The new 9,000 square foot resort features seven fully-furnished, self-contained suites, a licensed restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, tackle and general store, government licensed fish processing and packaging plant and public restrooms with hot showers. We have also added three new self-contained, fully-furnished waterfront yurts ideal for families and/or corporate retreats. Our 12 new fully-serviced waterfront sites and 12 non-serviced forest sites proved to be extremely popular and were busy throughout the summer. Round that out with a new fresh water well and reservoir tank, and a state-of-the-art septic system and we can now essentially handle over 100 guests on any given day, at any given time.

The spring season (April, May) started out with the best prawning on the entire B.C. coast with people limiting out on giant spot prawns within throwing distance of our resort. Add in the outstanding crabbing and feeder Spring fishery and we were setting up for an awesome summer of fishing.

Gibran White with a lovely chinook

By the first week of June our guided and self-guided guest boats were already enjoying some of the very best early fishing the west coast of Vancouver Island has to offer, with limits of early migratory Chinook and Coho salmon being intercepted on a daily basis. This early fishery must be some kind of secret, because on most days we had the entire area exclusively to ourselves! This is also one of the best times of the year for outstanding halibut and ling cod opportunities, as most of the bottom fishing areas have not seen a boat in over nine months, so these fish are extremely aggressively feeding, and again it’s all yours on most days.

July and August remained outstanding, with the large runs of local Conuma River Chinook and Coho returning to the inside protected waters of Nootka Sound. Most guests can run to and from the fishing grounds without spilling their morning coffees. This is one of the most protected inside water fisheries on the entire west coast, with outstanding salmon returns guaranteed year after year, thanks in part to the Conuma River Hatchery and the efforts of the Nootka Sound Watershed Society.

Fresh Water Fishing on Conuma River

August and September continued strong with great fishing up until the day we closed on September 20 th . We here at Moutcha Bay are in a very unique situation as we are fortunate enough to be located right where these big staging salmon like to hang around while waiting for the fall rains to enter the river before spawning. We enjoy great fishing within the sight of our own property. In the mornings and evenings we are able to catch fish right off the marina and gas docks on a routine basis. When guests and guides become tired of pulling on these awesome fish and want a change, we head up one of the five different rivers in our area and try fly fishing or tossing spoons and spinners for these very same salmon while they are still bright chrome, and full of energy. The Conuma River is one of the only rivers left on Vancouver Island with catch-and-keep freshwater opportunities; this autumn’s retention was two Chinook and two Coho daily, hatchery or wild!

Nootka Marine Adventures would like to congratulate:

Frank Williams for winning our $10,000 dollar salmon derby this past season, with his prized Chinook weighing in at a lucrative 42.1 pounds. Frank and his fishing buddy Tristan Arnold reeled their prize winner in on the BC day August long weekend.

Matt Kuharic for winning our Labour Day weekend kayak fishing derby with his 27 pound beauty. Have you seen a 27 pounder tow a kayak around – amazing! Matt hooked and landed his winner right in front of the lodge and was also a runner up in our 2010 derby.

Keep an eye out on your favourite fishing channels for two new episodes filmed at our resorts this past season on Sport Fishing B.C. with popular host Mark Pendlington. If you would like to watch them, you can down load them at: www.sportfishingbc.com or look up network and schedule information and catch them on your favourite sports network. Episodes are: Nootka Sound Tyees, and Harland Williams Tyee tour.

Nootka Marine Adventure staff, management, and ownership pride themselves on the fact that we are able to continue to strive to make our resorts the most popular and accommodating sport fishing and recreation destinations on all of Vancouver Island. It is our promise that we will constantly seek to improve our properties and equipment annually so that we will be able to accommodate all of you, with the growing demand for more room at both of our facilities.

We would like to thank all of you who visited us at either one of our two popular resorts this past season, and look forward to your continued patronage.

Tight lines, safe fishing and good luck!

Sincerely,
Gibran White

Bajo Reef and Ferrier Point seem to be the best steady producers for both Springs and Coho. Some of the Coho being caught are in the 12 to 16 pound range now.

White and purple haze hoochies are still working well, but flashers and anchovies, or cut plug herring are always a good bet for aggressively feeding fish.

For bottom fish opportunities, the outer edge of Bajo reef or two miles off Maquina or Burdwood Points are still your best bets. Try jigging or anchoring in the 155 to 170 foot range.

Inside fishing for Chinook is still producing decent numbers, and we are starting to see more and more Coho each day. There are still large numbers of Spring salmon staging in Moutcha Bay at the mouth of the Conuma River. The best bite time for these fish is the first three hours of day light, and the last hour and a half of light in the evening. 5 inch #602 Tomic plugs are producing well for these staging spawners.

For those of you who have been waiting to start fishing the rivers, wait no longer! There are now a couple thousand spring salmon and about 300 fresh bullet Coho sprinting up the Conuma River, we have enjoyed a few great morning trips to the lower river in the last  couple of days with great action for both Chinook and Coho. Small Colorado blades, Blue Fox spinners, and small Coho spoons have been the best producers. The water is low and clear so you must take care not to spook fish with your casts, or when approaching a run or pool holding fish.

So pack up the family, grab some buddies, or head on out by yourself, because summer is not over yet my friends and the fishing is still that good!!

Tight lines, good luck, and safe fishing!

Gibran White
Nootka Marine Adventures

Fishing inside of Hoiss Point has slowed down considerably. This is due to a combination of a weeklong commercial Chinook gill net opening, and the fact that there are thousands of staging springs sitting in front of the Conuma river waiting to run up to spawn, but won’t bite! There are still more fresh Chinook rounding the corner at Friendly Cove and entering the sound, but you need to put in your time to be successful.

Fishing on the outside (of Bajo reef) is still very good! This is a combination of local and migratory fish, both Chinook and Coho. Try fishing through the high slack, and into the ebb tide for your best results. Fishing for all species of bottom fish, including halibut has been excellent!! Guests that have been putting in the time have been doing very well, with most groups limiting on chicken Halibut, Ling Cod, and Yellow Eye! Anywhere in the 150 to 170 foot ranges seems to be the best depths for bottom fish success.

There are still very good reports coming from Ferrier Point and the Esperanza area, so it won’t be long before these fish will be down here. Some of the Coho being caught are now in the 14 to 16 pound range, which a lot of fun on light tackle.

Try fishing hoochies, spoons and plugs in the mornings, but switch to flashers and anchovies in the afternoons. Large white buck tails trolled on the surface for Coho is another option for those of you who want to switch to lighter gear.

There are two weeks left in our $10,000 Salmon Derby. The current leader is 36.4lbs. So come on out to Moutcha Bay or Nootka Sound Resort and try your luck!

Tight lines, Good Luck, and Safe Fishing!

Gibran White
Resort Operations Manager
Nootka Marine Adventures

Outer Bajo Reef has been outstanding for Coho, Chinook, Halibut, Lingcod and Rockfish. Strange Island, Beer Can Bay, Hoiss Point and Camel Rock have been producing some steady fishing for larger mature Springs.

The Lighthouse, Maquinna and Wash Rock are still steadily providing us with Chinook and Coho, and Burdwood has recently picked up too! The last three hours of the flood tide through the high slack has been the most productive fishing, along with the first light bite in the early morning.

Lure Du Jour:
Glow Cuttle Fish Hoochies
Needle Fish Hoochies
602 & 158 6” Tomic Plugs
Watermelon and Half Glow Coyote Spoons
Flasher and Anchovies (with a six foot leader)
Cut Plug Herring

Tip of the Week:
Cleaning your boat is the one best things for it. Make sure your haul is free of debris and sea life. Usually all it needs is a good scrub with a stiff brush. This will help your electronics function better, slow corrosion and prevent blockage of your cooling system. And remember to change your zinc at least once a year.

Rules and Regs:
There have been recent changes in the fishing regulations for area 25-7. You may only retain two Chinook under 77 centimeters (31 inches). For full details visit the Department of Fisheries website.

Front Desk Simon with TYEE!

Fishing on the outside remains steady; nice chrome Chinook and Coho are being taken daily when the weather permits the trip.

Bajo Reef and Ferrier point seem to be the best steady producers for both Springs and Coho. Some of the Coho being caught are in the 12 to 16 pound range now.

White and purple haze hoochies are still working well, but flashers and anchovies, or cut plug herring are always a good bet for aggressively feeding fish. For bottom fish opportunities, the outer edge of Bajo reef or two miles off Maquina or Burwood is still your best bet. Try jigging or anchoring in the 155 to 170 foot range.

Simon & Tristan With Days Catch

Inside fishing for Chinook is still producing decent numbers, and we are starting to see more and more Coho each day. There are still large numbers of Spring salmon staging in Moutcha Bay at the mouth of the Conuma River. The best bite time for these fish is the first three hours of day light, and the last hour and a half of light in the evening. 5 inch 602 Tomic plugs producing well for these staging spawners.

Lure Du Jour:

• Needle Fish Hoochies
• Glow Cuttle Hoochies
• 158 and 602 5” Tomic Plugs
• Watermelon Coyote Spoons

Tip of the Week:
Try a shorter leader on your hoochies, 31 inches; this will give your hoochies a little more action. When using Anchovies you’ll want a long leader, 5-6 feet.

Benson IT from Alberta

Rules and Regs:
Only hatchery Coho can be retained while fishing the outside. Be sure that the Coho’s adipose fin has been clipped when fishing outside of area 25-6. For full details on the retention of Coho visit the Department of Fisheries website.