Fishing Reports

Saltwater

A day’s haul of offshore chinook

Offshore salmon fishing remains strong, with limits of chinook and coho coming in daily. It is a long run to the grounds and people wanting to attempt this type of fishing must be prepared with a well-equipped boat of at least 21 feet.  Anyone venturing outside should also be equipped with a GPS, VHF radio, good running engines and knowledge and a respect for the ocean! We recommend that anglers travel with another boat in their party if at all possible as the “highway” is located 14 to 16 miles offshore. All that being said with the colder weather and rain we are starting to receive these fish will be on the move, and by the time this report is posted a lot of these fish on the outside will begin to move in-shore and down the coast for their local rivers.

Jacob Khan with his first tyee

Large schools of Conuma river spring salmon are now pooling up in front of our resort in Moutcha Bay, staging for the run up the river to spawn this fall. Guests are catching lots of fish within a stone’s throw of our resort, with many different techniques being used to produce. Fast trolled Tomic plugs and spoons close to the surface, buzz-bombs and zingers jigged just off the bottom, and cast spoons with a quick retrieve are all producing fish in the early mornings and late evenings.

Don’t forget our Kayak Derby this weekend; September 2nd and 3rd.  Any human-powered craft is eligible to enter and there is still space available.  Have you ever seen a canoe being towed around by a 35 pound chinook?  Join us Labour Day weekend for this unique event.

Bottom fishing remains strong on the outside and anglers should make sure to get out there before the recreational closure on September 9th. With the changing weather patterns,  bottom fishing opportunities are going to begin to become reduced.

**Please check your local regs before fishing the areas of Nootka Sound, as there are many different limit and harvest regulations that apply to the different sub areas that you may be fishing in.

 

Freshwater

The first school of spring salmon has now entered the river and with a little more rain the bottom pools and runs will soon be full of big mature fish. The easiest method for targeting these big brutes in the river is with small spoons and Colorado blades.

Tight Lines, Good Luck, and Safe Fishing,
Gibran White
Onsite manager of: Nootka Marine Adventures

SALTWATER

Hondo and buddies with some gorgeous August salmon

The warm and frequently calm weather continues here in Nootka Sound making August an ideal month for anglers.  The inside fishery has been a little inconsistent as of late but the outside fishery is going gangbusters so it’s nice to have good conditions to allow the run offshore.  We ventured out this weekend and had a phenomenal afternoon out on the ‘salmon highway’.  Did you know you can now check the weather here before you venture out?  View the webcam on our dock and a current forecast on the ‘current conditions and webcam link’ at www. Moutchabay.com.

The salmon highway is well offshore from Ferrer Point; about 15 miles straight out.  You’ll know you’re there when you hit 320 feet of water.  The water is considerably colder out there and fish seem to be gathering and holding for a big feed.  The fishing there has been nothing short of spectacular lately with some anglers catching 20+ springs with an average size of 18 to 23 pounds on good days.  We’ve been having best success at 90’ to 125’ on the downrigger and trolling the usual collection of bait-patterned spoons, plugs and hoochies.  I would suggest you take advantage of the great fishing out there shortly as once the fall temperatures begin to drop the fish will move on.

A winter’s supply for the freezer for 2 lucky couples

On the inside things are beginning to change and will do so at lightning speed with the next rainfall.  Big, coloured springs are starting to gather in front of the Conuma and are providing a great deal of entertainment flipping around within eyeshot of the resort.  Fisheries estimates that there are still 15,000 to 18,000 of these giants out there so there are lots left to get your hooks into.  This news should make for a very exciting kayak fishing derby at Moutcha Bay on September 1^st and 2^nd!  There is a good fleet of boats out there this morning taking a crack at these hatchery springs.  Though they are starting to stage up, the hatchery staff report none in the river just yet.

Mmmmmm fish & chips

Bottom fishing has been off the charts as well.  Anglers are returning with nice catches of halibut, lingcod and yellow eye after short jigging excursions.  Bad rumours about the halibut fishery closing are simply not true and anglers who are targeting big flatties still have excellent opportunities left.  Look for spots anywhere on the outside; Bajo or just off Maquinna Point have been highly productive spots lately.  Look for flat spots of 140 to 200’ deep and start jigging.

FRESHWATER

On the freshwater front the lake fishing has wound down until we start to see some water temperature changes.  The spate of hot weather likely ground trout fishing almost to a halt.  The rivers will see a big change with the first good rainfall we get.  Start looking for springs and some early coho in local rivers and streams anytime soon.

Tight lines,
Gibran White,
Manager, Moutcha Bay Resort

The second week of August brought great weather and a little bit of a pick-me-up on the fishing front.

Connor Kane with his Tyee

Fish are definitely moving around inside Nootka Sound with Camel Rock and Hoiss Point being the favourite inside spots.  Anglers were also having luck at Three Cove Bay and some great spots just out front of Moutcha Bay – Princess Royal Point, Cougar Point.  The big old Conuma hatchery springs are rolling in and you can see them flopping around in front, with good viewing right from the resort property.

There is still a plague of mackerel in the area; long-time Nootka Sounders reporting more than they’ve ever seen before.  We’ve noticed lately that the chinook are chowing down on these visitors with some bellies full of them at the cleaning table.  They are an invasive pest and it pains us to watch them gobble up salmon fry.  However, I will say it’s fun to watch kids catching bucketsful of them off the dock.

A great day of inside fishing

Flashers and spoons were our go-tos this week with flashers in blue/silver and popular spoons like Coyote’s copcar, watermelon and uv.  On the inside we are having most luck at 50 to 60 feet on the downrigger in 70 to 80 feet of water.  Fish close to shore and troll parallel to it to have a crack at these beauties having a last feed before they head upstream.

Bottom fishing has been good, with halibut showing up near the opening of the sound at Escalante Point and Maquinna Point.  A couple of our guests did very well at Maquinna this week while jigging for springs, landing a 60 and 70 pound halibut quite by surprise.  Out at Bajo Reef the bottom fishing continues to be strong with anglers finding halibut, yelloweye rockfish and  lots of lingcod.

For the nature lovers it’s been an interesting week with a mola mola (giant sunfish) sighting, dall’s porpoises and a pod of minke whales hanging around inside Nootka Sound.  Minkes tend to be a little shy and reclusive so it’s a treat to see them.  The mola mola report pegged this gentle giant at 500 to 600 pounds – quite something to see if you haven’t spotted one before.

With all the enticement of fishing on the inside for these Conuma chinooks make sure you check the regulations in the areas you’re fishing.

Tight lines,
Jason Bolton, head guide
Moutcha Bay Resort

Salt Water

Ahmed with a 35 pound beauty

Fishing remains good on the outside at Escalante Point, Bajo Reef, and Ferrer Point; however with the water temperature 10 to 15 degrees colder on the outside, big mature Conuma fish seem to be a bit reluctant to hang around the inside channel to stage for their run up the river. The inside fishery has been hot and cold but steady, with little bursts of hot fishing and then they’re gone again. We have been fishing deeper than we would normally at this time of year, with 55 to 65 feet being the most productive depths. Four inch Coyote cop car spoons on a four foot leader behind a flasher, or anchovies on a six foot leader behind a flasher are the go-to rigs right now. If mackerel are causing you grief, six inch 602 or 158 Tomic plugs are also fishing well. The mackerel are a great bottom fish bait, so fill a bucket and give them a go … drifted along the bottom with a big circle hook, or a tandem triple hook rig up.

A fine day of Hali fishing

Halibut fishing has been very steady all summer long, with great fishing all up and down the entire west coast of the Island. We have had great fishing offshore in the 95 to 180 foot range, look for humps or some kind of structure and fish all around it.

Father-and-son day at Bajo Reef

**Please check your local regs before fishing the areas of Nootka Sound, as there are many different limit and harvest regulations that apply to the different sub-areas that you may be fishing.

 

Fresh Water

Lake fishing remains good in the early mornings and late evenings for both fly-fishers, gear-chuckers, and bait-fishermen. However during the heat of mid-day, you’re much better off to prop yourself under the cool shade of a big tree, and enjoy a cold beverage with the hot heat of peak summer all around you!!

 

Tight Lines, Good Luck, and Safe Fishing,
Gibran White
Onsite manager of: Nootka Marine Adventures

Salt Water

Chris and his crew with his chrome 42# slab

Both the inside and outside fisheries have gone off – big time, with limits of spring salmon, coho, and bottom fish hitting our docks on a daily basis now. Bajo Reef, Escalante, Burdwood, Tahsis Inlet, Camel Rock and Three Bay are producing every day with the last three hours of the flood tide being the most productive; along with the first light bite of course.

Moutcha Bay leader board July 2012

Needlefish hoochies with a 36 inch leader and glow flasher, or 4 and 5 inch coyote spoons (cop car in particular) are producing steadily on the outside, 45 to 65 feet being the magic depths. Flasher and anchovy (with a six foot leader minimum) have been the hotter set up on the inside, with 30 to 50 feet being the sweet zone! I would have to honestly say that the springs that are hanging around right now are averaging a little bit larger than this time last year as well, in the 27 to 30 pound range.

Bottom fishing is, as always, good for the people who put in the time. You can’t salmon fish for half a day and just expect to limit out on bottom fish in the afternoon, you will have to put in a good full day if you want to be successful …. and those who do are generally rewarded well.

**Please check local DFO regulations before fishing the areas of Nootka Sound.  There are many different limit and harvest regulations that apply to the onshore and offshore sub areas that you may be fishing.

Fresh Water

The rivers, lakes and streams remain good for trout fishing in early mornings and late evenings for all species of trout.  It won’t be long before the first early Conuma river spring salmon begin to show up and shoot up into the lower holding and staging pools.

Tight Lines, Good Luck, and Safe Fishing,
Gibran White
Onsite manager of: Nootka Marine Adventures