CartFishing Report for Week Ending March 18, 2018
SALTWATER
OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing was FAIR TO GOOD around the south Island with most of the Chinooks running from 3 to 8 lbs in size. Halibut fishing was SLOW with less favorable tides this past weekend.
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada Subject: FN0173-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Chinook - Areas 19 and 20: Chinook Recreational Fishery Management Actions
Effective dates: immediately until 23:59 hours June 15, 2018 Waters: Subareas 19-1 to 19-4; and, Subareas 20-4 to 20-7(those waters near Victoria between Cadboro Point to Sombrio Point.). Management measures: You may retain two (2) Chinook salmon per day. These Chinook may be either:- wild or hatchery marked between 45 cm and 67 cm; or- hatchery marked greater than 67 cm in length.
- The minimum size limit in these waters is 45 cm in length.
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.
SOOKE–The salmon fishing has been FAIR over the last few weeks. 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 from the Bluffs to Muir Creek. Most of the salmon are close to the bottom in 100 – 140 feet of water but there are some at mid water depths. 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. There were very few halibut caught over the weekend.
BECHER BAY– Salmon fishing was GOOD. Anglers have been having the most success on the top of the flood tide in Whirl Bay. It’s been slower inside the ban and near the marina. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 100 to 140 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 Whirl Bay. The largest salmon of the week was an 18 lb hatchery spring caught by Bob Gicas in Whirl Bay. He was using an anchovy for bait. It’s been slower near the Green Can at the mouth of the bay. Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 100 to 140 feet of water. The majority of the salmon have been from 3 to 6 lbs in size with the occasional larger chinook.. 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 SLOW this past week.
VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was FAIR 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. It was best for numbers of fish out at Constance Bank. In closer, there were springs from the Flagpole to Trial Island. Wayne Zaccarelli landed a 13.5 lb spring near the harbour on Monday. In most locations the best depths to fish were 90-140 feet but 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. Most of the boats out fishing were not after salmon this past weekend as the emphasis was on halibut.
HALIBUT - Fishing was SLOW for halibut this past week. Constance Bank produced the largest of the few taken as Brian Dow landed a 73.8 lb (131 cm) halibut with herring for bait while on the bank.
OAK BAY– Salmon fishing was FAIR in Oak Bay this past week. There are 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 - Fishing was SLOW for halibut.
SIDNEY– Salmon fishing was FAIR in the Sidney area. We have heard that there were some keeper springs being caught near Moresby Island and just south of James Island. Anglers using spoons found that APT Sandlance spoons, Coho Killers and Gibbs and Needle G 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.
Mark Lister with his derby winner!The Mill Bay Marina held their annual salmon derby this past Saturday. Mark Lister won the derby with his 13lb 8oz salmon and took home the first place prize- $1,000 cash! Four fish over 10 lbs and roughly 18 fish were weighed in. the weather was great weather and a good time was had by all. Mark Lister won the Mill Bay marina derby with his 13lb 8oz salmon and took home the first place prize- $1,000 cash!
Notable Catches – Brian Dow landed a 73.8 lb (131 cm) halibut with herring for bait at Constance Bank. The largest salmon of the week was an 18 lb hatchery spring caught by Bob Gicas in Whirl Bay. He was using an anchovy for bait. Wayne Zaccarelli landed a 13.5 lb spring near the harbour on Monday.
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 0.84 meters and near Duncan it’s 1.02 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 has been SLOW due to the cold water temperature.
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
Maintain, service, and repair your gear. These stormy winter/spring days are the perfect time to get into your tackle box, organize it again, get rid of the old or bad lures, take stock of what’s missing, buy or replace what’s needed, change the line on the reels, service the reels, and replace worn or missing guides on your rods. So take advantage of this time and get a head start on the coming year.
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) 2 lbs 11 oz – Hudson Webster – Elk Lake – White Flatfish – March 10th
4)1 lb 14 oz – Brock Heppell – Langford Lake – Powerbait – January 4th
5) 1 lb 4 oz – Hudson Webster – Elk Lake – White Flatfish – March 10th
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
1) 73.8 lbs – Brian Dow – Constance Bank – Herring – March 16th
2) 70.7 lbs – Ray Hawthorne – Discovery Island – Herring – March 10th
3) 64.1 lbs – Chad Dobranski -– Discovery Island – Herring – March 10th
4) 61.1 lbs – Trevor Walton – Oak Bay – Mackerel – March 10th
5) 59.1 lbs – Jesse McCullough – Race Rocks - Octopus – March 10th
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/
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