Fishing Reports – September 24, 2021
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
The WDFW closed chinook retention here as of August 27th. Fishing remains open for other species. Details here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/8437
no report this week.
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
The WDFW closed the recreational salmon season here on September 4th. Details here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/8467
Halibut fishing is open here Thursday-Saturday until September 25th if the quota is not reached. Details here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/8316
no report this week.
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
Halibut fishing is open here Thursday-Saturday until September 25th if the quota is not reached. Details here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/8316
The WDFW has lowered the chinook retention to one fish in MA 4, as of July 24th. Details here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/8314
no report this week.
The Makah Nation, including Neah Bay continues to be closed to the public due to COVID-19 – so most sportfishers fishing in Area 4 are running there from Sekiu. As of August 25, 2021, the Makah Nation web site states that the Makah Nation will be closed to the public until at least October 1, 2021. For more information, please see the Makah Nation website here: https://makah.com/
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu)
no report this week.
Marine Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait)
no report this week.
Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands)
no report this week.
Marine Area 8.1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, Skagit Bay)
no report this week
Marine Area 8.2 (Ports Susan and Gardner)
The WDFW re-opened the Tulalip Bubble fishery on August 13th, until September 6th. Details here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/8370
Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet)
The WDFW has suspended chinook retention in MA 9, as of 12am on August 5th. Details here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/8337
For tips on catching pinks and how to handle them once you’ve caught them, see our article here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/818
no report this week
Marine Area 10 (Seattle / Bremerton)
The WDFW suspended chinook retention in MA 10 on August 22nd. Details here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/8415
no report this week
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma / Vashon Island)
The WDFW suspended chinook retention in MA 11 on August 25th. Details here: http://salmonuniversity.com/archives/8420
no report this week
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)
no report this week
Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound)
no report this week
Freshwater – Grays Harbor Rivers
no report this week
British Columbia
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is no longer providing printed BC Sport Fishing Guides from previous years or link to access an online PDF version.
Interest in the Guides has diminished and there is an increasing gap between the information in the paper guides and the actual online fishing regulations.
For current fishing regulations in your area, please see the online Sport Fishing Guide at: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact your local fisheries office at: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/contact/regions/pacific-pacifique-eng.html
Bamfield, Barkley Sound, Port Alberni, Somass River System
The Salmon sport fishing in the Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound has really slowed down over the last few days. The huge rainfall just a few short days ago has opened up the various rivers, creeks, and streams and the Chinook and Coho salmon have moved into these waterways.
Barkley Sound still has the odd late Chinook in various areas and Coho are around but they too are anxious to make their last swim before spawning. Diplock, Pill Point, Sarita, and the Bamfield Wall have been the best spots to fish. A variety of hootchies and anchovy in various teaser heads are the best lures.
The Alberni Inlet is very slow. There is the odd Chum salmon outside Cous Creek that a few anglers have had fun with and have hooked into one.
The fishing just offshore out at Southbank and for those wishing to go further has still been good for halibut and also Coho.
The best fishing is in the Somass River system. Good numbers of Chinook Coho are in the system and many sport fisher persons are now choosing the river to fish. We do have some availability in early October. There are good numbers of Chinook and Coho in the system.
Tight lines
Report & pics submitted by Doug Lindores, Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing (888) 214-7206 dlindy@shaw.ca; www.catchsalmon-ca.com
Ucluelet
no report this week
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. Very few chinooks were caught as most of the chinooks have moved on. The best spots for chinook salmon were Aldridge Point and Beechey Head. Coho fishing has SLOWED, but some were being caught out near the shipping lanes. The average size has been from 5-9 lbs in size. Anchovies are now the most popular bait and good colours for teaser heads were Chartreuse, Mint Pearl and Bloody Nose. Good spoons for chinooks have been Skinny G’s, Coho Killers and Coyotes with green in the colour mix. The GIBBS Highliner Guide Series Outfitters, the Madi, and Gold Fever Hot Spot flashers had been working well. Halibut fishing has been SPOTTY in the area. Crabbing in the bay has been SLOW in the bay.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Oak Bay
Fishing for salmon has been SLOW in Oak Bay this past week. We haven’t heard of many mature springs caught in either the Gap or the Flats. Smaller winter springs are now the most common catch in Oak Bay. Small spoons and squirts have been the best lures in this area recently. Halibut fishing was SLOW in Oak Bay. Crabbing has been FAIR in Oak Bay.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Pedder Bay
Chinook fishing was SLOW near Pedder Bay. Most of the springs were caught near the entrance to the bay and near Church Rock. Coho fishing has slowed down near the shipping lanes but some coho up to 10 lbs are still being caught. Anchovies and herring were the best baits for salmon this past week. Good choices for teaser head colors were Chartreuse, UV Green and Bloody Nose. Spoons have also been highly effective with Skinny G’s, Wee G’s and AP Tackleworks spoons catching fish. All glow and Green with glow have been the two best color combinations. Halibut fishing was SLOW. The areas near William Head, Albert Head, and the 27 Fathom Reef have produced the most halibut recently. A few lingcod and rockfish were reported. Crabbing has been FAIR.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Port Renfrew
The GIBBS DELTA SUMMER CHINOOK SHOOTOUT was held this past weekend at the Pacific Gateway Marina. There wee 125 chinooks weighed in. The top three fish weighed 27.4, 26.1, and 25.2 lbs. The best fishing spots were Walbran, Camper Creek, Logan, East Point and Wood’s Nose.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Sidney
Fishing for chinooks was SLOW this past week. The Sidney Salmon Derby was held on the weekend. Over 100 tickets were sold and 14 chinooks were caught. The winning fish weighed 17½ pounds. Halibut and lingcod fishing was SLOW. Crabbing has been SLOW and there are lots of traps out by Sidney Spit.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Sooke
Salmon fishing was SLOW this past week. The best locations to catch a spring were Possession Point, and Otter Point. Feeder springs (winter springs) are now numbering more than larger mature springs. A couple of springs into the 20’s were caught, but most were much smaller. Coho fishing has been FAIR, especially out in deeper water. The coho were fairly deep with best success coming from 80-150 feet on the downrigger. Some of the coho have been as large as 10 lbs. Anchovies and herring were the best baits for all salmon. Good choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, Purple Haze and Bloody Nose. Spoons such as Skinny G’s, Wee G’s, Coho Killers, and AP Tackleworks spoons have been good for springs. Herring Aid has been the hot colour pattern in spoons. Popular flashers have been the Betsey, the Bon Chovy, the Madi and the Gold Fever Hot Spot. Halibut and Lingcod fishing was SLOW. Crabbing has been SLOW in the basin.
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
Victoria
It was VERY SLOW salmon fishing this past week. First light and the tide changes have been the most productive times. Constance Bank did give up a few salmon when you could get out there. It was very slow from Saxe Point to the Breakwater. The best lures this past week were small anchovies in Bloody Nose teasers or Silver Chrome Bullet Roll teasers. Spoons have worked at times with Skinny G’s and Coho Killers in Outfitters, Irish Cream and AP Tackleworks 3” Sandlance spoons effective choices. Lingcod and rockfish fishing was FAIR. Crabbing has been SPOTTY.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Fish Tip of the Week
Cover water! Most of the time when you hit one Coho, you hit another Coho, and then another. This is because Coho usually travel in schools in search of baitfish. In order to locate some Coho, it is important to continue covering different water and depths until you have found a school. Try spreading your lines all at different depths and try not to get stuck sitting in one spot against the tide.
Lakes and Rivers
Cowichan River
The river is extremely low and warm and anglers should not fish the river.
Trout
Trout fishing has been SLOW at local lakes. The water temperatures is fairly warm and the fish are deeper near the thermocline in the local lakes. Shore anglers are catching trout on Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, and worms fished just off the bottom. White, Pink, Chartreuse and Fluorescent Yellow have been good choices recently for Powerbait. Fly anglers are mostly fishing Wooly Buggers, Leeches and Chironomid patterns. Chironomid hatches have been happening at most lakes. Trollers are catching the most trout with worms fished on Gibbs Wedding Bands fished behind Gang Trolls. Tomic Plugs in 2”-3” sizes have also been working well for trout at Cowichan Lake.
To find out about fish stockings all over the Island and the province, as well as the different strains being released, click on the link http://www.gofishbc.com/Stocked-Fish.aspx
Bass
Bass fishing continues to be EXCELLENT. Big Largemouth and Smallmouth bass have been quite active and four pound plus fish are being caught regularly. Topwater fishing is good in the early mornings and evenings with anglers having good luck with wake baits, frogs and poppers, Subsurface soft plastics continue to trigger the most bites, with wacky and Texas rig worms at the top of the list. Try fishing close to the docks and near shallow structure. Deep water has been good during the day and jigs and drop shot fishing has been effective. Hot lakes continue to be Shawnigan, Quennell, Langford and Prospect Lakes.
The CBFL kayak championship was held this past weekend on Shawnigan lake The top ten anglers from the CBFL tournament series qualified to fish the event This two-day, winner takes all competition saw most anglers fishing offshore for suspending bass After day one, the Kayak Angler of the Year, Aaron Broadbent was in the lead with a 3 fish limit totaling 51″ Sunday’s weather was looking good when the anglers set out. Aaron went back to his spots and went to work amassing a 53.25″, 3 fish limit, going wire to wire, winning the championship with a impressive 104.25 two day total Honorable mention to Jesse Mcmullan runner up coming in with a two day total of 97.75″
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969 info@fishingvictoria.com; www.fishingvictoria.com.
Oregon
Tillamook Bay
no report this week
Willamette River
no report this week
Great Lakes
no report this week