Fishing Reports for August 21
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
no report this week
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
no report this week
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
no report this week
Marine Area 5
Marine Area 6
Marine Area 7
Marine Area 8.1
no report this week
Marine Area 8.2
Marine Area 9 (Admirality Inlet)
Coho and Humpies are on their way. Time to break out the Ace Hi Flies and Hootchies ! No more slow King trolling and no more bumping the mud.
The Moser kids took their Dad out once again and showed him the ropes ! They sure do know how to hook em up!
See you on the water!
Report submitted Nelson “Spud” Goodsell – Salmon for Soldiers, IGFA Life Member, FISHTALE2.
Marine Area 10
no report this week
Marine Area 11
We are officially at 57% of our Chinook quota for MA11 as of midnight 8/4/19.
Report submitted by Point Defiance Marina. For more information contact: Gene Anderson, Boathouse Marina Technician, (253) 404-3960, genea@tacomaparks.com www.pointdefiancemarina.com.
Marine Area 12
no report this week
Freshwater – Grays Harbor Rivers
no report this week
British Columbia
Bamfield
no report this week
Barkley Sound, Port Alberni, and Ucluelet
The summer months are quickly moving by and the salmon fishing in many areas of Vancouver Island just seems to be getting better as we move into the month of August. The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound and the West Coast out of Ucluelet and Bamfield for Chinook and Coho has been extremely good. Unfortunately the Alberni Inlet Sport Fishing for Sockeye during the second half of June and the month of July was uneventful as the returns to the Somass River were very low. The Chinook and Coho sport fishing on the surf line and all the way to Swale Rock and Pill Point has been absolutely fantastic. Many of the salmon during the month of July have been migratory salmon moving to the big watersheds well to the south. Some of the early West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook have been showing up during the last week of July on the outer edges of the sound and also in locations such as Kirby, Fleming, and Swale Rock. We are expecting the Chinook salmon returning to Pacific Rim rivers, streams, and creeks to appear in abundance over the next few weeks in many Barkley Sound locations before they make their way up into the Alberni Inlet. With the big returns of Chinook and Coho forecast to West Coast Vancouver Island a very strong sport fishing opportunity should be in order considering the continued migration of salmon to the southern watersheds. August and the early part of September should have fascinating sport fishing in most of Barkley Sound, and the Alberni Inlet. The Alberni Inlet is also expected to have a very large return of Chinook and Coho as these salmon migrate into the Somass River system. Usually by the 15th of August good numbers of these Chinook begin to show in Inlet areas close to China Creek and the Port Alberni Harbor.
Port Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound
The sport fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet for Sockeye salmon was completely closed in early July. The Chinook return to the Somass system should begin with salmon showing in good numbers in Inlet areas by the 10th of August. Pre-season forecasts are showing well above average returns of Chinook returning to the terminal area of the Inlet. Most of these fish will be returning to the Robertson Creek Hatchery. The age class of this year’s return is predominately in the forecast issued four and five-year old salmon. With this in mind there should be a good number of Chinook in the twenty to twenty-five pound class and some weighing over thirty pounds. Coho numbers are expected to be above average. Coho returns to the Pacific Rim and the many creeks and stream tributaries of the Somass system through conservation have become very strong over the past years. We should see Somass-Stamp River Coho begin to show in Barkley Sound close to the middle of August and peak during the second week of September before moving into the inlet and the Somass River.
Parts of Barkley Sound have experienced some fantastic fishing through June and July. July was a fabulous month in Barkley Sound as there were plenty of Chinook and Coho coming into the sound and feeding heavily before continuing their long journey to their Natal streams and rivers. Meares, Austin Island, Cree, and especially Swale Rock have been very good and have provided the most consistent sport fishing to date with good Chinook and Coho fishing. The salmon have been out in the deep water on the low tide and often on the flood move in towards the rocks and feed on the huge quantities of rich resourced bait fish. Chinook have been in 50 to 100 feet of water and have been averaging from the mid-teens to a few in the mid-twenties in terms of weight. The Coho have been in twenty-five to eighty feet of water and are gorging themselves putting on a pound a week and are currently averaging a whopping eight to ten pounds. Most of the salmon continue to be migratory fish moving to watersheds to the south. Recently there has been a few West Coast Vancouver Island salmon landed. We are expecting the local salmon to begin to show in higher numbers in early August and peak during the last ten days of the month. This is not to say that some Somass Chinook and Coho have not already arrived as there have been some fairly early returns to the Somass system over the past ten days. When sport fishing out in Barkley Sound it is ideal if sport fishermen have anchovy on board. To this date anchovy has not been essential as the salmon have been hitting various coyote spoons, Coho killers, and hootchies behind glow and kinetic flashers. In Coyote spoons, silver glow, lime green, green and blue nickel, watermelon, and cop car have all been working. In Coho Killers the Herring Aid, Cookies and Cream and Kitchen Sink have all been good. Hootchies and cuttlefish however in white and green have been by far the best lure. The bait in the area has ranged from squid, anchovy, mature herring and as of late newly hatched herring. If using anchovy have at least a six-foot leader using teaser heads in army truck glow, purple haze, green haze and cop car. We are expecting Barkley Sound to have fabulous sport fishing as returns of Chinook salmon to West Coast Vancouver Island are forecast to be between eighty to one hundred and ten thousand. With the late summer run of migratory salmon and local salmon returning to their natural streams and creeks there should be some “First Class” sport salmon fishing right into mid-September in all of Barkley Sound.
The Alberni Inlet should experience some excellent sport fishing in August. Usually the best salmon fishing opportunity begins mid-August but with big returns expected to the Somass River system the sport fishing may very well get underway well before August 15th. Many areas in China Creek and the Alberni Harbor will be heavily fished by many anglers world-wide. The larger O-15, O-16, and O-2 red and pink colored hootchies are very popular lures. Also the dark green spatter back, AORL 12, white glow and army truck are very popular. Bait is often a sure bet especially at the beginning of the season.
The Alberni Inlet and much of Barkley Sound will be very busy at the end of August and the first few days of September as the Port Alberni Salmon Festival will take place on August 31st and September 1 and 2. Tyee Landing will once again hosting the big event.
The saltwater sport fishing in 2019 has been fabulous from the surf line into various Barkley Sound locations. We are expecting the inshore areas of Barkley Sound as well as the Alberni Inlet to pick up even more by mid-August. If you are thinking of a fishing trip there is still time to organize. August and the early part of September is a great time to travel to the Alberni Valley area.
Somass-Stamp River
The Stamp River September and October salmon fishing should be unbelievable again this fall. Coho returns are looking extremely good and Chinook returns are expected to be well above average. For those that enjoy fly fishing the 10th of October right through until mid-November is often the best time. Space for guided trips in the river during the fall is very limited so organize early so there are no disappointments.
For more information and/or reservations, call Doug Lindores at Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing (250) 723-2435; (250)724-2502; cell (250)731-7389 or 1-877-214-7206 www.catchsalmon.ca or www.catchsalmon-ca.com; dlindy@shaw.ca. The cover image of this week’s report was also contributed by Lindores.
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing had been EXCELLENT in East Sooke. Anglers reported catching springs at 40 to 90 feet between Beechey Head and towards the Trap Shack. Limits of pink salmon averaging 7-9 lbs in weight are being caught from Beechey Head and the Trap Shack on the flood tides. They are also being caught further out in the strait near the 3rd tide line. Anglers were mostly using pink squirts and spoons for pink salmon lures. Good spoons for chinooks have been Skinny G’s, Coho Killers and Coyotes with green in the colour mix. Anchovies were working too and good colours for teaser heads were Chartreuse, Tiger Prawn and Bloody Nose. Needlefish hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits. The GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters, the Bon Chovy, and Gold Fever Hot Spot flashers had been working well. Other anglers that we know of fishing here were out for halibut and lingcod. Halibut fishing was GOOD this past week and some nice Lingcod were caught. Crabbing has been EXCELLENT.
Oak Bay
Chinook salmon fishing was GREAT in Oak Bay. Springs in the 10 lb. to 35 lb. size were caught both jigging and trolling in Oak Bay. Trollers were catching the salmon bottom bouncing spoons in 90 – 120 feet of water. Coho killers, Wee G’s and AP Tackleworks Sandlance spoons have been the spoons of choice. Squirts will also work with Jelly fish and Electric Chairs good bets. Jiggers had been having great success near Brodie Rock using Deep Stingers and Point Wilson Darts. Halibut fishing was GREAT in this area. We did hear of one pink salon being caught on the east side of Discovery Island. Crabbing was hit or miss for Dungeness crabs.
Pedder Bay
Pedder Bay Marina reported salmon fishing has been EXCELLENT at the mouth of the bay for chinooks. Halibut fishing was GOOD but lots of dogfish. Lingcod fishing and crabbing was GOOD this past week. Limit catches of pink salmon are coming in and most of the fish have been between 7-9 lbs. The hatchery coho are showing up in 300-500 feet of water and near the 3rd tide line. Coyote style spoons had been working well for springs when people were fishing for them. Anchovies and herring have been great and will probably take over as the bait of choice later this week. Good choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, Purple Haze and Bloody Nose. Hootchies and squirts were working with green and glow, Purple Haze or UV white good color choices. Flashers that are popular include the Guide Series Madi, Bon Chovy and Lemon Lime.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Sidney
Salmon fishing was OK this past week. Springs into the mid 20’s were being caught by trollers and jiggers. Jiggers are continuing to do very well especially near the Powder Wharf on the ebb tide and Sidney Spit on the flood tide. The lures working the best were the Deep Stingers and Gibbs minnows in 3 oz, blue nickel, chrome and green nickel. Suggested spoons are Coho Killers, Gibbs Skinny G and Wee G spoons and AP Tackleworks Sandlance spoons. Suggested colours are Cop Car and Trap Shack. Anchovies and Tiny Strip were also good in Glow or UV Purple teaser heads.
Sooke
Salmon fishing has been EXCELLENT this past week. There have been lots of springs in the teens being caught. Limit catches of pink salmon are coming in and most of the fish have been between 7-9 lbs. The hatchery coho are showing up in 200-500 feet of water and near the tide lines. The pinks have been from 6-9 lbs in size. Spoons such as Skinny G’s, especially in Irish Cream, Coho Killers and 4″ Coyote spoons have been good for springs. Green and glow has been the best color combination for spoons. Hootchies in White, Glow/Green and Purple Haze are the top choices in plastic baits. Anchovies and herring have been great and will probably take over as the bait of choice later this week. Good choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, UV Green and Bloody Nose. Popular flashers have been the Fandom Flasher Jelly Fish Glow, The Bon Chovy, the Madi and the Super Betsey.
Vancouver
no report this week
Victoria
Salmon fishing was GREAT at Constance Bank for chinook fishing. Pink salmon are also starting to be caught on the bank by those using smaller pink hootchies and spoons. That said, most anglers that we know of fishing this past week were out for halibut, rockfish and lingcod. The halibut fishing was GREAT this past week. Closer in along the waterfront it has also been GREAT for springs with the most productive area being from Esquimalt to Brotchie Ledge Anchovies and herring have been great and will probably take over as the bait of choice later this week. Good choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, UV Green and Bloody Nose. Spoons had been working very well with Skinny G’s and Coho Killers in Irish Cream, Outfitters and the AP Tackleworks 3” herring spoon good choices.
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 FAIR for trout and EXCELLENT for bass
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Vancouver
no report this week
Oregon
Tillamook Bay
no report this week
Willamette River
no report this week
Great Lakes
no report this week