LOCAL FISHING REPORTS

When you see birds working a ball up, don’t troll through the ball up and the birds. Feeding salmon are mostly outside of the ball up looking for the crippled bait fish that are falling away with the tide or swimming away from the ball up. You should fish to the side and below the bait and not disturb the birds that are on the top.

OVERVIEW – The Chinook fishing remains SPOTTY TO GOOD around the south Island. Coho are starting to show again in Port Renfrew and Sooke. The salmon seem to be coming in waves, so if you are in the right place at the right time you do very well, otherwise you may not catch anything at all. Halibut fishing was FAIR this past weekend.

PORT RENFREW – Salmon fishing was GOOD at Swiftsure Bank and along the shoreline, although not as hot as in previous weeks. The springs are averaging from 8 – 18 pounds with the odd larger one. The Coho are active at the bank and offshore. Along the shoreline, chinook fishing has been good but most of the salmon are on the smaller side, under 15 lbs in weight. The Halibut fishing is still GOOD.

SOOKE – The salmon fishing was SPOTTY TO GOOD this past week. The open area by Otter Point and close to Possession Point were producing most of the action for springs. Some coho are now being caught but they aren’t here in large numbers yet.

BECHER BAY – Salmon fishing was GOOD late in the day at the top of the flood tides. The hot spot for springs this past week was Aldridge Point. The best depths to fish have been between 40 to 60 feet. There have been good bites very early in the morning as well as the late activity. Some coho action has also been happening off Beechey Head and in the shipping lanes.

PEDDER BAY – Pedder Bay Marina reports GOOD salmon fishing inside Pedder Bay. Most of the action has been either very early or late in the afternoon and evening. There is lots of bait in the bay. Most of the springs have been in the teens. For springs, the best trolling depths have been 20– 40’ and 70–85’. Anglers jigging have been consistently catching springs.

VICTORIA – Fishing for salmon was GOOD off Constance Bank this past week. Anglers tolling on the bank with Skinny G’s and Wee G’s in Irish Cream and Blue/Silver are catching springs. Anglers who were jigging with 3oz GIBBS Minnows and GIBBS Anchovies in 90 feet of water were finding fish too. In closer, it’s been VERY SPOTTY for anglers trolling the Harbour area.

OAK BAY – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY in Oak Bay. For a few days there were springs in the teens on the Flats and most other days nothing.

SIDNEY – Salmon fishing was SPOTTY in the Sidney area. The best areas this past week were Hamley Point and Wymond Point.

FRESHWATER OVERVIEW – Fishing was FAIR in most lakes for trout and REALLY GOOD for bass.