Vancouver Island Saltwater Fishing Report

By Island Outiftters - Mar 20, 2006

Salt Water Fishing for March 20

Overview

Fishing was slower in general for both salmon and halibut. If you have any fishing info, notable catches or tips that you would like to share or have included in our fishing report, please email us at info@fishingvictoria.com.

Sooke

Salmon fishing was FAIR most of this past week, probably because of all the wind and few people out fishing. Only a few anglers went out but they returned with mostly smaller winter springs. Overall; most of the action is still coming from the Sooke Bluffs and west to Otter Point. Fish from 90 feet down or close to the bottom and you'll probably get good results. Anchovy is still the most popular bait and it seemed to out produce artificial baits this past week. Rhys Davis teaser heads in Glow or Purple Haze remain good bait holders to use. With plastic baits go with Irish Mist, Purple Haze, or Green/White color patterns. Glow in the dark flashers are working well in conjunction with your favorite lure. HALIBUT - Halibut fishing was slower this week due to bigger tides. Extra Large Herring, Mackerel and/or Octopus fished off of a spreader bar and close to the bottom is the best bet to catch the big flatfish. However, some anglers use Mudraker or Lucky Jig with good success too.

Becher Bay

Salmon fishing was SLOWER this past week with weather being a factor and only a few anglers going out to try for winter springs. However, Scotty Kral and Steve Braithwaite combined for an 18 lb spring, caught right in the bay close to bottom at 125 feet on bait just before dark. Most of the action previously has been coming came from further out in the bay, on the south side of Fraser Island. Rhys Davis teaser heads in Army Truck or Glow colors have been good bait holders for both herring and anchovy. Hootchies have also been very effective and Army Truck, Glow White with Green, Green & White and Pink Glow have been the best colors to use. Spoons are working well and the best ones are the 4 inch Coyotes, Titans or Gibbs Gators in Army Truck or Green /Glow. As for halibut, Terry Zarrelli brought in a 59 lb halibut to the marina on the weekend.

Pedder Bay

Salmon fishing was QUIET with weather still a limiting factor on the fishing effort. Smaller sized winter springs from 6 to 10 lbs was the typical catch. All of the salmon caught came from around both the Navy Can Buoy at the mouth of the bay. The springs have been feeding on herring and there are herring in the bay right now. Fish near the Navy Can Buoy at 120 feet and you should get a fish or two. Most anglers are using anchovies in glow or chrome teaser heads right now. Hootchies have been also been effective and Army Truck, Green & White and Purple Haze have been the best colors to use. If you want to troll spoons, the Lime Twist. Mongoose and Green/Glow Coyotes, Gypsies, Titans and Tomics in 4 or 5 inch sizes have been best. Cop Car, Boogey Man and Jellyfish flashers have been good for attracting fish. HALIBUT – Halibut fishing was slower this week due to bigger tides but Gord Gavin did manage to weigh in a 109 lber on Monday. Doug Seaton landed a 65 1/2 lb halibut near Albert Head. The tides should be better this coming weekend for halibut anglers. Extra Large Herring or Octopus fished off of a spreader bar and close to the bottom is the best bet to catch the big flatfish. However, some anglers use Mudraker or Lucky Jig with good success too.

Victoria Waterfront

Salmon fishing was SPOTTY this past week due to windy weather on most days. Also, the seals remain a terrible problem from Clover Point to Esquimalt. A few springs came in on the weekend, but most fish hooked were lost to seals. Ray Parkes and Darryl Charles did, however, combine for 14½ and 20 lb springs on Sunday. They were trolling Tyee Strip at 125 feet and close to structure between Brotchie Ledge and Macauley Point. They used Glow teaser heads and flashers. Most of the salmon landed were from 6 to 12 lbs however. Constance Bank produced some salmon but not too many. However the seals weren’t as bad out there as they were closer to shore. Most anglers are still fishing close to the bottom, from 150 to 200 feet on the downrigger. Herring and Strip are the best natural baits and Chartreuse or Glow are the best teaser head colors to use. Purple Haze and Jellyfish hootchies and squirts fished behind Glow in the dark or Purple Haze flashers have been working well too. If you use spoons, use Green/Glow, Black/Glow or Army Truck color combinations with 4” Coyotes, Gypsies and Titans. We’ve heard of some herring being caught in the Gorge, but no consistent results. HALIBUT – The big fish of the week was a 69.3 lb halibut weighted in by K. Szulc from the south east end of Constance Bank. It was caught on Extra Large Herring. Most anglers are fishing Octopus or Herring on a spreader bar, just off the bottom. However, some anglers use Mudraker or Lucky Jig with good success too.

Oak Bay

We haven’t had too many new reports about salmon in Oak Bay this past week. However, we do know that one boat hooked up yesterday to a decent spring but lost it to a seal on the Flats. Most action recently has been between 80 -110 feet on the downrigger and close to the bottom. For springs, Anchovy or Strip is always productive for trolling, especially when fished in glow teaser heads with glow flashers at this time of year. The best patterns for hootchies and squirts have been the Glow Patterns, Purple Haze and Green/White. Green Glow or Purple Glow flashers have been good. If you want to troll spoons, use Gypsies, Titans or Coyotes in Green/Glow, Green/Silver or Blue/Silver spoons or a Blue Haze Devil Tail. HALIBUT - Halibut fishing was SLOW off Oak Bay due to bigger tides and faster currents. This weekend should be better. Extra Large Herring or Octopus fished off of a spreader bar and close to the bottom is the best bet to catch the big flatfish. However, some anglers use Mudraker or Lucky Jig with good success too.

Sidney

Salmon fishing was SLOW in the Sidney area. However, the duo of Grant McPherson and Shirley Johnson picked up 3 springs on Saturday and another one on Sunday. All the springs weighed around 10 lbs. They were using Night Rider and Cop Car Coyote spoons with Jellyfish Flashers and fishing at 150 feet close to the bottom by Fairfax Point. Other areas with fish hanging around were Sidney Channel and the Powder Wharf. The best fishing has been deep, close to the bottom, with Small Anchovy,Tiny Strip, Coyote, Gypsy and Titan Spoons( with Glow/ Green and Glow /Black the best colors). Squirts have also been good, with the Jellyfish and Purple Haze patterns working the best. Jellyfish, Purple Haze and Gold Betsey flashers have also been working well.

Notable Catches

Here are some of the notable catches that we know of from this past week. Scotty Kral and Steve Braithwaite combined for an 18 lb spring in the Becher Bay just before dark Sunday. Terry Zarrelli brought a 59 lb halibut there as well. Gord Gavin weighed in a 109 lb halibut on Monday at Pedder Bay. Doug Seaton landed a 65 1/2 lb halibut near Albert Head. Ray Parkes and Darryl Charles combined for 14½ and 20 lb springs on Sunday off the waterfront. K. Szulc caught a 69.3 lb halibut from the south east end of Constance Bank on Extra Large Herring. The duo of Grant McPherson and Shirley Johnson picked up 4 springs on the weekend near Moresby Island. http://www.FishingVictoria.com

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