Fishing Reports for July 5
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Saturday, July 1st was the ocean salmon opener for Westport, WA and it was a good one for Chinook, the Coho were a little harder to find.
There are two areas of fish right now, one on the north beach in 30-40′ of water and another SW of the harbor in 220′. I think the beach was the overall best and trolling delta divers/herring was the ticket.
Several of our boats fished for limits of Rockfish as well (combo trip) and clients were happy to take home some bottomfish too! In fact, on Sunday, we caught limits of Rockfish while trolling for salmon. If you run into an occasional sea bass egoless salmon trolling, stop on send down a couple shrimp flies or darts, you may catch a lot more!
Report submitted by Mark Coleman, All River and Saltwater Charters; 425-736-8920. The cover image of this week’s fishing reports was also submitted by Coleman.
Marine Area 3 (LaPush and Forks)
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
Salmon fishing in the San Juan Islands has been slow to good, depending on your location. Chinook are not everywhere in Marine Area 7, but if you land on them you should be able to put a couple in the box. We’ve had the best luck in July using Silver Horde 3″ spoons, tied to 48″ of leader behind an 11″ flasher. The limit on Chinook is two hatchery clipped fish. Sockeye can also be included in your two fish limit, plus two additional. Four Sockeye would be a good haul, but they’re hard to catch on sport tackle in the salt. They are schooling fish and krill eaters, so putting a lot of flash in the water and using small offerings can work.
Submitted by Kevin Klein, Team Parker Boats NW.
Marine Area 8.1
no report this week
Marine Area 8.2
no report this week
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
Crabbing in Area 9 opened to a rather disappointing start. Crab were fewer in number than usual and smaller. Lots of red rock crab. There were fewer female Dungeness crab than usual and the males were mostly under 7″. The area had been heavily fished by tribal fishermen for the month preceding the sports fishing opening. Tribal fishing continued up until the day before the sports fishing opening. Most other areas experienced the same on their opening.
SU Staff
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
The salmon fishing has been fair recently with most of the Chinook being caught by fishermen trolling a variety of gear flasher and artificial squid or spoons as well as salmon plugs. Jigging and mooching have not been as productive lately. Most of the Chinook have been in the 6lbs. to 9lbs range with the largest brought in here at 13 1/2 lbs. the last couple of days. There also have been a few Coho Salmon caught recently in the 3lb to 5lb pound range.
The Dungeness crabbing remains a little slow but the Red Rock crabbing has been decent.
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
Learn Basic Fishing Youth/Adult June 17, 2017 Saturday 10 am to 12 noon Cost $15 (ages 8+).
ABC Boater’s Class II for beginning boaters on Monday and Thursday nights from 7-9 pm , June 5-19 (5 nights total) This class will provide the requirements for the mandatory WA State Boater’s Card for boats with 15 hp or greater. The class will provide a Boater’s Manual and Navigational Software. Cost is $50. The class is taught by Tacoma Power Squadron. Info call 253-591-5325
Summer Camps Available Sails and Trails Camp for Ages 11-15. Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm. Cost $260/wk. Participants spend the week fishing and educational trail hikes at Point Defiance and Sailing and Kayaking at Tacoma Youth Marine Center. Also one day is spend at Foss Seaport Center with hands on marine science. July 10-14, July 17 21, July 24-28, July 31-Aug 4.
National Marina Day at Point Defiance Marina is June 10 and Free Fishing in WA State Weekend is June 10, 11, 2017. Point Defiance Marina will host $25 boat and motor rentals, Crabbing Class, Fishing demo, Dock Fishing Derby, and Vessel inspections from Tacoma Power Squadron. Help us kick off 2017 the summer season.
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
no report this week
Freshwater – Lake Chelan
no report this week
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
By looking at the area around me, it looks like all of the west siders are here. Local temperatures have been in the mid 90s and the end of this week we will be looking at temperatures over 100. Yes, we have had some wildfires but everything is under control. More dunes are showing with the level of the lake dropping. Largemouth fishing has been very good for those that know their way around back in the dunes. Walleye have been moving onto the main lake. Numbers of bullhead catch and not just what fishermen want. Still, large trout are being caught while fishing for walleye. To target, try the usual lures like needle fish, wedding rings or shallow running shad raps.
Bring lots of ice with liquids, suntan lotion and bug repellent.
Report submitted by Tom Pollack
British Columbia
Vancouver
Over the last week, our best fishing has been on the far side of Georgia Strait. We have had some productive full day charters to the eastern shoreline of Gabriola Island when the winds have cooperated. Locally, the fishing has been scratchy with the odd legal and a few undersized fish being hooked on our half day trips. This should change very soon though as our West Vancouver fishery for coho, pink and chinook salmon will perk up any day and provide good opportunity on our half day trips.
Our best success on our full day trips to the Gulf Islands have been fishing close to the bottom in 140 to 200 feet of water. We have been focusing our efforts near the entrance to Silva Bay and up the Bluffs towards Entrance Island. The fish seem to be keying in on small herring so we have been running hootchies, smaller G Force and Silver Horde spoons and Skinny G’s. The Gulf Island’s will continue to produce chinook depending on the day for the next couple months. Gulf Island trips require a 10 hour charter and good weather.
In local Vancouver waters, there is the odd fish coming out of Vancouver Harbour, Cowan Point, Cape Roger Curtis and Hole in the Wall. Most days you really have to work for them, but there has been some nice fish around.
As we progress into this next week, we anticipate some better numbers of coho to be caught off the West Vancouver Shoreline. We should also start to see some early pink salmon start to show, likely in second of week July. These pink salmon that will show along the West Vancouver shoreline in July and August are bound for the Indian, Seymour, Capilano and Squamish Rivers. The Fraser River pinks return later and will be in local waters in late August and September. Chinook salmon numbers will also start to increase along the West Vancouver shoreline in July. It is quite common to hook chinook in the 15 to 30 pound range while targeting coho and pink salmon in Vancouver Harbour. We find running a mixture of anchovies, spoons and hootchies is an effective way to target all 3 species of salmon along the West Vancouver shoreline. A white yamashita hootchie can be deadly behind a Guide Series Flasher with a UV Blade. (Bon Chovy, STS, Madi, Slurpee).
For more info call Jeff or Jason at Bon Chovy Fishing Charters (604) 763-5460,bonchovy.com email: info@bonchovy.com. The cover image of this week’s report was also contributed by Bon Chovy.
Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and Ucluelet
A few more Coho have started showing up and fishing in Barkley Sound, Big Bank and in close to shore has been steady. Both Chinook and Halibut have continued to show decent numbers as the summer has progressed. We’re mostly using Number Three Silver Horde Spoons close to shore.
Canada Day weekend was sunny and successful!
Submitted by Sam Vandervalk of Salmon Eye Charters (1-877-777-4344). Salmon Eye is recommended by USA Today, Cruise America and New York Times bestselling author Peter Greenberg in his book The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to the Greatest Experiences Around the World. The cover image of this week’s reports was also contributed by Vandervalk.
Bamfield
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was GOOD this past week when it wasn’t blowing too hard. There have been lots of salmon in from Aldridge Point to the Trap Shack. Besides springs into the teens, lots of pinks have also been showing up. The best depths to fish have been from 40 to 70 feet. Anchovies are now the most popular bait. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose and Mint Pearl. Trolling Skinny G spoons on a 36” leader has been working great. The best color combinations being Nickel/Blue, Nickel/Gold and Bananas. For flashers, the Homeland Security and Raspberry Jelly have been working well.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Salmon fishing was FAIR in Oak Bay this past week. There has been some good-sized fish into the mid teens coming in from the flats. Some good choices for lures are the Blue/Nickel Skinny G’s and 4” AP Spoons. The salmon are feeding on needlefish and have been at depths from 80 to 135 feet, depending on where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom. Good jigging lures have been Point Wilson Darts and the Delta Mac Fish.
Halibut fishing was GOOD this past weekend but it was way too windy for most boats. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Pedder Bay Marina reports FAIR salmon fishing when the wind isn’t too bad. There has been hatchery springs weighed in as heavy as 22 lbs. The bay was fishing well again this week, and it was out of the wind, with the most productive area being near the can buoy. Anchovies are now the most popular bait. Good teaser heads have been the Bloody Nose and Mint Pearl. Skinny G’s in the new nickel colours have been catching springs as well. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or uv white have been popular color choices this week. Flashers that are popular include the Madi, Bon Chovy and Chartreuse Twisted Sista.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sidney
Salmon fishing was FAIR to GOOD this past week. The best spots have been Hambly Point and Sidney Spit with springs being caught into the high teens. Early in the week Fairfax produced some nice fish. There has been lots of bait around the Powder Wharf and the springs should show up there soon. There have been reports of Pender Bluffs starting to pick up. Anglers using spoons found Coho Killers, Gibbs Needle G and AP Tackleworks needlefish spoons the most successful spoons this past week Suggested colours are Trap Shack and Bon Chovy. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish with teaser heads in UV Purple.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sooke
he fishing has been GOOD for salmon over the last week….. when you could get out. Secretary Island to Otter Point has been good and pink salmon are also showing in the catches in addition to springs ranging from 8 – 24 lbs. There have been reports of springs into the 30’s being released. Most anglers are using bait with anchovies being the most popular choice. Lots of small squid were in the area so hoochies are also effective. Good choices for teaser head colors Red, Tiger Prawn, Glow chartreuse Tiger Prawn and Bloody Nose. For flashers, the Delta Homeland Security and Red/Silver Hot Spot have been working well. Hootchies in all White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze have been effective recently as well.
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 SPOTTY off Victoria this past week. The most productive area has been Constance Bank and the harbour mouth with a few better sized fish into the 20’s being caught. That said, most boats fishing the waterfront came up empty. Some pink salmon are also starting to be caught out at the bank. Spoons have been very successful in getting hook ups, Nickel/Blue Skinny G’s, Coho Killers, 3.5” Cop Car spoons have brought some hookups.
Halibut fishing was OKAY this past week. The halibut have been fairly deep with depths of over 300 feet the most productive. Most anglers that were fishing for halibut are using extra large herring, salmon bellies and/or octopus for bait. Also working well was the 8” Powerbait Grubs and Delta Hali Hawgs.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Lakes and Rivers
Fishing was GOOD in most lakes for trout and bass.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Oregon
Lake Michigan
no report this week