The summer months are quickly moving on. It seems that it was only mid June and here it is already mid-August, the time of year when fishermen really get excited about some of those big Chinook and Coho that are lingering below. Time has probably blown by only because of the great sport fishing that has occurred up to this time. The sport Sockeye fishing in the Port Alberni Inlet has not let up. The fishing on the west coast has been very good for salmon and halibut. Of course there have been a few quiet days on the coast inshore and offshore but for the most part it has been very good. Limits of clean and fresh sockeye have been ongoing in the Inlet. There has been a very extensive commercial fishery going on that has depleted the Sockeye numbers but this has not completely destroyed the sport fishing to this date as new salmon are entering the system daily. The sport sockeye fishing could very well last another good week. We are expecting catch limits to continue.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced that there will no longer continue to be updates on Sockeye forecasts. The last and final forecast still is at 1.1 million salmon. It is thought that the full return will informally be 1.3 million. Escapement to date is 460,000 salmon. Great Central Lake has received 220,000 fish and Sproat Lake 240,000. The returns into the river have slowed as conditions have changed. The Somass River water temperatures have gone over twenty degrees Celsius which has impeded the migration of the salmon into the two lakes. With weekend temperatures being on the cool side and with some rain in the forecast the migration should increase during the next few days.
Port Alberni Inlet / Barkley Sound
Sockeye fishing has now been unbelievable for two full months. Fisher people who are local, those who have come as visitors with their own boats, and those who have used guides have had a remarkable time fishing the pristine quiet waters of the Port Alberni Inlet. The salmon are currently in 80 to 110 feet of water with the best fishing around China Creek and out as far as the Franklin Wall. The area around Bilton Point has also been good. Nahmint is now closed for any fin-fishing. The closures date is August 1st through October 31st. The sockeye are still hitting mp hoothies in pink, pink and blue, pink and black, various small spoons and black hooks. Leader lengths vary with boat speed but should be 22 to 27 inches in length. We are expecting Chinook to begin to show by the 15th of August. Returns are forecast to be about 45,000 with only a nine to ten thousand fish surplus for the Inlet and the sound. There will not be a commercial fishery this year for Chinook or Coho in the Alberni Inlet.
Fishing in Barkley Sound areas was very good just a week ago but has dramatically slowed down. The next big push of migratory salmon swimming to watersheds to the south which should be the late summer run of Chinook should move into Barkley Sound as they swim the inshore and offshore waters of Vancouver Island. The local salmon that are headed for various creeks, streams and rivers in the Sound and also Robertson Creek Fish Hatchery located very close to Port Alberni should also arrive in decent numbers. This should make the mid of August through mid September a very exciting time for anglers in the very quiet protected waters of Barkley Sound. The best salmon fishing of late has still been the surf line areas. Meares, Austin Island, and Cree have had some great fishing as has Edward King and Whittlestone and Beale just up from Bamfield toward the open water. Beale has been very good first thing in the morning and on the tide changes. Chinook from 25 to 33 pounds have been landed by various sport fisher people and guests of guides. Anchovy in the army truck, UV green, and purple haze teaser head, with five feet of leader have been working well as have various coyote spoons in the four and five inch size. One fortunate angler landed four big Chinook using a four inch cop car and the cop car flasher. Guide Doug entertained guests with two double headers of mid twenty pound sized Chinook between Whittlestone and Beale. All of these fish were landed on bait. Look for big Chinook and Coho to move into the Sound by mid August.
Ucluelet
The salmon fishing out of Ucluelet has been a little spotty the last few days. The best fishing for big fish in the thirty and even forty pound range has been the south-west corner. Guide Al has had a few fish for guests in the forty to forty-three pound range using 7 inch plugs and big tomic spoons.
He has found these fish in forty-seven to sixty feet of water. The inside lighthouse bank, south bank locations, and the big bank have all been good fishing areas most of the summer. There have been report of a few Coho in the mix but most have not been hatchery fish. Halibut have been best out at the Big Bank with most ranging in the twenty to thirty pound range. Some have also been at The Wreck and the best method has been on the troll. Guides have fished halibut on the bottom and fished for salmon in the mid-water. There should be plenty of late summer run Columbia River Salmon showing on the west coast of Vancouver Island soon. Also the mix of local salmon returning to various spawning grounds will have the Ucluelet area into some great August and September salmon fishing.
The Ucluelet ladder Derby continues for the month of August and also on August 14th, 15th and 16th there is the Ucluelet Salmon Fishing Derby with a first place prize of $10,000. The salmon deby for this coming weekend has an entry per person OF $20 PER DAY or $50 for all three days. All proceeds go toward the salmon enhancement society. Tickets can be bought at the Columbia Fuel Dock.
Stamp River
Fall fishing for Coho and Chinook and fly fishing for summer steelhead will be amazing beginning in mid-September.
Port Alberni Salmon Festival
The Port Alberni Salmon festival and Derby takes place during the three days of the Labour Day weekend.
» http://www.pasalmonfest.com/
overview
The West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia has much to offer. The West Coast is a beautiful area of the world with its rugged but scenic coastline outlined by snowcapped mountains in the background. Ucluelet and Tofino both found on Vancouver Islands coast are located south of Clayoquot Sound, which is full of beaches, islands and rainforests. The Pacific Rim National Park (Long Beach) is located in the area and has grown into a very popular tourist destination with oceanfront resorts, hotels, motels, lodges, campgrounds, quaint cafes and restaurants and even art galleries. The Pacific Rim National Park is a paradise for surfers and beachcombers. There are large rolling waves and miles of pristine beaches.
Ucluelet is nestled in a small harbor, which is dominated by surf and sandy beaches on the west and rainforests on the east. The area has fantastic walking and hiking trails. The Rainforest Trail, Lighthouse Trail and the sands of Big Beach are areas people can roam for hours. Hi-Tin-Kis Park has spectacular views that people worldwide come to admire.
During the winter Ucluelet and Tofino offer spectacular Storm Watch opportunities. Many of the luxurious resorts, which are scattered along the coastline, offer this as part of their packages from November until early March. March and April often finds visitors watching the migration of Gray Whales, which are passing along the coastline making their way to the Beaufort Sea. The Whale Festival begins this year on the 17th of March is featured by the “Chowder Chow Down.” The festival continues into mid April.
Ucluelet and Tofino provide some of the best salmon and halibut fishing in the world. The coastline between Ucluelet and Tofino is a feeding and spawning destination of some of the West Coast of British Columbia’s largest runs of chinook and coho. The months of May, June July August and September are considered prime time for sport fishing inshore and offshore. The sport fishing industry is provided with vast amounts of coho, chinook, pink salmon and halibut that are migrating outside the doorstep of Ucluelet.. All of the fish follow the thick balls of bait which most often are herring, sardines, needlefish, squid and krill.
The Ucluelet Sport Fishing season gets underway when the wather changes into early spring. The winter often displays battering storms and huge surf, which makes it most difficult and of course dangerous for guides and sport anglers to get out to the fishing grounds. However, during the winter there are some days that one can fish for winter or feeder springs close the Ucluelet Harbor and Barkley sound. The winter season is also a time when individuals have opportunity to fish for Dungeness Crabs, prawns, oysters, clams, and some rock fish. Late February, all of March, and the early part of April often have feeder chinook close to the Ucluelet Harbor and inner surfline of Barkley Sound. Slivers Charters Salmon sport Fishing and other guide services will normally fish Begg Island, Mara Rock, Great Bear, the Red Can, Sail Rock and even South Bank during this time of year. Most of the salmon are feeder springs and can range from 8 to 25 pounds. Most guides and local anglers use a variety of lures. Anchovy is often he best bait choice all year and is rolled behind a Rhys Davis Teaser Head in white, green, purple haze, or pearl. Hootchie choices are often glow whites, purple haze, or various blue green white colors and army truck. Various Coyote and Titan Spoons work well also. This year watermelon has been very good along the whole coast as have silver spoons. During the year there is some bottom or rock fishing. The lingcod season opens April 15th. Halibut fishing most years become more fishable in May and can be combined when fishing for the various salmon species migrating down the coast. During the summer months some guides will troll for Halibut and Salmon at the same time. The Halibut are found at the bottom hiding in the sand and the salmon are found in mid water.
During the summer months Ucluelet provides some of the best salmon and halibut fishing in the world. The area has continuous and very consistent fishing due to the migration of salmon which are headed to their spawning grounds. Whatever summer month one decides to fish there will not be disappointment as there is always fish inshore or offshore.
People often ask “what should I bring if I am coming to Canada’s West Coast to fish and explore. Of course bring a camera to take all kinds of pictures. Binoculars are also a great idea. Bring Rain Gear and rubber boots. Most of the guide boats have extra rain gear on board but this is not provided when hiking in a rainforest or walking the beach on an early drizzly foggy morning. Be prepared for sunshine and warm days especially later in the morning and the afternoons. The West Coast is a place to be totally prepared for all weather. Dress in layers. There is a saying “Its easy to dress down but not up”. If you do not have the correct warm clothing ones day can be miserable to start. It is important to have coolers to take catches home. If flying most airlines now want people to have a correct airline container, which are available on the coast. People can also be prepared to have their catch sent directly to their home as St. Jeans located in Ucluelet will ship directly after our guides have prepared your catch for shipping.
Canada’s West Coast of Vancouver Island is a fantastic area to visit. Those who live in the area take it for granted. This area of the world has a lot to offer and is still undiscovered by many. It is part of super natural B.C. Take some time and come to visit and yes come fishing as this is the place to be in the summer of 2007.
Salmon Returns November 8th, 2006
Port Alberni is fortunate enough to have a very healthy river system and hatchery (Roberson Creek Hatchery). Chinook and Coho return to the Hatchery and Sockeye return naturally to the river and then to Sproat and Great Central Lake. From the lakes the sockeye move out to tributary streams and then spawn.
- Chinook 43,000 return as of October 15th. Numbers may have reached 55 to 60,000 by now as many late fish have arrived.
- Jack chinook 1,000 This number is low and will probably see a low return in three year olds in 2007. Four, Five and Six year olds should be strong in numbers.
- Adult Coho 11,000 Low in return but enough for hatchery program.
- Jack Coho 6,142 Great numbers which should give us a very healthy return of adult coho in 2007. These Adult returns should be back to normal in 2007.
- Adult Sockeye 137,000 return through the counters. Not a strong return as the early prediction was almost 800,000.
![Bladon [R] w/Alan of Edmonton fishing in the Stamp River](photos2009/91016slivers01.jpg)
![Peter [right] & Jim w/Winter Chinook - Poett Nook - Photo:Slivers](photos2009/90311slivers02.jpg)
