Fishing Reports for September 21
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Tuna, Johns River for Salmon, and the Boat Basin for Coho! These fisheries are all in progress right now in Westport.
Tuna fishing has been a challenge with really good days and days we have had to work for them. 35 to 50 miles out and to the SW is where we have been finding them most days. Look for marks on your sonar or jumpers. Deploy live bait and Hang on.
Not much reported out of Johns River but the fishery is in progress. Be sure to check the regs because the lines have changed. Some spots that were fishable in the past are not open this year.
Coho in the boat basin are huge. These are some of the biggest fish I have seen in here. Flying J spinners from Mepps are the ticket (7/8 ounce). This is a sight fishery so look for signs of fish moving in the water and cast in front of them to entice the bite.
A tentative schedule for Razor Clam digs has been published. The Westport area will have digs this year. I believe it opens around October 14th. Check the WDFW site for more info.
Writing this is bittersweet as this is my last report for Area 2 for Salmon University. It has been a blast over the last few years and I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Salmon University Family. Cyndi and I are moving to Mexico Beach Florida in November to be closer to our families. We will be running our Charter there and hope you all will come and fish with us. As I always say have Fun, be Safe, and come see us in Mexico Beach in 2017.
no report this week
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
no report this week
Marine Area 5
no report this week
Marine Area 6
no report this week
Marine Area 7
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- Brenda Schmidt reeled in a very nice Chinook last weekend.
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- Frank Guard put a good one across the deck as well.
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
Fishing in the area is closed except for bottom fish and squid. It is slightly early for squid but a few have been caught. We are awaiting the October 1 opener in Area 13 south of Narrows Bridge.
It is hoped that squid will arrive in greater numbers any day. Crabbing is now closed until we hear if we will have a winter season starting January 1, 2017. For a more up to date report call 253-591-5325.
Point Defiance Marina has rental boats and motors and launch and overnight moorage facilities with pump out stations and shore power. In addition we have storage space for boats up to 17 feet as well as kayak storage. For more information call 253-591-5325
Basic Fishing Classes are offered throughout the summer months. Two-hour classes are $15.00 and can be designed for youth and adults. Boat House Tackle Shop open 7 days a week.
Boat lifts open at 5am tackle shop open 5:30am tackle shop close 8:30pm boat lifts 8:50 and facility 9:00pm. For more information call 253-591-5325 Call 253-591-5325 or visit us on Facebook “Point Defiance Marina.”
Pier Peer in Tacoma Marine Night
Saturday September 17 , 2016 from 7:30 – 9 pm Ages 8+ Cost $8 each Family Night on the Point Defiance Pier learning about marine life that divers find and that can be seen in the night lights off the pier. More information here.
Point Defiance Marina Fall Swap Meet
Report submitted by Point Defiance Marina. For more information contact: Art Tachell, Boathouse Marina Technician, 253.591.5325 art@tacomaparks.com www.pointdefiancemarina.com.
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)
no report this week
Marine Area 13
no report this week
Freshwater – Lake Chelan
no report this week
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
Rick Thomas with a 5-pound smallmouth bass, later released.
Mild temperatures and dropping lake water temperatures are putting the fish in a feeding mode. The lake is still dropping but is higher than the same time last year. The Walleye are moving out of the dunes area and seem to be staging around humps out from the dunes. Both worm harnesses and deep diving plugs are working. The guide boats are mainly trolling deep diving plugs with about 100 feet of line out and trolling 2 mph and faster to get the plugs down. They are also covering more water and much of the time limiting the boat. Bass fishing remains good just outside of the dunes or fishing up in Linn Coulee.
This past weekend was the annual dock fishing tournament at Mardons and it ran from 6 PM Friday until 12 noon Sunday. There were lots of participants with each species of fish as its own contest. I went down to the dock Saturday for about a hour and witnessed a 19-pound (plus) carp weighed. Many of the fishermen I talked to said they fished the whole time. One fisherman I knew was catching a crappie or a bluegill every 5 minutes hoping for one larger than the rest to weigh in. The dock is available to fish from as long as you get a dock pass from the Mardon office.
This past weekend was the early youth hunt for water fowl. Most of the success was on the NW corner up by the job core dike. My granddaughter hunted close to the front of the dunes with no success .
Report submitted by Tom Pollack.
British Columbia
Vancouver
no report this week
Vancouver Island (Saltwater)
no report this week
Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and Ucuelet
Bamfield
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week. Some nice springs are still coming in but not as many as in previous weeks. Brian Kerr caught a 34.2 lb spring off Beechy Head at the third tide line. The Trap Shack, Beechey Head and Aldridge Point were the most productive locations to fish for springs. The coho fishing has been steadily improving and anglers are catching lots of wild coho and a few 7-18 lb hatchery fish. Those who targeted coho did quite well using spoons and hootchies. Anglers using bait are finding anchovies in glow teaser heads have been working best. Also good are spoons, such as the G-Force and Skinny G, in Bon Chovy or Outfitters’ colours. For flashers, the Betsey, Lemon Lime and Twisted Sister 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 again this past week. There were some springs up to 10 lbs caught on the flats but not too many were taken. Most of the salmon anglers who fish Oak Bay have moved over to either Sooke or the waterfront. Good trolling lures have been Coho Killers, Bon Chovi or Outfitters Skinny G spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons. Anglers jigging have been using Needlefish Darts, Point Wilson Darts or Deep Stingers.
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. The chinook fishing has definitely slowed down in Pedder Bay Most of the springs being caught are small feeder springs. The coho fishing is out at the shipping lanes where there are a lot more hatchery springs than in close. Most of the hatchery coho have been from 8 to 14 lbs and even larger unclipped fish have been caught and released. The bite periods have been early in the morning, on the tide changes and late in the evening. Anchovies were the top bait this past week. Good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Flashers that are popular include the Betsey, Lemon-Lime and Madi.
Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week. The best areas were Race Rocks, William Head, 27 Fathom reef and Constance Bank. 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 Mudraker, Lucky or 9” Jumbo Squids 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 SPOTTY this past week. The Pender Bluffs produced some coho as and a couple of springs in the high teens but the bite periods were infrequent. The coho were suspended at 80-90 feet. There were small, undersized springs off Hambley in 130-140 feet of water. The springs are being caught on anchovies and the Bloody Nose teaser has been the best onr. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most successful spoons this past year. Anglers jigging have also been caught springs using Needlefish Darts and Deep Stingers. The Powder Wharf and Shag Rocks area are popular for jigging salmon.
Effective July 25, 2016 at 00:01 hours until October 14, 2016 at 23:59 hours, you may not retain Chinook salmon in the following waters: Subareas 18-6 to 18-8, 18-10.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sooke
Brian Kerr with his big catch
The salmon fishing was GOOD for coho but slow for springs. Otter Point, Possession Point and Secretary Island were the hotspots. The coho fishing has been very good and many of them are big. The hatchery fish were running from 7–15 lbs and some of the wild, unmarked coho were even heavier. The unclipped fish once again greatly outnumbered the clipped fish this past. The best coho fishing has been out on the tide lines with spoons and plastics the most popular lure choices. Anchovies are still a good choice for bait and good choices for teaser head colors are UV Green, Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze.The top spoons for Sooke anglers have lots of green and glow/white has been working well.. For flashers, you can’t go wrong with a Super Betsey, Madi or Bon Chovi Flasher. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been effective recently.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Victoria
Fishing for salmon was SLOWER this past week. The slowed down as the week progressed.. The wild coho were as large the mid teens in size and hatchery coho up to 12 lbs were caught. There were good bites at times and other long periods were there was nothing happening. The best depths have been 40 to 75 feet on the downrigger. Good areas have been Macauley Point, the V21 buoy (green can), the breakwall, Brotchie Ledge and Clover Point. Most of the springs have been from 8 to 15 lbs in size but some big ones were caught. Anchovies have been a good bait to use (12 or 10 pack) and Bloody Nose, UV Green and Purple Haze have been the most popular colors for teaser heads. Spoons have been successful in getting hook ups as well. Green Spatter Back UV Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons or AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons have also brought good results in Victoria.
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
Trout fishing is GOOD on most lakes in the South Island area. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, or worms while fishing close to the bottom. Chartreuse and Fluorescent Yellow 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. 2” Tomic Plugs have also been working well for Trout.
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 on the bay is fair with fall Chinook starting to show up; a few fish are being caught.
Great Lakes
Lake Michigan
no report this week
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