Fishing Reports for October 21

By on October 21, 2015

Washington

Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)

no report this week

Marine Area 2 (Westport)

 

Team ARSC is still plugging away on some of the largest Albacore tuna we’ve seen in a lot of years. These guys are running a 25lb+ average which means lots of fish between 23 & 35lbs. There still seems to be plenty to go around and a sea of warm blue water just 45nm NW of Westport. My guess is well be catching tuna well into November. The best fishing is in the Quinault canyon right now (next one north of Grays canyon).

Some days we have jumpers other days not and were relying on our Raymarine sonar to find fish. The troll bite is decent as well especially if you find a school of smaller fish. Otherwise 99% of our catches are on live Anchovy!

We’re in Westport fishing until the tuna are gone so don’t think it’s over yet!

Report submitted by Mark Coleman, All River and Saltwater Charters; 425-736-8920

Marine Area 3 (LaPush and Forks)

no report this week

Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Good” prospects for lingcod during the first half of October in Marine Area 4.

Marine Area 5 (Sekiu)

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Good” prospects for Coho during October in Marine Area 5.

Marine Area 6

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Excellent” prospects for Coho, and “Fair” prospects for Chinook, during October in Marine Area 6.

Marine Area 7

Crabbing has been pretty darn good. Finding a spot that hasn’t had a lot of commercial pressure is key. I save all the heads and carcasses from the fish we catch, for crab bait. Nothing goes to waste. Hanging the bait high inside the pots seems to help. I think it keeps the crab interested and occupied, so they spend less time trying to escape. I use big containers and bait heavy as well.

Crabbing has been pretty darn good. Finding a spot that hasn’t had a lot of commercial pressure is key. I save all the heads and carcasses from the fish we catch, for crab bait. Nothing goes to waste. Hanging the bait high inside the pots seems to help. I think it keeps the crab interested and occupied, so they spend less time trying to escape. I use big containers and bait heavy as well.

Cast, blast, and pull time is on right now in the Islands. Well, maybe not cast, so much as troll, for Coho. But the blast, as in deer hunting and pull, as in pulling crab pots, is spot on…unless you’ve got an archery tag…and I’m sure you could catch a Coho casting…but, I digress. Let’s just say that October, especially with some nice fall weather, is a pretty great time to be in the San Juans. Deer hunt in the early morning, jump in the boat and drop off the crab traps, and then go fish for Salmon. Pull those pots on the way back in, and get ready for a feast. Then get ready to watch the Seahawks WIN on Sunday…oh, right. Well, anyway, venison, fresh salmon, and crab makes for a great weekend.

There still aren’t a large amount of Silvers here, and the grade is definitely smaller. That’s been the case everywhere this year. The size may be due to poor ocean conditions, and the warm water blob parked off the coast. The King salmon didn’t seem so effected. Columbia river Fall chinook numbers continue to climb this year. The specific reasons for low numbers of Coho returning so far are anybody’s guess, while there is the possibility that more fish will continue to show up. Forecasting these runs is a lot like forecasting the weather. Impossible much more than a week out. One thing is for sure, large numbers of humans correlate to smaller numbers of fish, all over the planet. And that trend doesn’t seem likely to reverse.

Submitted by Kevin Klein, Fidalgo-SanJuan Islands Chapter PSA, CCA Northsound. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also contributed by Kevin.

Marine Area 8.1

no report this week

Marine Area 8.2

no report this week

Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)

A fresh, clean and almost "candy like" coho filet ready for the grill.

A fresh, clean and almost “candy like” coho filet ready for the grill.

“We haven’t hit the peak yet !” I cannot believe it is past the middle of OCTOBER and the Coho cavalcade is still proceeding through Area 9. Each week the fish are putting on the pounds and they are still streaming by the Point Wilson lighthouse.

 

The white hootchie lunchtime special put this beauty IN THE NET !

The white hootchie lunchtime special put this beauty IN THE NET !

I have never seen so much bait at Possession bar this time of year. It is no wonder the silver sliders continue to lunch in that area. White Hootchies tied a bit closer than normal to a green glow flasher (25 inches) continues to be the breakfast of champions.

Find the bait, stay on the bait using the concentric circle method and troll just over the ball. See you on the water!

Report submitted by Nelson “Spud” Goodsell – Salmon for Soldiers, IGFA Life Member, FISHTALE2

Marine Area 10

no report this week

Marine Area 11

Area 11 salmon fishing is a little slow right now with a few Coho still being caught along the Gig Harbor and Dash Pt. shoreline close to the shore with light tackle.  A few Chum are starting to show on the Gig Harbor Area. No sign of blackmouth yet however. Squid fishing has really picked up with lots of squid being caught off of Les Davis, Dash Point and Pt. Defiance Pier. The best times are high tides and of course high tide just before dark, but people fish them throughout the day. Point Defiance fishing pier is closed when the tackle shop closes at 6:30 pm. Crabbing has been fair some limits but mostly 2 to 3 legal crabs after soaking pots for a few hours, most popular spots are Quarter Master Harbor, Commencement Bay and the Dash Pt. area. For an up to date report call 253-591-5325

Fall Fishing Class at Point Defiance Marina—Learn fundamentals of fishing to include equipment, tackle, rigging, know tying, casting and fall fisheries in the area. Saturday, November 14, 2015 Cost $10. For ages 15 and up.

Squid Fishing Class at Point Defiance Marina –Learn the regulations, and how to jig squid, care for, prepare, and cook. For ages 8+. Saturday December 5, 2015 from 4-6 pm
Sign up online at MetroParksTacoma.org/GO or 253-591-5325.Pier Peer in Tacoma –See and touch creatures brought up from local divers. Participate in plankton and sea life netting to view the variety we have in Puget Sound as you learn about these amazing creatures from Tacoma Nature Center and Point Defiance Marina educators. Saturday, November 14, 2015 from 7:30-9 pm Cost $8 For ages 8+. Every youth needs an adult chaperone. Complementary Hot Chocolate and Coffee.

Sign up online at MetroParksTacoma.org/pier-peer or 253-591-5325.

Report submitted by Point Defiance Marina. For more information contact: Art Tachell, Boathouse Marina Technician, 253.591.5325 art@tacomaparks.com www.pointdefiancemarina.com. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also submitted by the Point Defiance Marina and features Gene Anderson with a 3 and 8 pound coho caught trolling herring.

Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Good” prospects for Coho during October in Marine Area 12.

Marine Area 13

no report this week

Freshwater – Lake Chelan

no report this week

Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir

WP_20151017_021This week at Potholes we continue to have nice weather with lows at night in the mid 40″s and daytime in the 70’s . No wind and some early fog that does burn off. Bird season kicked of this past weekend with spotty results. Both bass and walleye continue to be good at most any time of the day.              Deer hunting is on and I am a very proud grandpa with my grand daughter scoring on a youth non antler hunt in Okanogan using my 270 Winchester and downing it with a neck shot at 120 yards. Most unusal was the sighting of 2 spike elk by the Loop Loop  pass sumit.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack.

British Columbia

Vancouver

no report this week

Vancouver Island (Saltwater)

no report this week

Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound

no report this week

Bamfield

no report this week

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing was FAIR in East Sooke. The best fishing has been in 550 feet of water and way out in the strait. The best depths to fish have been between 60 – 90 feet on the downrigger. Cheanuh Marina held a small coho derby on Saturday and the winner was Paul Gauthier with an 11.6 lb coho. More hatchery coho are showing up in the mix. There were a few winter springs caught, just not too many. G-force spoons were the most productive lure. However, plastic baits have been popular as well. The Glow/Green Stripe hootchy has been effective for springs this past week. Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in the Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were effective. For flashers, the Lemon Lime, Super Betsey and the Purple Onion have been good.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Oak Bay

Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Some winter springs as large as 12 lbs have been caught but very few coho came from this areat. Most salmon were caught when fishing with lures right on the bottom (60-110 ft) on the Flats and by the Gap. The fish were hitting needlefish spoon and squirts. G-force and Skinny G spoons in No Bananas and Outfitter colours worked just fine. Coho Killers in Gold Nugget and Green Splatterback have been pretty productive too. The best flasher has been the Gibbs Lemon Lime and the Bon Chovy.

Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend out in Haro Strait and off Discovery Island. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Pedder Bay

Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Most anglers are catching Coho out in the tide lines past Race Rocks. The 400-600 foot depths have produced the best this past week. Most coho have been caught between 70 to 90 feet on the downrigger but the fish are sometimes a little deeper and it’s a good idea to have one line down at 120 feet. The coho have mostly been ranging from 3-6 lbs, with a mixture of marked and unmarked fish being caught. That said, a couple of 10 to 12 lb coho have been caught. Some chum salmon into the mid teens have also been caught and they are a little deeper in the water column. The chums like a very slow troll and have ben caught, surprisingly, on bait and Coho Killer spoons. Anchovy was the most productive bait when trolling for springs with Glow Green and Bloody Nose being top choices in teaser heads Spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in the Bon Chovy or Irish Cream colours were effective Flashers that remain popular include Super Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Purple Onion.

Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week with reports of Halibut up to 57 lbs being brought in. Anglers that were fishing were using mackerel, extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Sidney

Salmon fishing was SLOW near Sidney. The Pender Bluffs have really slowed down and we haven’t heard of any action form there. There are a lot of feeder springs in the Sidney Channel, but they are almost all 1” to 4” short of the minimum size for retention. However, we did hear of a 12 lb spring caught near the Powder Wharf.. Many anglers are fishing using anchovies in Bloody Nose and UV Green teaser heads. Coho Killer spoons have also been working well, especially in double glow and Gold Nugget. A couple of halibut have been taken as incidental catches this past week.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Sooke

The salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. It’s mostly coho that are being caught, usually out in the shipping lanes and in 400+ feet of water. The second and third tide lines have been producing most of the fish. A few Chums have been caught as well. Shore casters at Kaltasin Spit are catching chum salmon at the mouth of the river. The 3.5-4” G-Force spoons, as well as hoochies, are the top choices for Sooke anglers. G-Force spoons in Outfitters, Irish Cream and No Bananas and Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn are the go to colours that have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been the Ok’i Betsey, the Gibbs Outfitter and the Madi.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Ucuelet

no report this week

Victoria

Fishing for salmon was SLOW along the waterfront. Most anglers have switched there target fish to Coho and Chum. Anglers were finding success in 300 ft of water off Albert Head as well as off the edge of Constance Bank. The coho are starting to show up in better numbers but still seem scattered along the Victoria Area. Anchovies, spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Chartreuse and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Good choices in plastic baits are the Electric Chair, Purple Haze and Glow white. Gibbs Coho Killers, AP Needlefish and Coyote spoons in green, moon glow and silver colours have been very effective. The Purple Onion and Bon Chovy flashers have been very effective recently. The Glow Green Splatter Back Coho Killer has been a very effective out at the Constance Bank.

Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week. Colin Wong brought in a very fat, 130 cm long, 75.8 lb halibut from Constance Bank to take over the leader position on our year long leader board. Jason Frost also landed a big one on Constance Bank, a 67 lb, 133 cm long halibut. Dogfish this week seem to be more of a problem. Most anglers that were fishing were using mackerel, extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait soft plastics also work very well. You can also use a large spoon fished off a spreader bar, Mudraker or Lucky Jigs or other large Jigs if you want to stay away from the dogfish.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com

Cowichan River

no report this week

Lakes

Fishing is GOOD on most lakes. Wild rainbows and cutthroats over 50 cm must be released in Cowichan Lake.

The Cowichan River is Open to Fly Fishing Only from the Weir in Cowichan Lake downstream to the Mile 66 Trestle (CNR Trestle) (as described in the 2015-2017 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis – page 16 has a map). The Cowichan River remains closed to the retention of all Salmon species until further notice. Fishers are further reminded that until 2359 hours November 15, 2015, the Cowichan River is Closed to All Recreational Angling Downstream of the Mile 66 Trestle (CNR Trestle)(as described in the 2015-2017 Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis – (page 16 has a map) to the Tidal Water Boundary in Cowichan Bay (The Tidal Water Boundary runs from an orange boundary sign located at the Hecate Boat Ramp to an orange boundary sign located on a piling near Green Point, in Cowichan Bay).

Bass fishing is FAIR. Soft plastics rigged Carolina style are working well and crank baits too. Soft plastics rigged “Carolina Style “is 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.

Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Stamp River

no report this week

Oregon

Columbia River

no report this week

Tillamook Bay

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) reports that fishing for Chinook and hatchery coho is fair to good. Trolling herring or spinners are the two most popular techniques. Fish are being caught throughout the bay. Casting spinners for hatchery coho can be productive at times in some of the mid-bay channels. The bay is open to wild coho retention (1 adult wild coho for the season) on Fridays and Saturdays only, through Oct. 31.

Great Lakes

Lake Michigan

no report this week

Salmon University Staff
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