FISHING REPORTS
from some of the BEST PLACES TO FISH !
9th April, 2008: FISHING REPORT: Port Alberni
Inlet, Barkley Sound, Ucluelet (West Coast), Somas-Stamp River System.
by Doug Lindores of
Slivers Charters
Salmon Sport Fishing
Toll Free Number: 1-
888 214 7206
April
is now here and the many winter storms on the west coast of beautiful Vancouver
Island are decreasing. There have been some solid high pressure systems build
off the coast which have naturally settled west coast Vancouver Island waters.
Guests from many areas of the globe have already taken advantage of many good
weather days and have fished our Seafood Safari out of Ucluelet and Barkley
Sound which is located twenty miles down the Port Alberni Inlet when leaving the
marina located in Port Alberni.
Vancouver Island is known for its fantastic salmon fishing. Many species of
salmon return to various creeks, streams, and rivers during the summer and fall
months which, gives opportunity for anglers to fish from April or perhaps
earlier until the late fall. Winter Chinook are often sought in the late winter
and the very early spring months followed by the millions of migrating salmon
swimming down the west coast of Vancouver Island. Sockeye salmon usually show up
in areas like the Port Alberni Inlet in June. By the end of July most Vancouver
Island locations have the beginning of the Chinook return, which are followed by
Coho in September and October. Many areas also have excellent Pink Salmon and
Chum Salmon returns also.
The Chum salmon fishery especially in Browns Bay near Campbell River and Sarita
Bay located in Barkley Sound is a lot of fun as these fish which average twenty
pounds are very scrappy. Vancouver Island also has an excellent sport halibut
fishery which begins often in April. The halibut usually begin their migration
from the deep water (1,000 feet) into shallower water (200 feet) in mid May.
During the summer we often do our salmon-halibut combos out of the
Ucluelet-Tofino area.
The WEST
COAST of VANCOUVER ISLAND has much to offer. Not only is there
excellent fishing but the scenery of the rugged coastlines is breathtaking.
Barkley Sound is a wonderful area to explore. One could spend days exploring the
many islands and also investigating the many small inlets and coves. The village
of Bamfield is a wonderful place to visit year round but the summer months are
absolutely spectacular. Ucluelet and Tofino are two of the busiest spots on
Vancouver Island during the summer. Much goes on in these two places. Currently
people are not only visiting the many shops and boutiques but many are whale
watching as the Gray Whales are passing along the coastline making their way to
the Beaufort Sea. The Whale Festival begins in mid March continuing into mid
April and is featured by the “Chowder Chow Down.” Currently Slivers Charters is
offering the SEAFOOD SAFARI.
Preseason
Summer Forecasts
Port Alberni and Barkley Sound
Many
Chinook and Coho return to Barkley Sound and the Port Alberni Inlet
beginning in late July. The return consists of wild and hatchery fish. The
wild salmon return to the many streams and creeks situated in the
geographical area. The hatchery return is mostly to the Somass River system
and Robertson Creek Hatchery. The preseason forecast suggests that 50,000
Chinook will return in 2008 which is a slight decrease from the 2007 return.
This number of course does not take into consideration the many wild Chinook
returning to the Somass and the many streams located down the Port Alberni
Inlet and out into Barkley Sound.
The return of Chinook into the area will be composed primarily of three and
five year olds. There are many indicators that have provided data that the
four year old return coming from the 2004 brood experienced low marine
survival. This is the main reason for the decrease in returns. However there
is a good number of surplus Chinook coming which is good news for the sport
fisherman. Bag limits will continue to be the same. The limits in place for
2008 are two Chinook per day per person with four in possession in both the
Port Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound. Coho returns should be very good in
all areas. Limits in Barkley Sound will continue to be two per day with four
in possession per person. The Port Alberni Inlet will continue with a limit
of four Coho per day with a possession limit of eight.
The current preseason forecast for sockeye salmon is not as good. The
preseason outlook is showing a return of 150,000 Somass Sockeye which return
to Great Central and Sproat Lakes. The Henderson River return is also
predicted to be low. The Sport Fishing Advisory Board and the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans will announce that there will be absolutely no fishing
for sockeye salmon in Area 23 during the month of June. If returns look
higher than what is predicted and the count of returned Sockeye into the
system during May and June is high there may be opportunity for a sport
fishery in early July. Slivers Charters is currently booking June and July
trips for Barkley Sound where there is great fishing for the many migratory
salmon making their way down the coastline. These fish come in and feed on
the ample and rich bait fish found in the calm waters of Barkley Sound.
Current Fishing
Port Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound
The
Port Alberni Inlet reopened the sport prawn fishery on April 1st. The
fishing for these luscious prawns has been magnificent. There were a few
days at the beginning of last week that were difficult to maneuver a craft
up and down the Inlet around the China Creek area because of the great
number of traps. Most individuals were getting a half a bucket to a bucket
of prawns on each set. There is not any salmon fishing currently in the
Inlet. If the Sockeye numbers remain low then the first opportunity for
salmon fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet for the sport fisherman and salmon
fishing guides will not be until the first week or week and a half of
August. By this time there should be a good number of Chinook salmon for
charter groups and individual sport fishermen. The Chinook fishery usually
continues strong into mid September and is followed by a very good Coho run.
Predictions as mentioned earlier look good for Coho.
Barkley Sound has been hit
and miss over the last couple of weeks. Guides have had some success in
Mayne Bay, Swale Rock, and Meares. Guide Al had six feeder springs all
weighing 7 to 9 pounds at Meares last week. The fish were in 80 to 120 feet
of water. A green needle fish with 42 inches of leader behind a green
hotspot flasher was working very well as was anchovy in a green or clear
teaser holder. The day at Meares was Als’ best day as guests had opportunity
to play a dozen fish and also pick oysters and fish for prawns and crab. The
ocean side of Swale Rock and Big Bear which can be considered a part of
Barkley Sound have had some of the biggest fish weighing up to fifteen
pounds. There has been a herring spawn but the return was not that great.
The fish have been feeding on needlefish and shrimp. When one finds the bait
one will find the fish in good numbers.
The City of Port Alberni will
once again be hosting the Labor Day Salmon Festival. The Port Alberni Inlet
and Barkley Sound will be very busy as many anglers world-wide will attempt
to catch the big one. Last year there were $48,000 is prizes. The biggest
salmon of the weekend is worth $7,000. The Salmon festival is a good way for
many to end their summer fishing trips.
Ucluelet (West Coast)
Salmon fishing on the West
Coast of Vancouver Island has picked up dramatically. Our Seafood Safari
which just begun has been excellent. Guests had some wonderful days on the
water last week. Prawns, Crab, oysters, and salmon have all been part of the
Safari and guests have enjoyed their after fishing barbecue meals immensely.
Guide Mike has had some great success with Salmon fishing just off the
lighthouse and Great Bear. Fishing has also been productive in Mayne Bay and
around Meares and Swale Rock. The lighthouse produced the best fishing last
week with guests one day playing and bringing to the boat six Winter Chinook
weighing eleven to fifteen pounds. Great Bear and Mayne Bay have had some
similar results but the fish have been smaller. The fish off the lighthouse
have been sitting in 80 to 90 feet of water and have been hitting a four
inch cop-car coyote spoon with a five foot leader behind a green or red
hotspot flasher. A green/blue needlefish with a 42 inch leader behind a
green or red flasher has been dynamite. At Great Bear the needlefish has
also been very productive. Most of the salmon have been seven to nine pounds
in that area. The fish we have been picking up have been full of shrimp.
There have been some very large bait balls which is a great sign. The salmon
fishing should begin to pickup now. We have been keeping our prawn and crab
traps out and using salmon parts to attract the crab and prawns. People have
really enjoyed getting out of the boat and become involved in some oyster
picking.
The summer outlook for
salmon and halibut fishing looks extremely good. We are expecting good runs
of Chinook and Coho migrating down the coast at various times of the year.
Currently the daily limit on Chinook or Coho is two. The daily limit on
halibut is one and will become two in June.
Stamp River
Steelhead
The Steelhead fishing over the
past few days has really picked up. Three guides over the past few days each
have hit an average of twelve fish daily with the winter steelhead being very
fresh with sea lice still attached. Prior to this, guides were getting two or
three hits per day. Both the Lower and Upper Stamp have been hot. Bait has been
excellent below the bucket. In the Upper River guides have had guests casting
spoons and have been hitting some beautiful steelhead in the ten pound range. We
are hoping this fishery can fish strong and continue for another two weeks.
For more information
Contact:
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
https://catchsalmon-ca.com/
[email protected]
+1 250 724 2502 (h)
+1 250 731 7389 ©
Toll Free Number: 1-
888 214 7206
