Fishing Reports for March 7
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
no report this week
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
Some larger Chinook have shown up in the Islands. The fish are spread out, so you just have to be at the right place at the right tide. Are there no fish or has the bite just not gone on yet? Should we move or let the tide load up and fish move in? Spending time on the water will help make these decisions work in your favor more often.
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)
The first part of the week weather kept most of the boats off the water. Since then, fishing has been fair for Blackmouth. On the outgoing tide, one of the better places to fish is from Point No Point to Skunk Bay. On the incoming tide, troll from Point No Point down to Pilot Point. Another good place would be Possession Bar. Pt Townsend fishing, because of the big tide swing has calmed down a bit. There was a lot of bait in the top 30 feet of water, but very little in the bottom 100 feet. The best time to fish at Poirt Townsend would be an hour before or an hour after tide change.
submitted by Salmon University staff
Marine Area 10
There are still some 4-8 lb Blackmouth being caught in the area, weather permitting, although there are still a lot of shakers in the area. The best depths for catching are from 90 to 120 feet. Try to keep your lure within 10 feet of the bottom.
submitted by Salmon University staff
Marine Area 11
The salmon fishing is subject to the ability of anglers to get out between unfavorable winds and weather and catching a legal fish while avoiding seals. When that is possible there have been blackmouth caught at the Clay Banks in 130-150 feet of water 10 feet off the bottom trolling flasher and spoon. In afternoon in tide Quartermaster Harbor/Vashon Ferry Area/Neal Point have produced some fish. Some are having fair success trolling flasher and spoons in shallow water 30’ to 60’ kind of unusual but has been working, also there is some Coho to 16” being caught with light gear along the shoreline mostly in area 13. We have seen fish up to 10 pounds last week and yesterday an 8 pound 13 ounce salmon was caught. Most legal salmon are 4-6 pounds. Call for a more updated report at (253)404-3960. Pictured is Speed Salatino with an 8 pound 13 ounce blackmouth caught yesterday at the Clay Banks.
Basic Fishing Classes
Adult s (Ages 15+) May 26, 2018, 2018 10 am to 12 pm. Learn local freshwater and saltwater skills, regulations, and safety. Cost $15. Register at MetroParksTacoma.org/GO (253)404-3960
Youth Ages 8+ April 7, 2018 10 am to 12 pm Cost $15
Trailering Class – April 14, 2018 Saturday 10 am to 12 pm Cost $20 including Launch pass to practice skills learned
Learn the basic fundamentals of trailering including:
· Care
· Proper and safe hookups
· Towing
· Launching
· Docking
· Returning the boat to the trailer
· Basic on-going maintenance
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. We have many items for those seeking gifts as well as gift cards. For more information call 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.
Marine Area 12
As usual, in the March/April fishery, Area 12 has started to produce some bigger Chinook. Those that are tagged are usually dropping down from the Fraser River area for Spring feeding. A recent report said that a 20 lb Chinook was caught in Dabob Bay.
submitted by Salmon University staff
Freshwater – Grays Harbor Rivers
no report this week
Freshwater – Lake Chelan
no report this week
Freshwater – Potholes Reservoir
no report this week
Submitted by Tom Pollack (retired)
British Columbia
Vancouver
Winter chinook fishing has continued to be consistent as it has been all winter long. Some days you have to weed through undersized, but overall there seems to be pretty good numbers of fish around in the Vancouver area as well as the Southern Gulf Island’s.
We have had one of our best winters of prawning in a few years. If you are looking at doing a chinook salmon and prawning trip, March and April are the months to do it.
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. It shows Francis and Danielle with a Gulf Island Chinook from the weekend.
Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, and Ucluelet
no report this week
Bamfield
Chinook fishing is open all winter here but this past weekend really kicks of the season with the Sproat Lake Loggers winter Chinook derby. It’s held every year, the first weekend in March. The Derby is run out of the Poett Nook Marina near Bamfield. This year marked the 30th anniversary of this event.
Fishing was pretty decent with most of the 475+ anglers that took part taking some Salmon home and a prize. Top honors went to Brent Demarais with his catch of 17.6 pounds.
Halibut season started March first and fishing has been good. Local waters inside Barkley Sound and the closer offshore banks have nice sized fish this time of the year. I’ve only been out twice in the past week and we have been successful with fish avaraging just over 50 pounds.
For more info call Ken Bodaly at Rocky Point Charters, Bamfield, B.C. 250-728-3678 or the boat cell phone 250-735-4224 website:www.rockypointcharters.ca email: rockypointcharters@shaw.ca facebook:Rocky Point Charters
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was GOOD if you could get out in the weather. Anglers have been having the most success on the top of the flood tide in Whirl Bay. Most anglers are fishing close to the bottom in 100 to 160 depths. We haven’t heard of any salmon over 10 lbs here this past week. The majority of anglers are using spoons with Coho Killers, Gibbs Skinny G’s in green/glow and green/silver colors the favorites. The GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters, Madi, Lemon Lime and Green/Glow Hot Spot flashers have been working well. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits.
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 FAIR in Oak Bay this past week. There were a few salmon coming in from the Gap and from the Flats but they were mostly small. The salmon are feeding on needle fish and have been close to the bottom where the feed is located. Most of the anglers have been either bottom bouncing or jigging close to the bottom. Best bets for Oak Bay lures are needlefish spoon and squirts.
Halibut fishing was SLOW due to strong currents during the season’s opening weekend.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Pedder Bay
Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD fishing in Pedder Bay near the Green Can and in Whirl Bay. Most of the fish have been caught close to the bottom in 100 to 140 feet of water. The salmon have been from 3 to 5 lbs in size with the occasional larger chinook up to 10 lbs. Spoons have been producing the best and the Skinny G’s, AP Tackleworks and Coho Killers are the top choices. Green with either silver or glow has been the color choice in spoons. Hoochies and squirts with a green and glow, or UV white have been popular color choices for plastic baits. Flashers that are popular include the Guide Series Madi, Outfitters and Lemon Lime.
Halibut fishing was quite SLOW due to strong currents during the season’s opening weekend with only 2 caught between lots of boats.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sidney
Salmon fishing was GOOD in the Sidney area. Big fish of the week was a 16 lb spring caught by Colin Campbell on an APT Sandlance spoon. We have heard that there were some keeper springs being caught near Pollier Pass and by Moses Point. Jigging has been the best way to catch springs near the Powder Wharf. The Red Can and the Powder Wharf are two areas off the channel that have also produced some fish. Anglers using spoons found that Coho APT Sandlance spoons, Gibbs Needle G and 3.5″ G Force spoons the most productive this past week. Suggested colours are Kitchen Sink and Irish Cream. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good producers of fish with teaser heads in Glow or UV Purple.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com
Sooke
The salmon fishing has been FAIR over the last few weeks when you could get out. Most of the fish were from 3 to 8 lbs in size with the occasional larger one. The best location to fish for winter springs was near Secretary Island. Most of the salmon are close to the bottom in 100 – 140 feet of water. The most productive lure combo has been a white hootchy fished behind a Red/Gold flasher. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits. Spoons such as Skinny G’s, Coho Killers and 3.5″ G Force spoons have been good. Anchovies are still the most popular choice for those fishing bait. Good choices for teaser head colors are Army Truck, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. For flashers, Red/Gold Hot Spots, the Delta Guide Series UV Moon Jelly, Madi and the Lemon Lime Chartreuse are popular.
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 GOOD off the waterfront this past week when the winds weren’t too blustery. Most of the fish are still small, from 3 to 7 lbs in size, but a few up to larger ones have been caught. On Monday, Sonia Benedic caught a 23.5 lb hatchery spring while fishing off Clover Point. She was using a Mint Tulip Hoochie and fishing at 177 feet. There was also an informal derby held by members of the Esquimalt Anglers’ Association on Saturday. Gary Caton was the winner with a 9 lb 13 oz spring. Second was Mike Weber with a 7 lb 9 oz spring and Wayne Zaccarelli was third with a 6.5 lb spring. In most locations the best depths to fish were 90-140 feet and we’ve heard of some larger fish being caught at mid-water depths. Spoons have been successful in getting hook ups with Irish Cream Skinny G’s, Green/Glow AP Tackleworks Anchovy 4” spoons and Green/Glow Coyote spoons popular choices.
Halibut fishing was SLOW due to strong currents during the season’s opening weekend.
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 SLOW in most lakes for trout and bass and GOOD in the rivers for steelhead.
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