing is FAIR on most lakes in the South Island. Trollers should fish at the thermocline, where the fish are suspended during the day. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing close to the bottom. Pink, Chartreuse and Fluorescent Yellow have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines most of the time to get into the cooler water levels. Trollers are catching trout with worms fished behind Gibbs Gang Trolls and on Gibbs Wedding Bands. 2” Tomic Plugs have also been working well for trout.
BASS– Bass fishing is GOOD as we enter the summer months. There have been many reports of good catches of fish as large as 6 lbs. Soft plastics rigged Carolina style and crank baits are working well. The most productive colors in 4” Yum baits are Smoke or Pumpkinseed. Top water plugs are also fun and effective in the summer, especially at dawn and dusk. 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 – Blake Armstrong caught a 3 lb 9 oz rainbow trout while trolling a gang troll and pink apex lure.Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com
FISH TIP OF THE WEEK
When checking your gear while salmon fishing, try to do it while you’re in a location where salmon are least likely to be caught. Most trolling locations have key areas of structure where the chance of getting a fish is most likely. Have your gear in the water there and check it when moving between hot spots, not at the hot spot.
2017 Island Outfitters Leader Boards
Halibut
1) 72.1 lbs – Trevor Skakun – Oak Bay – April 22nd
2) 68.9 lbs – Duane Sapelak – Discovery – Herring – March 24th
3) 68.6 lbs – Chris Hansen – Oak Bay – April 22nd
4) 67.8 lbs – Trevor Sedonic – Race Rocks – May 18th
5) 64.6 lbs – Albert Lacharity – Constance Bank – April 23rd
Trout
1) 5 lbs – Chad Vandermolen – Langford Lake – April 29th
2) 4 lbs 9 oz – James Balluch – Langford Lake – May 27th
3) 4 lbs 7 oz – Mike Greenwood – Langford Lake – July 9th
4) 3 lbs 11 oz – Marcel Allarie – Elk Lake– May 6th
5) 3 lbs 9 oz – Blake Armstrong – Langford Lake– July 12t h
Salmon
1) 23 lbs 7 oz – Edison Frando – Beechey head – Gibbs Minnow - July 15th
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 win a special prize.
See our event pages for details on upcoming events at http://fishingvictoria.com/events/
LIKE US on Facebook!
