Fishing Reports for December 16
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
As the year end approaches there is finally some hope in sight along the Washington coast. The WDFW has announced a proposed opening for a Razor Clam dig right around Christmas. Check the WDFW website for the latest. This opening will be for the Copalis Beach areas only! The areas around Grayland and Westport remain closed UFN due the continued high levels of Domoic Acid levels which make the clams unfit to eat.
Crabbing has opened for Recreationals in Area 2, 2-1, 2-2. Again check the WDFW website for details. Tribal Commercial Crabbing has commenced as well so there are a number of buoys around the bay and the bar. Use caution if you head out to place your pots.
We have seen some of the largest waves here in Westport that I have ever seen. Wave heights of 20 and 24 feet on the bar so needless to say no one has ventured out. Hopefully we will see a few calm days in the near future so the coast can recover.
Cyndi and I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes to All. Happy Holidays and We hope you enjoy your time with family and friends. See you in January!
Report by Kevin Lanier, owner of KC Sportfishing Charters 425-328-8558, President PSA Ocean Anglers, VP PSA State Board. Photos by Cyndi Lanier, Owner of Dockside Art,Gifts,and Tackle Westport Wa. 425-328-8559.
Marine Area 3 (LaPush and Forks)
no report this week
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
no report this week
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu)
no report this week
Marine Area 6
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Fair” prospects for Chinook during December in Marine Area 6.
Marine Area 7
When the wind’s not blowin’, fat Blackmouth are falling to hardware in the ‘Juans!
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Fidalgo-SanJuan Islands Chapter PSA, CCA Northsound. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports, featuring Karen Rhinehart, 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)
no report this week
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
The salmon fishing is very slow with only one legal immature chinook caught in the last week.
The squid fishing is fair from the area docks and from fishermen fishing out of their boats.
The crabbing is picking up a little bit I have seen fishermen getting up to their limits recently most of the crab have been coming from SW shoreline of Commencement Bay.
- The fifth annual Polar Bear Plunge is scheduled for New Year’s Day at 11:30 a.m. with the pre-event Resolution Run beginning at 11:00 a.m. This free event, sponsored by BECU, features hot refreshments and a commemorative towel or t-shirt for participants. Moreinformation is available here.
- On January 19, 2016, the marina will host a squid fishing class from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Attendees will learn how to jig, care for, prepare, and cook squid. Sign up online at MetroParksTacoma.org/GO or 253-591-5325.
- The Point Defiance Marina is organizing a beach clean-up on January 19, 2016 beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Report submitted by Point Defiance Marina. For more information contact: Art Tachell, Boathouse Marina Technician, 253.591.5325 art@tacomaparks.comwww.pointdefiancemarina.com.
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Poor” prospects for Chum, and “Fair” prospects for Coho during December in Marine Area 12.
Marine Area 13
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) predicts “Fair” prospects for Chum, and “Good” prospects for Coho during December in Marine Area 13.
Freshwater – Green Lake
I got a late start fishing today. While I’d much rather be out on Lake Washington chasing cutthroat trout, Green Lake is a fun urban fishery that often goes overlooked this time of year. WDFW dumps thousands of small planter rainbow trout in the lake throughout the year and if you’re lucky you might even catch a German Brown. I launched my kayak at the NW corner of the lake and did a quick lap around trolling before losing daylight.
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
British Columbia
Vancouver
Things are starting to perk up for winter chinook salmon in local waters. Right on schedule, we have seen some good numbers of fish show in Howe Sound. We were out on Monday and had a fairly active morning with a half dozen fish hitting the gear. We released a few undersize and kept a couple beauties!
We have been having most of our recent success in Howe Sound, but we have heard some encouraging reports from the Gulf Islands and Burrard Inlet. Smaller Gibbs Delta G Force Spoons and Silver Horde Coho Killers have been working for us close to bottom.
December is when things start to really perk up for winter chinook salmon. Time to get out there!
With the exchange rates, you can basically fish in Canada for 25% off. Give us a call or an email if you want to get out for winter chinook, spot prawns, and dungeness crabs!
For more info call Jeff or Jason at Bon Chovy Fishing Charters (604) 763-5460, bonchovy.com email: info@bonchovy.com.
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 for anglers in East Sooke. Very few anglers were out but a couple of springs did get caught inside the bay. Most of the anglers reporting success were getting their fish in Whirl Bay. G-force spoons were the most productive lure. However, plastic baits have been popular as well, especially in UV and/or glow patterns. 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 and the Purple Onion have been good. Four halibut were brought into the marina on the weekend.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. 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 FAIR 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 FAIR this past weekend. Not many anglers were out fishing, but those who did go out caught fish that were mostly in the 5-7 lb range. Most of the fish were caught close to the bottom in 120-150 feet of water. The anglers are fishing tight to the bottom are often bouncing the downrigger balls on the bottom. Small spoons, such as the G-Force, Coyote and Gypsy, in the glow and/or any bright colours were very effective. Hootchies and squirts also produced well. Flashers that remain popular include Glow green, Lemon-Lime and Purple Onion.
Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week. Most boats that went out after halibut caught fish. Anglers that were fishing were using 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, but almost no one has been out. We did hear of a 9 lb spring caught near Moresby, but that’s it. There was a lot of bait around Coal Island and Sidney Spit, and some under size springs were caught there.. Most of the winter springs have been short of the minimum size for retention in previous weeks. Most 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. Prawning has been quite slow in Saanich Inlet as well.
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 recently but almost nobody was out fishing. There are lots of undersize springs off Sooke right now and a few keepers into the mid teens. The 3”-4” Coyote, Gypsy and G-Force spoons, as well as hoochies, are the top choices for Sooke anglers. G-Force spoons in Outfitters, Irish Cream and No Bananas have been very popular. Hoochies in White Glow, Army Truck and Tiger Prawn have been catching their fair number of fish. The most popular flashers recently have been the Purple Onion, 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 GOOD off Victoria when it wasn’t blowing gale force winds. The salmon are all along the waterfront from Esquimalt to Trial Island and on Constance Bank. Unfortunately, seals are once again becoming a problem. Anchovies, spoons and squirts were successful in getting hook ups. Bloody Nose 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. Gypsy, AP Needlefish, G Force and Coyote spoons in green, moon glow and silver colours have also been good. The Purple Onion and Bon Chovy flashers have been popular recently.
Halibut remains GOOD around Middle Bank and Constance Bank. Good depths seem to be between 155 ft and 255ft for active fish and herring with salmon bellies and octopus working best. Most anglers that were fishing were using 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
Lakes
Bank anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing from shore and close to the bottom. Orange Garlic and Pink Garlic have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are fishing Pumpkinheads, Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Micro Leech patterns on full sink fly lines. Trollers are catching trout with Gibbs Gang Trolls and Gibbs Wedding Bands. Other good trolling lures are the Apex Trout Killers in rainbow, green or black and white patterns. Flatfish and/or Kwikfish have also been effective in sizes 5 to 7 in Frog, Black with Silver Flake or Rainbow Pattern.
Bass fishing is VERY SLOW. 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
no report this week
Oregon
Tillamook Bay
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that fishing for Chinook is fair to good and that trolling herring or spinners have been the two most popular techniques. The ODFW recommends fishing he lower bay on the softer tides and further up the bay on the large swings and reminds anglers that the bay closed to wild coho retention for the rest of the year.
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
no report this week
