Over the last number of years, May has definitely proven to be one of the best times for chinook salmon fishing in the Vancouver area, this is May is no different! Despite the regulation changes, we are enjoying solid catch and release fishing for chinook (until July 15th) in all of the usual spring spots. We have been successful sending our guests home with some dungeness crabs and on some of our longer charters ling cod and spot prawns! We have seen the odd early coho salmon as well. The DFO is forecasting a strong return of coho this year, so we are hopeful that we will see excellent coho fishing like we saw last June off the South End of Bowen Island and the Gulf Island's!
We have been spending the majority of our time along the shoreline from Cowan Point up to Gibson's. There have been some good pockets of fish holding and feeding. Tides have been playing a roll in our success and when the tide is running hard, the fishing slows, when the tide mellows, the bite picks up! Sometimes when there is big tides, areas like Hole in the Wall and Vancouver Harbour produce well as the current is not as strong. Most of the fish we have been hooking have been from 50 to 130 feet down.
We made a few trips over to the Gulf Island's this week and found similar salmon fishing to the Vancouver side. The offshore waters off Thrasher Rock and the Flat Tops have been producing well in 300 to 1000 feet of water. For the most part the fishing have been holding and hitting down 100 to 185 feet on the downriggers. There has also been fish tight to Gabriola fishing structure close to bottom.
Gear wise, we have been running spoons and hootchies for the majority of the time. Anchovies are also working, but not any better than the artificials. Skinny G's have been particularly productive with the Outfitter, Herring Aide, Bon Chovy and Trap Shack patterns being favoured. Hootchies have also taken their fair share of fish with the green and chartreuse spackleback being winners as per usual.
Wildlife sightings have also been abundant! We have seen resident and transient killer whales, sea lions, bald eagles, seals and sea lions! Getting out on the water is a great way to experience what the BC Coast is all about!
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Topic: Great weather and productive salmon fishing! (Read 4006 times)