2nd August, 2016: FISHING REPORT: Port Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound, Ucluelet (West Coast), Somas-Stamp River System.

PORT ALBERNI INLET - SPORT SOCKEYE FISHERY CONTINUES TO BE VERY GOOD

by Doug Lindores of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
Toll Free Number: 1- 888 214 7206

Mike from Calgary fished with Doug from Slivers Charters and landed this twenty-five pound Chinook at Cree Island in Barkley Sound. This salmon hit an anchovy in a green haze teaser head

The 2016 saltwater sport fishing season is closing in on some world class angling opportunities on B.C.’s West Coast. The month of August and the first half of September should provide six to seven weeks of fabulous sport fishing for anglers fishing the Alberni Inlet, Barkley Sound and offshore Ucluelet. Chinook forecasts are literally off the chart in terms of returning four and five year old Chinook to the rivers, streams and creeks of West Coast Vancouver Island. The forecast of great returns to the Somass, Nit Nat, and Sarita River systems are expected to be the best in the past fifteen years.

The Sport Sockeye Fishery in the Alberni Inlet CONTINUES to be very good. To date the sport Sockeye season has provided some terrific angling opportunities for everyone. The 2016 season is not like the previous year but with returns of almost 1.2 million Sockeye the sport fishery and been quite good. Due to cooler water and air temperatures in June and the first half of July the returns of Sockeye to the Somass River system has been excellent low and warm water in the Somass River, the Alberni Inlet, and the warm air temperatures the Sockeye salmon which are returning in an abundant number are schooling in very large numbers out in the Inlet water. We have had some rain and cooler temperatures in the area which has led to some migration through the salmon ladders. Almost one hundred thousand Sockeye have migrated through the system. The Sockeye are schooling from Cous Creek out to the Nahmint Franklin area. The projected outlook for Sockeye returns to the Somass River has been upgraded to 1.3 million. The Sockeye migrate into the Somass River and then into Sproat and Great Central Lakes. Projected migration into the lakes with a 1.3 million return should be close to four hundred thousand with the updated forecast return. With much of Vancouver Island in drought like will arrive to help the migration of all west coast Vancouver Island Salmon returning to the Somass River System.

Chinook salmon in Barkley Sound landed using anchovy in a glow army truck teaser head.

The Sockeye in the Alberni Inlet are currently sitting in eighty to one hundred and twenty feet of water. They are hitting short leader lengths from eighteen to twenty-five inches in length behind a variety of hotspot flashers. The mp2, mp15, pink and blue, pink and black, and the pink with either the green or white head hootchies all seem to be working very well for most of the sport anglers. Sockeye are attracted to the boat by color. Many sport fishermen will often have eight flashers behind their boat. Four are often dummy flashers and the other four with hootchies of choice. The Sockeye are averaging four to eight pounds. Sockeye are the number one commercial salmon. They are wonderful for summer barbeques and when vacuum packed properly last the winter for those special occasions. With good numbers of fresh Sockeye coming into the system on a daily basis we are hoping the Sockeye Sport fishery will continue into the August Long Weekend.

Sockeye fishing is a wonderful fishing opportunity for the whole family. It is a fun fishery for young and old. Don’t miss out on this opportunity in the Alberni Inlet this July and early August.

Jessica and Raymond from Victoria B.C. with a beautiful Chinook Salmon landed close to Bamfield.

The salmon fishing in Barkley Sound has been relatively inconsistent. The best fishing has been out on surf line areas. The islands close to the Ucluelet Harbor Mouth, Meares, Austin, Cree Island, Kirby Point, Edward King and the Bamfield Wall have all had times during the past few weeks with some hot Chinook and Coho sport fishing. Areas close to the Ucluelet Harbor that have had a few fantastic fishing days are Great Bear and Sail Rock. The inner and outer South bank and Long Beach have had some of the transient salmon linger creating some good sport salmon fishing opportunity. The Rats Nose however has had the best offshore sport fishing. The Bank is full of large herring which have moved good numbers of migrating Chinook and Coho onto the Bank to feed as they migrate to the big watersheds to the south. Spoons and plugs in the six inch and some five inch have been working the best. Spoons with no flasher have been fantastic. The salmon in the Sound and inside waters have been hitting anchovy in green glow, army truck, and green haze Rhys Davis Teaser Heads. Needle fish hootchies and hootchies in green (spatterback), blue and white have worked well. A few guides have done very well with the army truck glow hootchie and the cuttlefish J-79. The Sonora cuttlefish, Jack Smith, and Blue Meaney Hootchies have been very good out on the banks. Anchovy and a variety of four and five inch coyote spoons have also been working very well. We are looking forward to some great sport fishing opportunities during the second half of July and August in Barkley Sound offshore. The numbers of transient Chinook and Coho headed to the big watersheds to the south are forecast to be very strong which will provide some very excellent sport salmon fishing.