Fishing Reports – July 24, 2024
Washington
Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco)
No report this week.
The halibut quota for MA1 this year is 18,112 lbs. of which about 11,100 lbs. remains as of June 1st. Halibut will reopen on August 22nd.
Salmon fishing is open through September 30th, or until the quota is met.
Marine Area 2 (Westport)
Westport Tuna report!
The All Rivers crew and special guests geared up a little differently Friday morning, packed more ice than usual, stopped for a scoop of live anchovy on the way out of the marina and punched it west in search of Albies.
Just a quick 1.5 hour run and we put the gear in. Once everything was set it wasn’t more than a few minutes and rods started to fold over on the troll. Most actions were 2-5 hook-ups at a time, typical early season tuna, but we did deploy live bait each time and had great responses on that as well.
We looked over about a 10-15 area starting at 35nm from Westport and caught fish in all areas we explored.
All said and done we called it a day with 26 tuna at around 1:30pm. About half were on troll and half on live bait. What a great start!
The halibut quota for MA2 this year is 67,074 lbs. of which about 47,720 lbs. remains as of June 1st. Halibut will reopen on August 22nd.
Salmon fishing is open here daily through September 15th, or until the quota is met.
Report submitted by Mark Coleman, All Rivers & Saltwater Charters, 425-736-8920 mark@allwashingtonfishing.comwww.allwashingtonfishing.com
Marine Area 3 (La Push)
Fishing for salmon has been very good this week with limits the normal, a mix of silvers and some nice sized kings mixed in.
The halibut combined quota this year for MA3 and MA4 is 132,366 lbs. of which about 110,405 lbs. remains, as of June 1st. Halibut opens back up on August 16th, seven days a week. We have quite a few open spots for the summer halibut season, so if you’re interested, call us to book a spot.
Salmon fishing is open here until September 15th, or until the quota is met.
Report submitted by Jim Richeson, Top Notch Ocean Charters, 360-374-2660 topnotchoceancharters@gmail.comwww.topnotchoceancharters.com
Marine Area 4 (Neah Bay)
Salmon fishing has been great, lots of high teen-sized fish, both outside and inside and the weather has been good with the occasional windy day. The nearshore rockfish and lingcod trips have been seeing limits being brought in on each trip. There is a new restriction on certain rockfish species. Black sea bass to 4lbs+ and lingcod to 35″ are being caught.
The halibut combined quota this year for MA3 and MA4 is 132,366 lbs. of which about 110,405 lbs. remains, as of June 1st. Halibut will reopen on August 16th.
Salmon fishing is open here seven days a week until September 15th, or until the quota is met.
Marine Area 5 (Sekiu and Pillar Point)
Salmon fishing has been good, with some mid-teen sized fish moving in, and the weather has been good with the occasional windy day.
The halibut combined quota this year for MA5 through MA10 is 81,729 lbs. of which about 54,685 lbs. remains, as of June 1st. Halibut will reopen on August 16th.
Rockfish fishing opened on May 1st as well, and is limited to black or blue/deacon rockfish, daily limit three fish west of Slip Point and one fish east of Slip Point.
Summer salmon fishing is open here seven days a week until August 15th, or until the quota is met.
Marine Area 6 (East Strait of Juan de Fuca)
The halibut combined quota this year for MA5 through MA10 is 81,729 lbs. of which about 54,685 lbs. remains, as of June 1st. The halibut season will reopen on August 16th until September 30th, or until the quota is reached.
Summer salmon fishing is open here seven days a week from July 1st — August 15th, or until the quota is met.
Report submitted by Dave Croonquist, Puget Sound Anglers – North Olympic Peninsula Chapter
Marine Area 7 (San Juan Islands)
The short chinook opener / closer (three days!) was productive for those that got out and fished it. Nice high teen to low twenties-sized fish found in the usual spots, and 120-180 feet down. They seemed to be hitting on small-to-medium sized lures.
MA7 is open for non-spot shrimp (dock, coonstripe, sidestripe and pink shrimp only) through Oct. 15, with a maximum depth restriction of 200 feet. Details here.
The halibut combined quota this year for MA5 through MA10 is 81,729 lbs. of which about 54,685 lbs. remains, as of June 1st. The halibut season closed on June 30th, but reopen on August 16th until September 30th, or until the quota is reached.
Lingcod fishing (hook and line) opened here on May 1st, with a slot limit between 26″ and 36″, daily limit 1 fish. Rockfish fishing is closed year-round.
Marine Area 8.1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, Skagit Bay)
No report this week.
Shrimping will be open here on July 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only, details here.
The halibut combined quota this year for MA5 through MA10 is 81,729 lbs. of which about 54,685 lbs. remains, as of June 1st. The halibut season closed on June 30th, but reopen on August 16th until September 30th, or until the quota is reached.
Lingcod fishing (hook and line) opened here on May 1st, with a slot limit between 26″ and 36″, daily limit 1 fish. Rockfish fishing is closed year-round.
Marine Area 8.2 (Port Susan, Port Gardner)
No report this week.
The halibut combined quota this year for MA5 through MA10 is 81,729 lbs. of which about 54,685 lbs. remains, as of June 1st. The halibut season closed on June 30th, but reopen on August 16th until September 30th, or until the quota is reached.
Lingcod fishing (hook and line) opened here on May 1st, with a slot limit between 26″ and 36″, daily limit 1 fish. Rockfish fishing is closed year-round.
Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet)
Possession Bar was the place to be for the short chinook opener, but fish were found in other usual spots as well, and they weren’t as crowded. We’ve seen some nice coho being caught already, and they are getting bigger by the week.
The halibut combined quota this year for MA5 through MA10 is 81,729 lbs. of which about 54,685 lbs. remains, as of June 1st. The halibut season will reopen on August 16th until September 30th, or until the quota is reached.
Marine Area 10 (Seattle / Bremerton)
Fishing for coho salmon in central sound has been good! We’re finding fish lately from 50-120’ on the downriggers. Plenty of chinook have been stretching the lines day to day, looking forward to opener for chinook on the 18th.
The halibut combined quota this year for MA5 through MA10 is 81,729 lbs. of which about 54,685 lbs. remains, as of June 1st. The halibut season will reopen on August 16th until September 30th, or until the quota is reached.
Report & pics submitted by Matt McCulloch, Tyee Charters, 206-799-2530, maligem@comcast.netwww.tyeecharters.net
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma / Vashon Island)
No report this week.
MA11 is open for non-spot shrimp (dock, coonstripe, sidestripe and pink shrimp only) through Oct. 15 with a maximum depth restriction of 150 feet. During the non-spot season 1/2-inch mesh pots are allowed, depth restrictions are in place, and all spot shrimp are required to be released immediately. Details here.
Marine Area 12 (Hood Canal)
No report this week.
MA12 is currently closed for salmon, lingcod, rockfish, and halibut. Salmon fishing will open August 1st.
Your options for now are limited to other flatfish (flounders, sole, sanddabs), or catch-and-release fishing for trout along the shorelines.
Marine Area 13 (South Puget Sound)
No report this week.
MA13 is open for non-spot shrimp (dock, coonstripe, sidestripe and pink shrimp only) through Oct. 15 with a max depth restriction of 200 feet. During the non-spot season 1/2-inch mesh pots are allowed, depth restrictions are in place, and all spot shrimp are required to be released immediately. Details here.
Salmon fishing is open here year-round. The daily limit is two fish, Chinook (minimum 22″) other species no size limit; release chum, unclipped coho, and unclipped Chinook.
Rockfish fishing is closed year-round.
British Columbia
A reminder for British Columbia anglers: All fishing and hunting licenses expired at the end of March, so be sure to get your new licenses before your next trip outdoors. Often there are changes in the regulations, so take some time to read and review the regulations before going out and accidentally getting into trouble. Saltwater anglers will find new regulations regarding crab and prawn floats and the conditions of license in effect. And be sure to carry BOTH pages of your new saltwater angling license.
Anglers are advised to check http://bcsportfishguide.ca for further fishing closures, regulations, and information for specific areas.
Ucluelet
Chinook salmon has been good and now that the offshore area 123, 124 is open for 2 per day it increases areas where we can go. Always make sure to check your regulations. Chinook salmon has been consistent outside Mara rock and good on some days around Sail, Austin, Cree, Florencia Bay and around Great Bear. Long Beach has also been good the past few days. Wya and outside Fraser Rock have been holding fish as well. We have done a little live squid fishing that past few days and expect we will have a few more good days in the next couple weeks with the amount of squid around. Anchovies, white hutchies and 3′ spoons have been our most commonly used ways to catch Chinook.
Coho Salmon has been good in a couple different spots including Alley rock, Austin, Cree and other spots in Barkley Sound. We mostly are catching them as incidentals while fishing for Chinook
Halibut fishing has been pretty consistent though we are starting to travel about 10-12 miles out now in a few different spots. There have been a few halibut caught in Florencia Bay which means there should be some right outside if you are looking for an area to go that isn’t far away. Generally we travel a bit just to have the more guaranteed catch. Octopus have been messing with our gear in a few spots so look out for them.
Wildlife: We have been seeing quite a few whales, sea otters and more sea lions the past couple of weeks which is always pleasant to see.
Report & pics submitted by Sam Vandervalk, Salmon Eye Charters, Ucluelet, BC, 877-777-4344, fishing@salmoneye.net www.salmoneye.net
Bamfield, Barkley Sound, & Port Alberni
Sockeye Fishing in the Alberni Inlet continues to be Excellent. Barkley Sound Salmon Fishing Consistent.
The Sockeye Fishing in the Alberni Inlet has been an absolute hit for so many avid fisher people. Up to the beginning of this new week limits of eight, twelve and even sixteen beautiful Sockeye Salmon have continued for guided and non guided trip. The limit of Four Sockeye per day has continued but on the 24th of July the limit as announced by the DFO will become two per person per day.
Sockeye are in much deeper water due to the high air temperatures over the past few weeks. Fishing from seventy to one hundred feet is not uncommon for most fisher people. The Black and pink hootchies and black hooks behind a variety of different flasher colors are working well. Escapement into the Somass River and then into either Sproat or Great Central Lakes has slowed down considerably with the fish moving and remaining in the cooler and deeper water of the inlet. When a good amount of rain occurs the fish will move to the river and into the two lakes where they will remain until the Fall. Approximately one hundred and sixty-five thousand fish have gone through the counters to date. We expect the Sockeye fishing to continue for some time but until further notice the limit for sport fishing will be two per person beginning on the 24th of July.
Barkley Sound Fishing has remained fairly consistent with the best fishing in many of the surf line areas. As well fishing up at Wya Point, Florencia, and as far up as Long Beach has been terrific. Off shore fishing has been great for hatchery Coho and Chinook. However Chinook retention Limits until the 1St of August is one fish between forty-five and eighty centimetres daily. After August 1st it is expected that the number will change to two Chinook per day with the size limit at forty-five centimeters to any length. The salmon in Barkley Sound have been consistently hitting a variety of spoons. Many Skinny G and Coho Killer spoons have been working and hoochies in white and or white-blue have been excellent as well. The salmon are feeding on small immature herring in some areas and squid in other places. The squid have predominately been found around the Ucluelet area and the Bamfield Wall. We are expecting Chinook salmon returning to West Coast Vancouver Island to begin showing up very soon. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans have termed the return of Chinook Salmon to this area as “ABUNDANT” for 2024. We are looking forward to some world class fishing during the month of August in most Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet hot spot areas.
Chris from Calgary fished with Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing and had a terrific time in Barkley Sound for Three days of Salmon Fishing. Chris and family will be back in August and will witness some fantastic World Class Salmon Fishing
Taking time out to fish with Family and good friends is so important. This family of dad with two sons from Calgary Alberta had a fantastic time fishing the waters of Barkley Sound for Four days
This seventy pound Halibut was landed by a father/son combo fishing offshore
Halibut over the past year have been in relatively good abundance. Many people who fish with us for four days at our LODGE LOCATION in Barkley Sound will take one day out for fishing halibut.
Tight Lines
Report & pics submitted by Doug Lindores, Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing (888) 214-7206 dlindy@shaw.cawww.catchsalmon-ca.com
South Vancouver Island overview:
Halibut fishing was SLOW this past week with the full moon. Coho fishing has been GOOD for fin clipped coho from Sooke to Beechey Head. Chinook fishing was FAIR to GOOD in most areas. Lingcod and rockfish fishing was GOOD. Crabbing was HIT or MISS in most areas.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969, info@fishingvictoria.com www.fishingvictoria.com
Sooke
Coho fishing has been GOOD, although you must work to find them at times. The coho are still relatively small with creel survey reporting lengths from 43-58 centimeters. Small spoons and flash tails fished on short leaders behind Hot Spot or Oki Flashers are catching most of the fish. Anglers fishing catch & release are reporting some big springs near Otter Point, Possession Point and the Trap Shack. Halibut fishing was SLOWER this past week, with the best fishing off Muir Creek, Jordan River, and points further west. Crabbing has been FAIR in the Sooke basin.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969, info@fishingvictoria.com www.fishingvictoria.com
Port Renfrew
Salmon fishing has been HIT OR MISS both on the bank and near the shore.
Subareas 20-1 and 20-2 Effective 00:01 hours July 15 to 23:59 hours July 31, 2024: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook. Effective 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours December 31, 2024: Two (2) Chinook per day, no maximum size limit.
Becher Bay
Salmon fishing was SLOWER this past week within the open area inside the bay.The larger clipped springs have been in the teens in size. Spoons such as Krippled “KC”, Skinny G’s, Wee G’s, and AP Tackleworks have been working very well. Hoochies have been good in glow colour patterns. Anchovies are always effective for springs and popular choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Popular flashers have been the Herring Aid, Madi and Blue/Silver Hot Spots. Crabbing has been FAIR inside the bay.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969, info@fishingvictoria.com www.fishingvictoria.com
Pedder Bay
Halibut fishing was SLOWER this past weekend with the big tides. Only three on Saturday with the largest one weighing 30 lbs. Constance Bank, Albert Head, William Head, the Mud Hole and East Race produced fish recently. Octopus and Herring have been successful baits when used with a glow hootchy. Bottom fishing was GOOD.
We also heard of small (40-58 cm) fin clipped coho being brought back to the marina. Spoons such as Krippled “KC”, Skinny G’s, Wee G’s, and AP Tackleworks have been working well. Anchovies in the 12 pack or smaller sizes were good baits and popular choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Popular flashers have been the Guide Series Oki ‘s and Glow Hot Spots. Crabbing has been SLOW inside the bay.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969, info@fishingvictoria.com www.fishingvictoria.com
Victoria
Halibut fishing was SLOWER at Constance Bank and in the Mud Hole. Lingcod and rockfish fishing was GOOD. Crabbing has been HIT OR MISS. as commercial crabbers are now working the waterfront.
Chinook salmon fishing was GOOD this past week with a good bite during the first hour of daylight. Saturday morning produced lots of springs near the harbour entrance. Some other large ones were caught, and others lost. Spoons such as Krippled “KC”, Skinny G’s, Wee G’s, small, from and AP Tackleworks have been working very well. Anchovies are always effective for springs and popular choices for teaser head colors are Chartreuse, Bloody Nose and Purple Haze. Popular flashers have been the Herring Aid, Madi and Green/Silver Hot Spots.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969, info@fishingvictoria.com www.fishingvictoria.com
Oak Bay
Halibut fishing was FAIR to GOOD south of Discovery Island. Lingcod, as well as rockfish, fishing has also been GOOD. Catch & release salmon fishing has been FAIR to GOOD in Oak Bay. Both the Flats and the Gap have produced springs in the teens for anglers. Effective spoons have been the 4” Needlefish AP Tackleworks, Herring Aid Skinny Gs, and Glow Herring Aid Wee Gs. and Coho Killers. Crabbing has been HIT OR MISS.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969, info@fishingvictoria.com www.fishingvictoria.com
Sidney & Vancouver
Salmon fishing was FAIR this past week. There were bought springs and coho caught by Moresby Island. Prawning has been GOOD for limits when traps are left out overnight and picked up the next day. Crabbing has been HIT OR MISS, but we know of some crabbers that had excellent results on the west side of the inlet.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969, info@fishingvictoria.com www.fishingvictoria.com
Lakes and Rivers
Trout is FAIR and bass fishing is GOOD.
Cowichan River
The river closes for angling from July 15th to August 31ST.
Trout
Trout fishing has been FAIR to GOOD at most local lakes. The best fishing has been in the Elk, Langford, Prospect and Langford Lakes where the most trout are stocked. Shore anglers use Powerbait, Gulp Eggs, and worms while fishing close to the bottom. Fly anglers are mostly fishing Woolly Buggers, Leeches and Chironomid patterns. Trollers are catching the most trout with worms fished on Gibbs Wedding Bands behind Gang Trolls.
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
Fishing was GOOD in all lakes. Most methods for bass are working right now but at different times of the day. During mornings, before it gets hot and, in the evenings, when it cools, the bass can be found in the shallows feeding. Top water frogs, poppers and ploppers have been productive at these times in the day, as well as soft plastics and minnow pattern crankbaits In the hot parts of the day, the fish have been going a bit deeper, holding in 10 to 20 feet, depending on the depth of the lake. During this time, dropshots, Ned rigs, jigs, deep running crank baits, swim baits, and jerk baits have been working well.
Bass Fishing Tip of the week:
When bass fishing during the hot part of the day, try a slow sinking wacky worm in the 10-to-20-foot range to locate deeper feeding fish. In the mornings and evenings try a frog or popper.
Submitted by Tom Vaida, Island Outfitters, 3319 Douglas Street, Victoria, BC (250) 475-4969, info@fishingvictoria.com www.fishingvictoria.com
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