Fishing Report for Week Ending March 4, 2018

SALTWATER


 OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing was FAIR TO GOOD around the south Island when it wasn’t blowing and freezing. Most of the Chinooks have been from 3 to 8 lbs in size. Halibut fishing was SLOW because of the strong currents this past weekend.

HALIBUT SEASON IS NOW OPEN! Effective March 1, 2018 until further notice:

-The maximum length for Halibut is 133 cm.-The daily limit for Halibut is one (1).

-The possession limit for Halibut is two (2), only one (1) of which may be over 83 cm in length.

-The annual limit is six (6) Halibut per licence holder

 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.cfmto 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 has been FAIR over the last few weeks when you could get out. Most of the fish were from 3 to 8 lbs in size with the occasional larger one. The best location to fish for winter springs was near Secretary Island. Most of the salmon are close to the bottom in 100 – 140 feet of water. The most productive lure combo has been a white hootchy fished behind a Red/Gold flasher. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits. Spoons such as Skinny G’s, Coho Killers and 3.5″ G Force spoons have been good. Anchovies are still the most popular choice for those fishing bait. Good choices for teaser head colors are Army Truck, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze.  For flashers, Red/Gold Hot Spots, the Delta Guide Series UV Moon Jelly, Madi and the Lemon Lime Chartreuse are popular.

BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was GOOD if you could get out in the weather. Anglers have been having the most success on the top of the flood tide in Whirl Bay. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 100 to 160 depths. We haven’t heard of any salmon over 10 lbs here this past week. The majority of anglers are using spoons with Coho Killers, Gibbs Skinny G’s in green/glow and green/silver colors the favorites. The GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters, Madi, Lemon Lime and Green/Glow Hot Spot flashers have been working well. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits.

PEDDER BAY– Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD fishing in Pedder Bay near the Green Can and in Whirl Bay. Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 100 to 140 feet of water. The salmon have been from 3 to 5 lbs in size with the occasional larger chinook up to 10 lbs.  Spoons have been producing the best and the Skinny G’s, AP Tackleworks and Coho Killers are the top choices. Green with either silver or glow has been the color choice in spoons. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or UV white have been popular color choices for plastic baits. Flashers that are popular include the Guide Series Madi, Outfitters and Lemon Lime.

HALIBUT - Halibut fishing was quite SLOW due to strong currents during the season’s opening weekend with only 2 caught between lots of boats.

Sonia Benedic with her big spring salmon


VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was GOOD off the waterfront this past week when the winds weren’t too blustery. Most of the fish are still small, from 3 to 7 lbs in size, but a few up to larger ones have been caught. On Monday, Sonia Benedic caught a 23.5 lb hatchery spring while fishing off Clover Point. She was using a Mint Tulip Hoochie and fishing at 177 feet. There was also an informal derby held by members of the Esquimalt Anglers’ Association on Saturday. Gary Caton was the winner with a 9 lb 13 oz spring. Second was Mike Weber with a 7 lb 9 oz spring and Wayne Zaccarelli was third with a 6.5 lb spring.  In most locations the best depths to fish were 90-140 feet and we’ve heard of some larger fish being caught at mid-water depths. Spoons have been successful in getting hook ups with Irish Cream Skinny G’s, Green/Glow AP Tackleworks Anchovy 4” spoons and Green/Glow Coyote spoons popular choices.

HALIBUT - Halibut fishing was SLOW due to strong currents during the season’s opening weekend.

OAK BAY– Salmon fishing was FAIR in Oak Bay this past week. There were a few salmon coming in from the Gap and from the Flats but they were mostly small. The salmon are feeding on needle fish and have been close to the bottom where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom. Best bets for Oak Bay lures are needlefish spoon and squirts.

HALIBUT - Halibut fishing was SLOW due to strong currents during the season’s opening weekend.

SIDNEY– Salmon fishing was GOOD in the Sidney area. Big fish of the week was a 16 lb spring caught by Colin Campbell on an APT Sandlance spoon. We have heard that there were some keeper springs being caught near Pollier Pass and by Moses Point. Jigging has been the best way to catch springs near the Powder Wharf. The Red Can and the Powder Wharf are two areas off the channel that have also produced some fish. Anglers using spoons found that Coho APT Sandlance spoons, Gibbs Needle G and 3.5″ G Force spoons the most productive this past week. Suggested colours are Kitchen Sink and Irish Cream. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish with teaser heads in Glow or UV Purple.

Notable Catches – Sonia Benedic caught a 23.5 lb hatchery spring while fishing off Clover Point. She was using a Mint Tulip Hoochie and fishing at 177 feet. There was also an informal derby held by members of the Esquimalt Anglers’ Association on Saturday. Gary Caton was the winner with a 9 lb 13 oz spring. Second was Mike Weber with a 7 lb 9 oz spring and Wayne Zaccarelli was third with a 6.5 lb spring. Big fish of the week in the Sidney area was a 16 lb spring caught by Colin Campbell on an APT Sandlance spoon. 

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

 

FRESHWATER


OVERVIEW – Fishing was SLOW in most lakes for trout and bass and GOOD in the rivers for steelhead.

The Elk and Beaver lake fish inventory prepared for the Capital Regional District by Hemmera Envirochem Inc is now available for those interested in what’s in the lake. You can download the report at http://colquitzcoalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/171106_CRD_Fish_Inventory_Report.pdf

COWICHAN RIVER – The water level on the river is continuing to drop and is good for fishing. Near the lake it’s down to 0.99 meters and near Duncan it’s 1.15 meters. There are steelhead in the river now and we have heard of good fishing  in the Riverbottom area. For steelhead, jigs and pink worms have been productive. Fishing for trout in the fly only area had been FAIR.

TROUT – Trout fishing has been SLOW for trout to at the local lakes. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, and 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 Muddler Minnow patterns on full sink fly lines most of the time to get into the lower water levels. There have been some chironomid hatches though. 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 SLOW. During the day, soft plastics rigged Carolina style work well and crank baits can work well at times. Soft plastics rigged “Texas Style” are also a good choice when fishing drop offs and deeper structure. The most productive colors in 4” Yum baits are Smoke or Pumpkinseed. Drop shot fishing can also be very effective this time of year. 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


 Double up for halibut! When you bait up a herring for halibut, add a small piece of octopus to the trailing hook. That way, if a halibut steals your herring, you can leave the bait down and get the fish when it comes back for the octopus a few minutes later.


 

2018 Island Outfitters Leader Boards


Trout

1) 5 lbs 4 oz – Kayden Howes – Elk Lake – Corn – February 12th

2) 4 lbs 11 oz – Allan Edgar – Langford Lake – Powerbait – January 12th

3) 1 lb 14 oz – Brock Heppell – Langford Lake – Powerbait – January 4th

 

Salmon

1) 23 lbs 8 oz – Sonia Benedic – Clover Point – Mint Tulip Hoochie - February 26th

2) 14 lbs 8 oz – Hannah Cottier – Constance Bank – Skinny G – February 11th

3) 10 lbs 8 oz – Grace Cottier – Constance Bank – Skinny G – February 11th

 

Halibut - HALIBUT SEASON IS NOW OPEN and we are waiting for the first big halibut to be weighed in!

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!