June 3rd 2008
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
Doug Lindores

June is now upon us and the salt water sport fishing is continually improving. Chinook are migrating down the West Coast of Vancouver Island at greater numbers each week. Many of these salmon are currently holding up close to the beach around Ucluelet. Areas such as Southbank, Great Bear, Mara Rock, and Long beach have had some very productive days. Chinook are now also coming into Barkley Sound and feeding on the rich source of bait fish found in the area. Reports of some good fishing have been reported from Beale, Little Beale, Kirby Point, and Meares.
The Big Bank has also produced some great salmon fishing. Halibut fishing has picked up considerably out in that area but areas close to the beach around Sail Rock, Southbank, and even inside Barkley Sound (Little Beale) have reports of some halibut near 100 pounds.
June and July are great sport fishing months along the West Coast. The migratory fish returning to the south of this area should be in great numbers as commercial fisheries in Alaska have been cut by 50%. This will put more salmon swimming in B.C. waters. Coho will also begin to show up in local waters and in good numbers and will viciously feed on bait fish putting on up to a pound a week.

Port Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound

The Port Alberni Inlet is currently quiet except for prawn fishing when open to a sport fishery. There have been a few sockeye salmon make their way into the Somass River which is currently quite high and quite cool. Returns of only 150,000 sockeye are estimated for the Somass System this summer. The DFO likes at least 250,000 or more to return to the River system. The sockeye then return to Great Central or Sproat Lake. Fortunately the river should stay high and cool as there is a tremendous snowpack which should allow for some fantastic escapement in June. If the run size looks larger than what is expected than there may be opportunity in July for a minimal sport fishery. The Port Alberni Inlet should become very busy by mid August as Chinook and Coho returns are forecast to be good. There is expected to be a surplus of fish for both species which often means there will be not only a sport fishery but also a fishery for first nations and the commercial gillnet fleet. The North Coast and the Alaska Commercial fleets are being reduced in terms of quantities of salmon caught which means returns of Chinook and Coho back to Robertson Creek Hatchery should be even greater than what is expected. This reduction will also be of great benefit to the Barkley Sound Sport fishery.

Barkley Sound has been off and on over the last ten days. There have been reports of some good fishing at Beale and Little Beale, Kirby Point and Meares over this period of time. Halibut on the inside waters has not been rare either. Little Beale has had reports of halibut in the 70 to 100 pound range. Kirby Point has also had some halibut catches as has the Bamfield Wall. These Halibut will eventually move out. Seven Mile, straight off of Cape Beale has also been fairly steady for halibut. Salmon in the 12 to 15 pound range have been okay off of Meares. One charters guide fishing the Meares area fished in 175 feet of water about a quarter of a mile off of the bluff and picked up three Chinook over 20 pounds last week.



Anchovy in a green-glow Rhys Davis Teaser Head was working as was the green-nickel coyote spoon.
Salmon Charter Fishing Guide Ken had some good fishing at Meares on Friday. Before venturing across Imperial Eagle Channel he managed to pickup two 15 pound Chinook off of Pill Point. These fish were in 85 feet of water. White Hootchie and the four inch watermelon Coyote spoon were working very well. At Meares, Ken had five more Chimook with the biggest at 24 pounds. Anchovy in the purple haze and a tiger stripe teaser head were working. The biggest fish of the day however was on a four inch silver glow coyote spoon. There was plenty of bait in the area on Friday but seemed to disappear by Saturday and Sunday.
The fishing for Chinook should get better each day in the Barkley Sound area. The migratory movement of salmon is definitely on. Coho should begin to show in fairly good number also. The Coho really feed in June and July and can put on up to a pound a week. Most of the great Barkley Sound Fishing should occur along the surfline. Best bets are Meares, Cree, Austin, Edward King and Kirby Point. Diplock, Swale Rock, and Pill Point can often be very good if bait moves into these areas. Bait, Coyote spoons and various hootchies are good to have in great supply in ones tackle box.

Ucluelet

The most consistent fishing has been off of Ucluelet. Mara Rock, Great Bear, Southbank and Longbeach have all had some fairly decent halibut and salmon fishing. Guide Mike has been regularly fishing long beach and has trolled for both salmon and halibut.

Mike has been bouncing anchovy off the bottom and in the mid-water he is also trolling anchovy for salmon. The green-glow teaser head behind a red or green hotspot flasher has been working well for both halibut and salmon. The seafood safari for some guests has also continued to be a hit. There have been excellent catches of prawns, crab, and rockfish.



Guide Henri had some good fishing this past weekend off of Jana Rock. Fishing in inside waters was a little slow and Henri decided to venture a mile or two off shore from Cree and Austin Island. Using a four inch blue-nickel and a straight silver coyote spoon guests were treated with an 18, 17, 12 and 11 pound Chinook.
Many sport fishing guides and charters will begin to move out to the big bank for halibut. Often guides will fish offshore at daybreak for halibut and move to the beach for the second half of the day for salmon. As of June 1st limits on halibut are 2 per person. Chinook and Coho limits on west coast waters are also 2 per day and 4 in possession.

The fishing season on the West Coast and Barkley Sound seems to be shaping up as expected. With an ease on fishing to the north of us we are expecting great quantities of Chinook and Coho to come into the nearby waters which should help develop a great summer of sport fishing in the area.

For more Information
Contact:
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
www.catchsalmon-ca.com
www.catchsalmon-ca
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