Island Outfitters Fishing Report

Week Ending May 19, 2019

Saltwater Report

Saltwater Overview

Halibut fishing has been SLOW in most areas. Anglers are doing well with Lingcod, Rockfish and Prawns. Chinook retention is now prohibited in all areas covered by this report. Only a few boats were out for catch and release salmon fishing in Victoria, Oak Bay and Sidney and GOOD and fishing was reported.

Notices

Fishery Notice

Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject:-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Chinook - Area 19 and 20 - Fishery Management Actions

To address conservation concerns for Fraser River Chinook salmon, DFO is
implementing new fishery reductions to support conservation and promote
recovery of at risk Chinook.
Strait of Georgia - South and Juan de Fuca - Areas 18, Area 19,
Subareas 20-3 to 20-7 and Subareas 29-3 to 29-5:
00:01 hours April 19 to 23:59 hours July 31, 2019: Chinook non-retention;
00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours August 29, 2019: 1 Chinook per day;
00:01 hours August 30 to 23:59 hours December 31, 2019: 2 Chinook per day.
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Coast-wide Recreational Fisheries:
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For the recreational fishery, the annual aggregate limit for chinook salmon is
ten (10) in all tidal and fresh waters coast-wide.

VO: 2019-RFQ-224
Rockfish Conservation Areas that are currently in effect and are closed to all fin fishing. Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing information, can be found on the Internet at:

www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish

Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation? If so, please call the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line at (800) 465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 1-(866)431-FISH (3474).

For more information:

Contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or visit the website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fishery Notice

Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Fin Fish (Other than Salmon)
Subject:
FN0158-Recreational - Fin Fish (Other than Salmon) – Halibut:

Effective at 00:01 hours April 1, 2019 fishing for halibut will be opened coast-wide until further notice.

Effective April 1, 2019 until further notice: - The maximum length for halibut is 126 cm (head-on). The daily limit for halibut is one (1). The possession limit for halibut is either of: one (1) halibut measuring 90 cm to 126 cm in length (head-on), OR two (2) halibut, each measuring under 90 cm in length (head-on). The annual limit is six (6) halibut per licence holder, as set out on the 2019/2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. All halibut retained by the licence holder shall be immediately recorded in ink on the 2019/2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. The area from which each halibut is caught, and its head-on length shall immediately be recorded on the licence.

The exceptions to these openings are: Areas 121: No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in Area 121 outside the 12 nautical mile limit seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.000 minutes and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes W and continues south easterly at a bearing of 116 degrees True to a point at 48 degrees 28.327 minutes and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes W.

Area 121: Closed to all finfish, year round in the waters of Swiftsure Bank, inside a line from 48 degrees 34.00 minutes N and 125 degrees 06.00 minutes W, thence to 48 degrees 34.00 minutes N and 124 degrees 54.20 minutes W, thence to 48 degrees 29.62 minutes N and 124 degrees 43.40 minutes W, thence following the international Boundary between Canada and the U.S. to 48 degrees 29.55 minutes N and 124 degrees 56.20 minutes W, thence in a straight line to the point of commencement.

Contacts: Brad Beaith (South Coast) - (250)756-7190,

Darren Chow (North Coast) - (250)627-3441,

Jason Knight (250) 850-9370

Sooke

Salmon fishing had been FAIR until the chinook retention closure. We do not know of anyone who was out doing catch and release salmon fishing since the closure. The best salmon fishing had been near Secretary Island and Otter Point. The fish were close to the bottom in 100-150 feet depths. Spoons such as Skinny G’s, Coho Killers and 4″ Coyote spoons have been good. Green and glow has been the hot color combination for spoons. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits. Anchovies and herring had been good as well. Good choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, Tiger Prawn and Bloody Nose. Popular flashers had been the Delta Guide Series UV Moon Jelly, the Bon Chovy, the Madi and the Super Betsey. 

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing had been GOOD near Becher Bay. Anglers reported lots of springs at 40 to 90 feet between Creyke Point and Beechey Head. Several of the springs released were in the high 20’s and one around 30 lbs. Anglers were mostly using spoons for lures. Good spoons have been Skinny G’s, Coho Killers and Coyotes with green in the colour mix.  Anchovies were working too and good colours for teaser heads were Chartreuse, Tiger Prawn and Bloody Nose. Needlefish hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits. The GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters, the Bon Chovy, and Gold Fever Hot Spot flashers had been working well. Other anglers that we know of fishing here were out for halibut and lingcod. Halibut fishing was slow, but some nice Lingcod were taken.

Pedder Bay

Pedder Bay Marina reported FAIR salmon fishing at Pedder Bay until the chinook retention closure. The only anglers that we know of fishing here were out for halibut, lingcod and crabs. Lingcod fishing and crabbing was GOOD this past week. Whirl Bay was slightly better than Pedder Bay. Coyote style spoons had been working well as the fish are targeting herring more than needlefish. Anchovies in green glow teaser had also been effective. Good choices for teaser head colors are Bloody Nose, Chartreuse and Purple Haze.  Hootchies and squirts were working with green and glow, Purple Haze or UV white good color choices.  Flashers that are popular include the Guide Series Madi, Bon Chovy and Lemon Lime.

Victoria

Salmon fishing was GOOD at Constance Bank for catch and release chinook fishing. That said, most anglers that we know of fishing were out for halibut, rockfish and lingcod. The halibut fishing was SLOW. Closer in along the waterfront it had been SLOW for springs with the most productive area being from Esquimalt to Brotchie Ledge. Anglers had been trolling close to the bottom in 80 to 140 feet of water. Anchovies and herring had been working the best and glow teaser heads were better than the non glow colours. Spoons had been working very well with Skinny G’s and Coho Killers in Irish Cream, Outfitters and the AP Tackleworks 3” herring spoon good choices. Some anglers have reported success with lingcod and Bob Deslippe brought in a 22 lb. 14 oz lingcod.

Oak Bay

Catch and release chinook fishing was GOOD in Oak Bay. It wasn’t as hot as in previous weeks but there was still good action. Some springs in the 10 lb. to mid-teens size were caught both jigging and trolling on the Flats near Brodie Rock. Trollers were catching the salmon bottom bouncing spoons in 90 – 120 feet of water. Coho killers, Wee G’s and AP Tackleworks Sandlance spoons have been the spoons of choice. Squirts will also work with Jelly fish and Electric Chairs good bets. Jiggers had been having great success near Brodie Rock using Deep Stingers and Point Wilson Darts. Halibut fishing was slow in this area. That said, Ian Bishop caught a 51.9 lb. halibut in Haro Strait using herring for bait. Ian now takes over 4th place on our halibut board.

 

Sidney

Cole Island was the hot spot this past week for anglers doing catch and release fishing for spring salmon. The fish were of good size, with many in the 12 – 18 lb. size range. Salmon fishing was slower near the Powder Wharf for anglers working jigs. Prawning has been good in Saanich Inlet. More anglers were prawning than fishing for finfish. Before the closure, anglers trolling for salmon had been using Skinny Gee spoons or anchovies. Suggested spoons are Coho Killers, Gibbs Skinny G and Wee G spoons and AP Tackleworks Sandlance spoons. Suggested colours are Cop Car and Trap Shack. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good in Glow or UV Purple teaser heads. 

Halibut

Halibut fishing was FAIR this past week. Talking with the creel survery people suggests about a 20% success ratio on catching halibut. We did hear of a few halibut caught in most areas. Constance Bank, the Mud Hole, the East Race and Sooke all held fish. Some of the anglers have been going as deep as 600 feet to find the halibut. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Other good baits are the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs, especially if there are lots of dogfish hitting the baits.

Saltwater Notable Catches

That said, Ian Bishop caught a 51.9 lb. halibut in Haro Strait using herring for bait. Ian now takes over 4th place on our halibut board.

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

Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to info@fishingvictoria.com to be featured on our fishing report.

Freshwater Report

Freshwater Overview

Fishing was GOOD for trout and EXCELLENT for bass. 

Cowichan River

Trout fishing is GOOD with the increased water temperatures and insect activity. The water level has remained between 0.5 and 0.6 meters near Duncan.  Anglers are now targeting trout in the upper reaches. There were large insect hatches this past week and the trout were taking mayflies on the surface. Tried and true fly choices at the top end include Prince nymphs, stonefly nymphs, pheasant tail nymphs, rolled muddlers, wooly buggers, Copper Johns and egg patterns. Elk Hair Caddis and Goddard Caddis dry flies work quite well also. There have been reports that some of the rainbows are now making their way back into the lake.

Trout

Trout fishing has been GOOD for trout at 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 mostly fishing Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Chironomid patterns. Chironomid fishing has been very good. Trollers are catching trout with worms fished behind Gibbs Gang Trolls and on Gibbs Wedding Bands. Tomic Plugs in 2”-3” sizes have also been working well for trout.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC has restarted the stocking of catchable triploid rainbow trout into southern island lakes. On May 13th, Ida Anne Lake received 250 catchable rainbow trout averaging Rainbow trout 211.9 grams in size. On May 6th, Prospect Lake received 1,000 trout, Thetis Lake 500 trout and Lookout Lake 200 trout averaging 199.41g in size. On May 1st, Langford Lak received 1,500 trout averaging 294.8 g in size.

Previously, on April 1st Elk Lake received 2,000 trout and Spectacle Lake 500 trout averaging 220.48 g in size. On March 27th, Kemp, Matheson and Glen Lake received 500 trout each and Lookout Lake 200 trout with an average weight of 230 g.  On March 26th, Spectacle and Dougan Lakes each received 500 rainbow trout averaging 223.04 g. On March 21st, Elk Lake received 2,000 trout averaging 256.26 g in size. On March 18th, Durrance Lake received 1,000 trout, Poirier, Matheson and Kemp Lakes 500 each and Langford Lake 200 trout, all averaging in size 214.92 g in size. Vancouver Island lakes. On March 12th, Thetis Lake received 1,500 trout, Durrance lake 1,000 trout and Colwood lake 250 trout averaging 257.5 g in size. On March 11th, Shawningan Lake received 2,500 trout and Dougan Lake 500 trout averaging 244.62 g in size. On March 8th, Elk Lake received another 1,200 trout and Glen lake received 500 trout averaging 222.89 g in size On March 5th, both Elk and Prospect lakes were stocked with 1,800 catchable rainbows averaging 227.37 grams in size. To find out about fish stockings all over the Island and the province, as well as the different strains being released, click on the link http://www.gofishbc.com/Stocked-Fish.aspx .

 

Bass

Bass fishing is EXCELLENT on Island lakes as the water temperatures rise and the bass move into the shallows prior to spawning. Bass over 4 lbs. are being taken on a regular basis from most lakes. Anglers are having success on a variety of lures. Crankbaits, Spinnerbaits and soft plastics are all producing well now. Yum dingers have been very effective when fished with Texas rigging. 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. 

Freshwater Notable Catches

Please send photos (in jpeg format) with name(s) and a description of your notable catch to our email info@fishingvictoria.com

Please send photos (in jpeg format) and descriptions of your notable catch to info@fishingvictoria.com to be featured on our fishing report.

Fish Tip of the Week

Its transition time again for Chinook anglers. While there are still deep running winter fish around, returning migratory springs are also starting to show up.  These fish are found much higher in the water column, and anglers who want to catch them should keep at least one line above the bottom and at middle water depths.

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