Bamfield Fishing Report

Bamfield & Barkley Sound Fishing Report

Bamfield and Barkley Sound Fishing Regulations Area 23/123

September-October 2024

Last month was amazing! It was a great August fishery that brought excellent opportunities for Chinook and coho. The fishery will continue through September, with some even better coho fishing until the fall rains push the fish into the river systems.

Good fishing can be had at this time of the year at Swale Rock, Pill Point, Whittlestone, Kirby, the Bamfield Wall, and Cape Beale. Fish shallow, 20′ at first light and evening, then down to about 60′ during the day. Anchovy is your best bet, along with the OA12R (white) hoochie and Silver Horde Silver Knights series of spoons in 2″ to 3″. Other good spoons to keep handy are the Herring Aid in either the silver or gold version or the Skinny G Herring Aid and Green Aid, as well as Bon Chovy chrome. Bait, spoons, or hoochies fished with Hot Spot or O’Ki Flashers in Kinetic, blue/silver, or green/silver are good choices. For your bait, teaser heads in UV, chartreuse, and Army Truck have been working well, especially when matching the flasher blade to the head.

The ling season has been great! Fish these tasty and vicious critters with Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in UV orange or the Herring Aid—they are simply irresistible.

It’s been an average year for halibut, with plenty under 85 cm, but we saw a smaller grade of fish for the most part this season. Please remember, just take what you need and enjoy. Productive baits are herring, salmon belly, and octopus with a power paddle or a 71⁄2″ Herring Aid skirt. If you are into jigging or back drifting for halibut, Mud Rakers and Berkley Grub tails are great on a spreader bar with a 1- to 2-lb weight.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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August 2024 Bamfield and Barkley Sound Fishing Report

So far, Barkley Sound has delivered some of the most outstanding Chinook fishing we have seen in the last 40 years, and I see no reason why we are not going to see anything different in August. The catches are showing a lot of 4- and 5-year Chinooks, and they are fat and sassy. There are more than 107,000 DFO-forecasted fish heading into the sound, and it could be a lot more.The coho fishing has been great, with plenty of hatchery-marked fish so far, so please return the heads to your local head depot.

Fish are being caught consistently at the usual spots for this time of the year: Swale Rock, Pill Point, Whittlestone Point, Kirby Island, the Bamfield Wall, and Cape Beale. The baitfish have been small, and there are a lot of squid around, so think small spoons and hoochies. I highly recommend the Silver Horde Silver Knights series of spoons in 2″ or 3″, or Herring Aid in either the silver or gold version. The Skinny G Herring Aid and Green Aid, Bon Chovy in chrome, and of course the Yamashita OAL 12R white hoochie—never leave home without it. The spoons and hoochie fished with hot spots or O’Ki Flashers in the Kinetic, blue/silver, or green/silver glow are also reliable. Teaser heads in the UV, Chartreuse, and Glow have been working well, and I usually match the flasher blade to the head I’m using.

Lings have been producing well with a bigger size this year, being caught on Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in UV orange, or the Herring Aid. The halibut catching has been good, living up to the forecast of a smaller grade being dominant in the catch. Halibut baits have been producing, including herring, salmon bellies, and octopus with a 71⁄2″ double skirt hoochie or Berkley Grub Tail on a spreader bar with 1- to 2-lb ball weights.

Enjoy your time with family and friends, and stay safe and healthy!

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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July 2024 Bamfield and Barkley Sound Fishing Report

The coho fishing has lit up in Barkley Sound (Area 23) this year, and we’ve been seeing Chinook from 12 to 30 lbs. Area 23 has already started to see some of the record WCVI Chinook forecasted to return the Stamp/Somas system, so August should be lights out like last year. We are seeing some of the hatchery-marked fish, so please return all hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot—we need the coded wire tag (CWT) data. Any of the lodges, fuel docks, or guides that you pass on the water can tell you where the closest depot is.

Consistent catching is happening at Swale Rock, Meares Bluff, Austin, Cree, Kirby, Bamfield Wall, and Cape Beale. Fish are being caught mostly at 75′ to the bottom.

If you find fishing to be slow, fish the bottom. Also, if you see bait on your sounder, that’s where the fish will be. There is a lot of bait around this year, including squid, needlefish, and herring up to 5″, so the fish are fat from the feed. I highly recommend the Silver Horde/ Silver Knights series of spoons 3.0 to 5.0 in Cookies and Cream, Herring Aid, Green Aid, and Skinny G. I also favour the Trap Shack or Bon Chovy in the new chrome-backed version. I also suggest a glow hoochie or an OAL12R Goldstar white hoochie. Fish with Hot Spot or O’Ki Kinetic flashers in blue silver or green silver/glow; Salty Dawg is one of my super go-to choices.

Lingcod fishing has continued strong. Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in UV orange and Herring Aid are irresistible. For halibut fishing, herring, salmon bellies, and octopus with a Power Paddle or a 7.5″ Herring Aid skirt works great. If you are into jigging or back drifting for halibut, either a Mud Raker or a Berkley Grub Tail on a spreader bar with a 1- to 2-lb weight is a good bet.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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June 2024 Bamfield and Barkley Sound Fishing Report

Barkley Sound has seen solid Chinook fishing so far this 2024 season, with fish coming in between 12 and 25 lbs with a spattering of coho showing up in mix at 3 to 5 lbs. We are seeing a lot of hatchery-clipped fish, so please return your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot so we can get the much-needed coded wire tag (CWT) data.

Fish are being caught in the usual spots for this time of the year: Austin, Cree, Meares Bluff, Swale Rock, and The Wall; anywhere from the bottom up to 70′ with coho in the 30′ to 45’ range. There have been a lot of little herring around again this year thanks to a good spawn.

Because of this, I highly recommend the Silver Horde, Silver Knights Herring Aid 3.0, or the Skinny G Herring Aid. These spoons fish well with Hot Spot or O’Ki Flashers in the Kinetic blue/silver or green/silver glow.

Lingcod fishing has started and is slowly picking up. These tasty and vicious critters seem to absolutely love my Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, and Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in UV Orange or Herring Aid—simply irresistible. Halibut fishing has been strong and will only improve as the season moves along with the peak season near the end of August. The usual baits have been producing herring, salmon bellies, and octopus with Power Paddle or a 71⁄2″ Herring Aid skirt. If you are into jigging or back-drifting for halibut, Mud Rakers can do the job.

Barkley Sound continues to see catches of prawns and crabs, but you may have to work a little to enjoy the bounty. I hope you have put some time aside to get out and enjoy the splendour the sound offers us.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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May 2024 Bamfield and Barkley Sound Fishing Report

We’ve had another great start to the season so far with some good quality-size Chinook in the 12-lb to 25+ lb-range this year. Fish are being caught in the usual spots this time of the year—anywhere along the Bamfield Wall, Whittlestone Pt. to Brady’s Beach, Vernon Bay and, of course, Swale Rock, Austin, and Cree. The fish are being caught at 75′ and the bottom on spoons like Gibbs Skinny G, Big Eye, and the Silver Horde 3.0 Silver Knight series.

Don’t forget to run needlefish hoochies; they also have been producing well, as has pretty much anything with some blue in it at this time of year as the water is clear right now. For flashers, Hot Spot blue or green and flat silver, the Kinetic Big Shooter, and Salty Dawg have all worked consistently.

Barkley Sound had another great herring spawn this year, so look for small herring to be around for this season for salmon. Please return you hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot so we can get the Coded Wire Tag (CWT) data.

Halibut fishing has been steady on the usual gear, like the Berkley white grub tails, herring, octopus, and/or salmon bellies on a spreader bar. The 2024 halibut regs for this season allow either one fish 126cm a day or one fish under 85cm in possession, with a possession limit of two under 85cm. Lingcod fishing has been steady in the 2024 season, with these critters being caught on Savage swimmer tails, Burbots, and of course the white or glow Berkley Grub tails on a jig head and Delta Power Paddle lure. As of this writing, the lingcod limit this year has remained at three per day over 65cm.

As of April 1, prawning closures have been lifted and we’ve had a good season so far. Please remember to check the regulations before you drop traps. I hope you put some time aside and get out and enjoy all the splendor that Barkley Sound offers us at this time of the year. It’s looking to be another solid year. Be safe and have fun out there.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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April 2024 Bamfield and Barkley Sound Fishing Report

It’s great to be back for what surely will be a repeat of the 2023 season.

I’m excited; the forecast for the Columbia River return is looking very positive. If the run comes in as predicted, it would be the sixth-largest return in the last 10 years and the 20th since 1979. This means we will start to see some decent numbers of Chinook this March and April, typically in the eight-to-15-lb range, mostly hatchery- clipped. When you keep these, please be sure to return hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot so we can get the coded wire tag (CWT) data.

I always pack my crab and prawn traps this time of year; less pressure means more bounty. Remember that spots for crabbing and prawning should be earned and not shared. Otherwise we run the risk of fishing out a spot. Also remember to check the regulations before you drop your traps and to release female crab, soft-shell, and berried prawns. Many areas were also closed to prawning until April 1.

If you are targeting salmon early in the season, remember to fish midwater to the bottom; where there is bait, there should be fish. Hopefully you’ve changed up your hooks and line on your trusty (not rusty) glow and Green- Splatter-Back hoochies.

I’m sure I’ll be dropping down a Skinny G Herring Aid, Kitchen Sink, or Bon Chovy. I usually find green-bladed flashers work best with glow on one side, whether it be a Hot Spot or O’Ki.

I hope you put some time aside to enjoy all the splendor that Barkley Sound offers this time of year. Be safe, have fun, and enjoy yourself out there.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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September 2023

September is here after a great August fishery that brought excellent opportunities for both Chinook and coho in good size and numbers. The fishery will continue strong through September, with some even better coho fishing mixed in with the late Chinooks.

Good fishing can be had at this time of the year at Swale Rock, Pill Point, Whittlestone, Kirby, the Bamfield Wall, and Cape Beale. Fish shallow, 20′ at first light and evening, then down to about 60′ during the day. Anchovy is your best bet, along with the the OA12R (white) hoochie and Silver Horde Silver Knights series of spoons in 2″ to 3″. Other good spoons to keep handy are the Herring Aid in either the silver or gold version or the Skinny G Herring Aid and Green Aid, as well as Bon Chovy chrome. Bait, spoons, or hoochies fished with Hot Spot or O’Ki Flashers in Kinetic, blue silver, or green silver/glow are really good choices. For your bait, teaser heads in UV, chartreuse, and Army Truck have been working well, especially when matching the flasher blade to the head.

The ling season has been great! Fish these tasty and vicious critters with Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in UV orange or the Herring Aid—they are simply irresistible.

It continues to be a strong year for halibut with plenty under 90 cm, but we saw a better grade of 100-cm-plus fish this season. Please remember, just take what you need and enjoy.

Productive baits are herring, salmon belly, and octopus with a power paddle, or a 71⁄2″ Herring Aid skirt. If you are into jigging or back drifting for halibut, Mud Rakers and Berkley Grub tails are great on a spreader bar with a 1- to 2-lb weight.

With all the warm water this year, I’m really looking forward to the Bamfield Tuna Derby, the 2nd week of September—it’s a real gas!

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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August 2023

August will deliver some outstanding Chinook fishing, with some good sizes and numbers, as around 130,000 Chinook return to the Stamp/Somass River system. Plenty of marked coho are present, too; please remember to return the heads to your local head depot so we can get the much-needed coded wire tag data.

Fish are being caught at Swale Rock, Pill Point, Whittlestone, Kirby, Bamfield Wall and Cape Beale. Fish 20′ at first light and evening, and at about 60′ during the day. Anchovies are the ticket, and small herring is a great second choice. When fishing tackle, I highly recommend the Silver Horde Silver Knight series of spoons in 2.0″ and 3″. Herring Aid in either silver or gold, or the Skinny G in Herring Aid, Green Aid, or Bon Chovy Chrome. The “must- use” lure is certainly the Yamashita OAL12R white hoochie—don’t leave home without it. Hot Spot or O’Ki Flashers in Kinetic, blue silver, or green silver/glow are my favourites. Teaser heads in UV, chartreuse, and Army Truck have been working well, and I usually match the flasher blade to the teaser I’m using.

It’s been a strong ling season! Usually Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in UV orange or Herring Aid are simply irresistible.

Halibut fishing has been good this year, with a fair amount under 90 cm, but I would say we saw a better grade of 100 cm and larger this season. The usual baits have been producing, like herring, salmon bellies, and octopus on a Power paddle or a 71⁄2″ Herring Aid skirt.

If you are into jigging or back-drifting for halibut, Mudrakers are great producers. Berkley grub tails and a spreader bar with a 1- to 2-lb weight is nice setup as well.

Please remember to take just what you need and enjoy your time with family and friends. Stay safe and healthy.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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July 2023

Solid coho fishing is happening in Barkley Sound (Area 23) this year, and we’ve been seeing Chinook from 8 to 25 lbs. If you are unsure of the regs, point your smart- phone’s camera at the QR code at the top of this page. Then scroll down to the regulations link on the webpage.

We are also starting to see some of the estimated 130,000 Chinook forecasted to return the Stamp/Somas system, so August should be lights out like last year. We are seeing lots of hatchery-marked fish, so please return all hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot— we need the coded wire tag (CWT) data. Any of the lodges, fuel docks, or guides that you pass on the water can tell you where the closest depot is.

Consistent catching is at Swale Rock, Meares Bluff, Austin, Cree, Kirby, Bamfield Wall, and Cape Beale. Fish are being caught mostly at 75′ to 176′. If you see bait on your sounder, that’s where to fish. There is a lot of bait around this year, including squid, needlefish, and herring up to 5″, so the fish are fat.

I highly recommend the Silver Horde/ Silver Knights series of spoons 3.0 to 5.0 in Cookies and Cream, Herring Aid, Green Aid, and Skinny G. I also favour the Trap Shack or Bon Chovy and the new chrome-backed version. I also suggest needlefish hoochies or OAL12R Goldstar white hoochie. Fish with Hot Spot or O’Ki flashers in kinetic, blue silver, or green silver/glow; Salty Dawg is one of my super go-to choices.

Lingcod fishing has continued strong. Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in UV orange and Herring Aid are irresistible. For halibut fishing, herring, salmon bellies, and octopus with a Power Paddle or a 71⁄2 ” Herring Aid skirt work great.

If you are into jigging or back drifting for halibut, either a Mud Raker or a Berkley Grub Tail on a spreader bar with a 1- to 2-lb weight is a good bet.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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June 2023

Barkley Sound has seen some solid Chinook fishing so far this 2023 season, with most coming in between 8 and 22 lbs, and the odd coho showing up in the mix at 4 to 5 lbs. We are seeing a lot of hatchery-clipped fish, so please return your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot so we can get the much-needed coded wire tag (CWT) data.

Fish are being caught in the usual spots for this time of the year: Austin, Cree, Meares Bluff, Swale Rock, and The Wall, anywhere from the bottom up to 70′. There have been a lot of little herring around again this year, thanks to a good spawn. Because of this, I highly recommend the Silver Horde Silver Knights Herring Aid 3.0 or the Skinny G Herring Aid. These spoons (and hoochies) fish really well with Hot Spot or O’Ki Flashers in the Kinetic, blue silver, or green silver/glow.

Lingcod fishing has started and is excellent this season. These tasty and vicious critters seem to absolutely love my Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, and Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in UV Orange or Herring Aid—simply irresistible. Please remember: Take only what you need.

We see halibut fishing improve as the season moves along, and it will continue to build to the peak season near the end of August. The usual baits have been producing: herring, salmon bellies, and octopus with power paddle or a 71⁄2″ Herring Aid skirt. If you are into jigging or backdrifting for halibut, Mud Makers have been producing well along with Berkley Grub Tails and a spreader bar with a 1- to 2-lb weight.

Prawning was good this season but has slowed down as the commercial fishery has started. There are still some good pockets to be found for a good feed or two. Crabbing has picked up; it’s just a matter of dropping the traps in the right spot. So if you are up for the weekend, it never hurts to bring a trap or two and give it a whirl.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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May 2023

What a strong start to the season—quality Chinooks in the 15- to 20-lb range (and even bigger)! Fish this time of year are best found anywhere along the Bamfield Wall, Whittlestone to Brady’s Beach, Vernon Bay, and of course Swale Rock, Austin, and Cree between 75′ and 140 ‘.

Try spoons like Gibbs Skinny G Herring Aid, Big Eye, and Right Angles Pickled Herring. Don’t forget to run needlefish hoochies as well. Really, anything with some blue in it at this time of year is a safe bet, as the water is clear. Flashers like Hot Spot blue or green silver/glow, the Kinetic Big Shooter glow, Salty Dawg, or Black Double Glow all work consistently. Barkley Sound had an above average herring spawn this year, so small herring should be around for the season. Please return your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot so we can get the coded wire tag (CWT) data.

Halibut fishing usually starts on the slower side but improves with time. I favour Berkley White Grub tails, herring, octopus, and/or salmon bellies on a spreader bar. Lingcod have been steady. These days I’m enjoying Savage Swimmer tails such as the Burbot and 3D Octopus, but I still never leave the dock without Berkley Grub tails on a jig head and Delta Paddle tails. Always be sure to check the latest regulations for size and possession limits.

Bring your crab trap. Crabbing has been good this year, but there have been a lot of molting (soft shell) legal size crabs caught. Those should be released for another day. Since April, a bunch of sub areas opened to prawning, and it has been a “delicious” season so far! Remember always to check regulations before you drop traps, and to release female crab and berried prawns. I hope you put some time aside to get out and enjoy all the splendour that Barkley Sound offers during this season. It’s looking to be a solid year—again. Be safe, have fun, and enjoy yourself out there.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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March/April 2023

Happy New Year and a safe 2023, everyone! It’s great to be back for what surely will be an outstanding season!

I’m really excited—the forecast for the Columbia River return is looking very positive. This means we will start to see some decent numbers of Chinook this March, typically in the 8- to 15-lb range, mostly hatchery-clipped. When you keep these, please be sure to return your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot, so we can get the Coded Wire Tag (CWT) data.

I always pack my crab and prawn traps this time of year—less pressure means more bounty! Remember that spots for crabbing and prawning should be earned and not shared (especially on social media). Otherwise, we run the risk of fishing out a spot. Also, remember first to check the regulations before you drop traps and to release female crab, soft shell, and berried prawns. Many areas are also closed to prawning until April 1. Don’t forget that the new trap float regulations are in place April 1, as well.

If you are targeting salmon early in the season, remember to fish a little deeper than in summer months. Hopefully, you’ve changed up your hooks and line on your trusty (not rusty) white and green splatterback hoochies. I’m sure I’ll be dropping down some small Herring Aid spoons and maybe a Kitchen Sink or Irish Cream. Keep your eyes open for herring bait balls as the spawn could come anytime. If you know how to set up a Sabiki rig, now’s the time to try it out.

I hope you put some time aside to enjoy all the splendor that Barkley Sound offers this time of year. Be safe, have fun, and enjoy yourself out there!

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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September 2022

Coho and late Chinook fishing can be special in Barkley Sound in September—the weather cools, as does the tourist fishing pressure. It’s a great time to take in all the splendour that the Sound has to offer. I find that the coho fishing is better on the Bamfield side of the sound along the Bamfield Wall, Whittlestone, and Cape Beale for a September day. Usually, I’m fishing my lines at 25′ to 55′ with Her- ring Aid spoons, and Hot Spot or O’Ki Flashers in Kinetic and/or purple and gold. With anchovies back in stock, you should definitely troll some in a teaser head in a tight, fast roll.

As the fall moves along into November and December, many of us will be cleaning up our boats and putting them away for the winter. Before you do that, I suggest checking your trailer’s wiring and bearing health. Make sure you clean everything up and do your all-winter maintenance if you are not planning to use your boat this winter. Remember that little things like cardboard can mould if they have an opportunity to get damp. It’s also not a terrible idea to bait a couple of mouse traps—the last thing you want is to find that a rodent has chewed up your boat’s wiring.

I always look for an opportunity to sneak out and chase late-season prawns so I’m always ready to put the boat in if given a chance. We live and fish in a great area, so let’s enjoy all the brilliance and take only what we need.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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August 2022

August has delivered some outstanding Chinook fishing as 125,000+ of them return to the Somass and Stamp River system. Coho have been reasonable in this mix, but I have found them to be tight lipped so you may have to work for them.

This time of the year, try Swale Rock, Pill Point, Whittlestone, Kirby, the Bamfield Wall, and Cape Beale. Fish 25′ at first light and evenings, and go to 60′ during the day. Anchovies are always the winning ticket, so stock up if you can. In lieu of those, smaller herring is a great backup. When using bait, I always try to use a teaser head colour that matches the water colour. I also highly recommend the Silver Horde Silver Knights series of spoons in the 2.0-3.0 sizes. Herring Aid in either silver or gold, Skinny G Herring Aid & Green Aid, and Bon Chovy are great choices too. The must—use hoochie is the Yamashita OAL12R—don’t leave home without one! For flashers, Hot Spot or O’Ki in kinetic, blue-silver, or green-silver with glow are always my go-to.

It’s been a strong lingcod season with the usual spots producing well for these tasty and vicious critters. Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs Delta 4 oz Power Paddles in UV orange or Her- ring Aid are simply irresistible.

It’s a great halibut year with a fair amount of fish under 90 cm, but I would say we saw a better grade of 100 cm and larger fish this season. The usual baits have been producing—such as large herring, salmon bellies, and octopus with a Power Paddle or a 7 1⁄2″ Herring Aid skirt. If you are into jigging or back drifting for halibut, the Mudrakers have been producing well, as has the Berkley grub tail on a spreader bar with a 1- to 2-lb weight. Please remember—just take what you need.

Enjoy your time with family & friends and stay safe and healthy!

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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July 2022

The fishing in Barkley Sound has been solid this season, and we’ve seen Chinook in the 8- to 18-lb range. We are now also seeing some of the estimated 125,000 Chinook forecasted to return the Stamp/Somas system, so August should be lights-out fishing again, as it was last year.

We are now seeing some of the estimated 125,000 Chinook forecasted to return to the Stamp/Somas system.

Fish are consistently being boated at Swale Rock, Pill Point, Austin, Cree, Kirby, Bamfield Wall, and Cape Beale. I highly recommend the Silver Horde Silver Knights series of spoons in the 3.0 to 5.0 sizes. Skinny G Herring Aide, Green Aide, Trap Shack, or Bon Chovy spoons are all terrific producers, as are standard Cookies and Cream or Coyote spoons. I also suggest dusting off some of your needlefish hoochies or AOL12R white hoochies—they’re a go-to for many anglers. I find the Hot Spot or O’Ki flashers in kinetic, blue silver, or green silver (and glow) work best.

Lingcod fishing has continued strong this season. Scampi tails, Savage Gear Sandeels, or the Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in the UV orange or the Herring Aide are simply irresistible. Please remember just take what you need and enjoy.

Finally, Barkley Sound has been selected for a 2-year fishing-related capture survival study on Chinook hooking and landing. If you’re fishing in the Sound over the next couple seasons, you will see three boats are catching Chinook and then slipping them over the side in a fish tube with an A-1 float attached. Please stay clear of the floats, as they will be quickly picked up by one of the vessels working in the area.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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June 2022

Barkley Sound has seen solid fishing in 2022, with Chinook between 8 and 22 lbs, with the odd coho showing up at 4 to 5 lbs. We are seeing a lot of hatchery-clipped fish, so please return your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot, so we can get the much-needed coded wire tag (CWT) data.

Fish are being caught in the usual hot spots—Austin, Cree, Meares Bluff, Swale Rock and Cape Beale, anywhere from the bottom up to 70′ level. The squid have started to show up in the bays and foreshores on the outer edges of Barkley Sound, which draw in the Chinook to feed, so “match the hatch” with the Yo-Zuri Brown Turd or octopus and cuttlefish in the LXSB1030A. The always trusty Yamashita OAL12R octopus and the SAL12R cuttlefish are good bets as well. There has been a lot of small herring around, so I recommend the Silver Horde Silver Knights Herring Aid 3.0 or the Skinny G Herring Aid. All these lures fish well with Hot Spot or O’Ki flashers in a kinetic blue silver or green silver glow.

Lingcod has been excellent. Scampi tails, Savage Sand Eels, and Gibbs Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in UV orange or Herring Aid are all simply irresistible.

Halibut is steady and continues to build. Herring, salmon belly, and octopus on a power paddle or a 71⁄2″ Herring Aid skirt work great for me. If you are into jigging, or back drifting for halibut, the Mudrakers have been producing, as have Berkley Grub Tails on a spreader bar with a 1- to-2 lb weight.

Enjoy your time with family and friends, and stay safe and healthy!

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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May 2022

Fish are being caught in the usual spots at this time of the year— anywhere along the Bamfield Wall, Whittlestone Point to Brady’s Beach, Vernon Bay, and of course Swale Rock, Austin, and Cree. Typical producing depths are between 75′ and 140′. Try small spoons like Gibbs Skinny G Herring Aid, TKO, Lighthouse BigEye, and Rite Angle’s Pickled Herring. Needlefish hoochies have also been producing well; try anything with some blue in it, as the water is clear right now. Hot Spot blue or green silver/glow, Kinetic Big Shooter glow, the Salty Dawg or black double glow flashers all have worked consistently. Barkley Sound had a pretty good herring spawn this year, so look for small ones around. Please return your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot, so we can get the coded wire tag (CWT) data. Halibut fishing started on the slower side this season but has been improving steadily. My go-to setups are Berkley white grub tails, herring, octopus, and salmon bellies dolled up with a big hoochie.

Lingcod have been steady. Savage swimmer tails, burbot-style swimbaits, 3D Octopus, and of course Delta Paddle tails or Berkley grub tails on a jig head work.

The crabbing has been good this year, but a lot of molting legal-size crabs have been caught. These should be released until they grow into their shell. If you pinch a leg and it feels soft, or the colour of the shell is faded, I suggest you throw it back.

As of April 1, plenty of prawning areas have reopened. Remember that spots for crabbing and prawning should be earned and not shared, especially on social media. Otherwise, we run the risk of fishing out a spot. Remember to check the regulations before you drop traps, and to release female crabs and berried prawns. The new Bamfield Lodge has opened up right on the boardwalk on the west side, with boat access & boat moorage—look into it!

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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March/April 2022

The forecast for Columbia River Chinook returns is looking very positive for this spring. This means we will start to see some decent numbers of Chinook in March, typically in the 8- to 15-lb range, with the majority of those being hatchery clipped. For 2022, please remember to deposit all your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot so we can get the Coded Wire Tag (CWT) data.

Fish are being caught anywhere along the Bamfield Wall, Sarita, Assist Island, Pill Point, Vernon Bay, and of course Swale Rock. Small spoons like Gibbs Wee Gee and Skinny G, and TKO work well, as do Coyote spoons in 3.0. Needlefish hoochies such as the Yo-zuri B103, OG0001, G260001, M36L, and of course the B560A are absolute staples. You can never go wrong with a black glow flasher or the O’Ki Big Shooter flasher in Kinetic Glow, the Salty Dawg, or my favourite this time of the year, a Big Shooter silver green blade with glow back flasher. This time of year, fish your gear deep and on the bottom for best results.

If you are staying for a few days, bring your crab trap. There’s always some around if you know where to look, and it has been decent so far this year. The same goes for prawns if you know how to find them. Remember that spots for crabbing and prawning should be earned and not shared, especially on social media, otherwise we’ll run the risk of fishing out a spot. Also remember to check the regulations first before you drop traps, and to release female crab and berried prawns—many areas are closed to prawning until April 1.

I hope you put some time aside and get out and enjoy all the splendour that Barkley Sound offers this time of the year. Be safe and have fun out there and enjoy yourself.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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Fall/Winter 2021

Barkley Sound fishing has been very solid, and it’s lived up to the forecasted 2021 Chinook run of 133,000. We’ve seen some nice-sized fish over 25 lbs as we’ve moved into the September fishery. The coho have showed up averaging 6 lbs to 8 lbs with the odd 10-pounder in the mix. We are seeing a lot of hatchery-clipped fish, so please return you hatchery salmon heads your local DFO head depot so we can get the much-needed Coded Wire Tag (CWT) data.

Fish are being caught consistently at the usual spots for this time of the year— Swale Rock, Pill Point, Yankee Bay, Bamfield Wall, Cape Beale, and Whittlestone. Find them anywhere from 25′ to as deep as 55′. There has been a lot of small to medium-sized herring around again this year, so I highly recommend fishing the Silver Horde Silver Knights Herring Aide 3.0 or the Skinny G Herring Aid 3.0 and Green Aid or Trap Shack. These spoons should be fished with Hot Spot or O’Ki flashers in the kinetic, purple gold, or gold.

Lingcod has slowed down, but the usual spots are still producing some tasty and vicious critters. The usual Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in the UV orange or the Herring Aide is simply irresistible. Please remember, just take what you need, and enjoy.

Halibut fishing has continued strong in the normal places, and the usual baits have been producing: herring, salmon bellies, and octopus with a Power Paddle or 71⁄2″ Herring Aide skirt. If you are into jigging or backdrifting, the Mudrakers have been producing well, along with Berkley Grub Tails and spreader bar with 1- to 2-lb weight.

Prawning has been really good so far this season, but slowed down when the commercial fishery has started. Still, there are a few pockets to be found for a good feed or two. Crabbing also has picked up; it’s just a matter of dropping the traps in right spot. If you are up for the weekend, it never hurts to bring a trap or two and give it a whirl.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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August 2021

The fishing in Barkley Sound has been solid, living up to the forecasted 2021 Chinook run of 133,000, including some nice-sized fish over 25 lbs. The coho also have showed up, averaging 6 to 8 lbs with the odd 10-pounder in the mix. We are seeing a lot of hatchery-clipped fish, so please return your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot so we can get the much-needed Coded Wire Tag (CWT) data.

Anglers are catching consistently at the usual spots for this time of the year—Swale Rock, Pill Point, Yankee Bay, Bamfield Wall, Cape Beale, and Whittlestone—pulling in fish from anywhere between 25′ to 65′. There has been a lot of small to medium herring around again this year, so I highly recommend the Silver Horde Silver Knight Herring Aid 3.0 and 4.0 or the Skinny G Herring Aid & Green Herring Aid, Trap Shack, or Bon Chovy and 4.0 Coyote spoons. Try fishing them with Hot Spot or O’Ki flashers in the Kinetic, blue silver or green silver/glow.

Lingcod fishing has continued strong this season, with the usual spots producing well for these tasty and vicious critters. They find Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the  Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in the UV orange or the Herring Aid simply irresistible. Please remember, take only what you need and enjoy.

Halibut fishing has stayed strong in the usual places. The usual baits have been producing—herring, salmon bellies, octopus with Power Paddle or a 7 1⁄2 Herring Aid skirt. If you are into jigging or backdrifting for halibut, the Mudrakers have been producing well along with Berkley grub tails and a spreader bar with a total weight of 1 to 2 lbs.

Prawning has been really good so far this season but has slowed down as the commercial fishery has started. Still, there are some good pockets to be found for a decent feed or two. Crabbing also has picked up; it’s just a matter of dropping the traps in the right spot. If you are up for the weekend, it never hurts to bring a trap or two and give it a shot.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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July 2021

Barkley sound has continued to see solid fishing for the 2021 season, with Chinooks averaging 8 to 15 lbs, with the occasional 25-pounder. The coho have shown up, too, averaging 4 to 6 lbs with the odd 8-pounder in the mix. We are seeing a lot of hatchery-clipped fish, so please return you hatchery salmon heads your local DFO head depot so we can get the much needed Coded Wire Tag (CWT) data.

Fish are being caught regularly at the usual spots for this time of the year: Austin, Cree, Mears Bluff, Swale Rock, Cape Beale, and Bamfield Wall from anywhere from the bottom up to 70′. There has been a lot of small to medium herring around again this year, so I highly recommend the Silver Horde Silver Knights Herring Aid 4.0 or the Skinny G Herring Aid in green and 4.0 Coyote spoons. Fish these spoons with Hot Spot or O’Ki Flashers in Kinetic, blue silver or green silver/glow.

Lingcod fishing has been strong this season, with the usual spots producing well for these tasty and vicious critters. They’ve been finding Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in the UV orange or Herring Aid simply irresistible. Please remember to only take what you need.

Halibut fishing in all the typical spots also has been strong. The usual baits have been producing—herring, salmon bellies and octopus on a Power Paddle or a 71⁄2 Herring Aid skirt. If you are into jigging or back-drifting for halibut, the Mud Rakers have been producing well, along with Berkley grub tails and a spreader bar with a 1- to 2-lb weight.

Prawning has been really good so far this season, but has slowed down as the commercial fishery has started. Still, there are some good pockets to be found for a good feed. Crabbing has picked up; it’s just a matter of dropping the traps in right spot. If you are up for the weekend, it never hurts to bring a couple traps and give it a whirl.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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June 2021

Barkley Sound has seen some fairly solid fishing for the 2021 season, with Chinooks between 8 and 25 lbs, with the odd 4- to 5-lb coho in the mix. We are seeing a lot of hatchery-clipped fish, so please return your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot so we can get the much-needed Coded Wire Tag (CWT) data.

Fish are being caught consistently at the usual spots for this time of the year—Austin, Cree, Meares Bluff, Swale Rock, and Cape Beale, anywhere from the bottom up to 70′. The squid have started to show up in the bays and foreshores on the outer edges of Barkley Sound, drawing the Chinook in to fill up on these tasty critters. Don’t be afraid to match the hatch with the Yozuri Brown Turd and the Octopus or Cuttlefish in the LXSB1030A; the Yamishita OA12R Octopus; and the SAL12R Cuttlefish. There have been a lot of small herring around again this year, and in those conditions I highly recommend the Silver Horde Silver Knights Herring Aid 3.0 or the Skinny G Herring Aid. These spoons and hoochies fish well with Hot Spot or O’Ki flashers in the Kinetic, Blue Silver, or Green Silver/Glow.

Lingcod fishing has been excellent this season, with the usual spots producing well for these tasty and vicious critters. Try Scampi Tails, Savage Sand Eels, or the Gibbs/Delta 4-oz Power Paddles in the UV orange—and the Herring Aid is simply irresistible. Please remember to take only what you need.

We have been seeing some nice grades of halibut in the normal places for this time year, and it will continue to build as the season moves along towards the peak at the end of August. The usual baits have been producing—herring, salmon bellies, and octopus with a Power Paddle or a 71⁄2″ Herring Aid skirt. If you are into jigging or backdrifting for halibut, the Mud Rakers have been producing well along with Berkley Grub Tails on a spreader bar with a 1- to 2-lb weight.

Prawning has been really good so far this season but has slowed down as the commercial fishery has started. Still, there are some good pockets to be found for a good feed. Crabbing has picked up; it’s also just a matter of dropping the traps in right spot. If you are up for the weekend, it never hurts to bring a trap or two and give it a whirl!

Enjoy your time with family & friends, and stay safe and healthy.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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May 2021

We’ve had a good start to the salmon fishing season this year, with some reasonable winter Chinooks averaging 5 to 8 lbs. Fish are being caught in the usual spots at this time of the year—anywhere along the Bamfield Wall, Whittlestone to Brady’s Beach, Vernon Bay, and of course, Swale Rock, Austin, and Cree between 75′ and 140′. Small spoons like Gibbs Skinny G, PNT/TKO, Big Eye, and Rite Angle’s Pickled Herring have all been working well, combined with Hotspot green silver/glow, Kinetic Big Shooter glow, the Salty Dawg, or black double glow. Barkley Sound seemed to have a reason- able herring spawn this year, and we’ve had reports of the squid showing up in small bays. Good Puget Sound and Columbia River Chinook and coho returns should make for a great fishery this year.

Halibut fishing has been steady and improving as time goes by. My usual gear includes the Berkley white grub tails, herring, octopus, or salmon bellies dollied up with a big hoochie. The 2021 halibut regulations have changed for this season, allowing either one fish of 133 cm or two a day up to 90 cm, with total possession of two.

Lingcod this year are now back to the three per day over 65 cm, with a total possession limit of 6. The lingcod fishery was steady throughout the 2020 season, and we are hoping it continues where it left off. Expect to catch these critters on Savage swimmer tails, burbots, 3D octopus, and of course the Berkley grub tails on a jig head & Delta Power Paddle tails.

If you are staying for a few days, bring your crab trap. The crabbing has been on the slow side, but they are there to be had. Let’s face it, you can’t catch one if you don’t have a trap down. As of April 1, a number of areas have reopened to prawn, and the word on the dock is that the commercial prawn fishery will not be opening until May 27. Remember that spots for crabbing and prawning should be earned and never shared, especially on social media. Otherwise, we run the risk of fishing out a spot. Also, always remember to check the regulations before you drop traps, and to release female crab and berried prawns.

Deryk Krefting
Active Guiding
[email protected]
604-551-9353 or 250-468-5740

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September 2020

Well, September is here, after a fairly strong August fishery that saw some really nice Chinooks getting caught in the mid 20-lb range, and a few over 30 lbs. September fishing will continue to be strong, with some nice coho fishing to be had along with the late Chinooks. Good spots include along the beautiful Bamfield Wall, wicked Whittlestone, awesome Assit, and promising Pill Point. Of course, it’s always worth a fish at Swale Rock.

The terminal gear that has worked well this year is the ever-popular OA12R white hoochie and, of course, Army Truck hoochies. The Skinny G spoon never lets me down, especially in Gold Nugget and Herring Aid, and let’s not forget 3.0 Silver Horde Silver Knight spoons. The best flashers to date have been the O’Ki Kinetic, Purple Gold, or Black Gold. Of course, it wouldn’t have been a season without standard silver green or red silver blade flashers—don’t leave home without ’em! Plenty of fish are being caught between 25′ and 63′. There’s nothing better than fishing shallow—just be ready for your rod to dance, because it will!

September 2019

We saw a pretty good month of fishing for Chinook in Barkley Sound in August, with a lot of 20-plus-lb fish available—we had to work a little in the beginning, but they came on strong in the end. As we roll into September, we should continue to see a fairly strong fishery through the middle of the month. The coho fishery also has been fairly strong and will stay solid until about the third week of September.

5.25- and 5.5-in anchovies have been the ticket, along with the small 2.0 and 3.0 Silver Knight series spoons. The Skinny G and Wee G in the Herring Aid or Blue Back have been performing, and of course I never met a salmon that didn’t like a Silver Horde AORL 12 white hoochie. For your flasher, try the O’Ki Kinetic and Purple Gold in embossed or flat mirror. Fish are being caught at 25 to 57 ft.

Hali fishing has been fairly consistent; you should be able to come home with a couple flat cod. Lings are around; you just need to find them. The usual gear has been good—Hawgtails, Delta Gibbs Swimmer Tails, and Mustad Big Eye Jigs—as well as the usual baits—salmon parts, octopus, and herring.

For those that like tuna, it looks like they’re here and in fairly close this year.

Prawns are available, and crabbing has been really good so far this year.

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August 2019

With a forecasted run of 130,000 Chinook, we are looking forward to a very good fishery this year. In August, we change our bait, and 5.25 and 5.5 anchovies will the ticket to catch these fish. We’ll see some nice fish coming in in the low- to mid-30-lb range. The favorite flasher this time of the year is O’ki Kinetic with a purple/gold blade, black blade or border, or green blade—all with the gold tape. For a lure, try the Silver Horde AOL12 hoochie and the Skinny G or Wee G in Gold Nugget.

Fish are being caught in all the usual spots in Barkley Sound: Swale Rock, the harbour entrance, Pill Point, and Bamfield Wall. A little later in the month, Diplock, Whittlestone, and Beale light up.

Halibut fishing is still steady offshore, and anchoring with salmon parts, octopus, and herring works great. Backdrifting with Hawg Tails and Berkley Grubtails should pay off as well.

Prawns and crabs have also slowed down, but of course there are still some pockets of these tasty critters available, so it’s always worth a try.

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July 2019

Happy July!

Before we get into the fishing conditions, I want to remind people that descending devices are a condition of your license now and must be used in the release of all rock cod and yelloweye. I’ve been seeing folks just tossing these fish over without using them, so please take the extra couple seconds and release these critters, as every one of them is important.

It’s been a pretty steady season, with fish running between 6 and 12 lb, of which many are hatchery-clipped fish. The odd fish has been brought in into the mid 20-lb range. Please also remember to turn your hatchery-clipped Chinook heads into your local head return depots so we can all keep track.

Fish are coming out of some of the normal spots—fish at Swale, Mears Bluff, Austin & Cree, Beal, and the Bamfield Wall. 3.0 & 3.5 spoons have been doing the damage.

It’s always about matching the size of the bait, and we’ve seen a fair amount of squid around. Try cuttlefish in the AOL12, Glow Pistachio, and Splatter Back.

Another great choice is the Yo-Zuri Turds in Glow (M36L) Brown Turd (J85), UV glow (LXSB103), and White Turd (LXSB103B). Silver Horde 3.0 Herring Aid, 3.5 Coyote Sardine, Gibbs Wee G, and Skinny G are always a good bet, as they are one of my most consistent spoons—you can’t go wrong with a Herring Aid. The best flashers have been O’Ki Salty Dawg, Kinetic, and the ol’ faithful standard Green Silver/Glow. The fish are being caught at 65 to 130 ft on average. Remember, find the bait and fish it!

Hali fishing has been fairly consistent—just put in your time, and you should be able to come home with a couple flat cod. Lings are still around, but you’ll need to hunt for those! The usual gear has been good: Hawgtails, Delta Gibbs Swimmer Tails, and Mustad Big Eye jigs. The usual bait, like salmon parts and octopus, are a good bet.

Prawns are still available, but bring a pot… crabbing has been really good so far this year. Just don’t touch mine!

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June 2019

It’s been great to get some time on the water, and salmon fishing has been pretty steady in the usual locations. We are seeing fish between 12 and 18 lbs, with a good amount of them being clipped (hatchery). Remember, please turn in your hatchery-clipped Chinook heads to your local head return depots. Now more than ever, it’s really important for us to be tracking our catch.

Reports of nice catches at some of the hot spots such as Swale, Mears Bluff, Austin & Cree Island, Cape Beal, and the Bamfield Wall have been steady. Small spoons have been the ticket for matching the size of the bait (small herring and needlefish). Smaller spoon favorites such as Silver Horde 2.0, Herring Aid, 3.5 Coyote Sardine, Gibbs Wee Gee, and Skinny G are a great bet. The best flashers have been O’Ki Salty Dawg, and kinetic flashers. Of course, the standard issue Green Silver/Glow is a safe bet. Fish deeper this time of year; most catches are being seen at 75 to 110 ft.

The lingcod fishing has been relatively steady so far, with ling to about 12 lbs being caught on Scampi Tails and Gibbs Hali Hawgs. I have been giving the Mustad’s Big Eye Bucktail jigs a dunk, and I’m pretty happy with the results.

Halibut fishing has been off and on, but it is becoming much more steady. Back drifting has been pretty successful with Berkley Grubs or Gibbs Hali Hawgs. For those people that anchor, all the favorite baits work: octopus, salmon parts, and herring.

Prawns have slowed down and the commercial fishery opened on May 9, but if you can hit the smaller secret holes, these delicious critters are going to make a terrific meal, as will crab, of course. Good luck, and see you out there!

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May 2019

There have been reports of blue-back coho up to 14 inches in Vernon Bay and Swale Rock area, and the forecast for coho for the coming season is terrific.

May shows plenty of feeder springs around, and some nice keepers in 6- to 10-lb range. Use anchovies in green glow and regular glow, and of course chartreuse heads and 3″ spoons like Irish Cream, Cookies and Cream, green and blue nickel, or Herring Aide. The ticket is to troll at normal winter depths from 90 to 150 ft. There are some nice fish inside Diplock tight on the bottom, and around Assist Island and Pill Point.

There are plenty of bait balls to be found on your fish finder, and fish are also feeding on needlefish. Work the bait balls at slack water for best results.

Try the usual suspects: Bamfield Wall, Swale Rock, Austin, Cree, Vernon Bay, and Sarita. Crabbing has been steady in the usual places, but always be sure to check the DFO website to confirm.

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March 2019

A belated Happy New Year to all! Barkley Sound area 21 and offshore area 121 indeed will be seeing a fishery in 2019. Be assured that just because the offshore 121 has been designated as Southern Resident Killer Whale habitat doesn’t mean it is or will automatically be closed. Currently the Sport Fishing Institute and the West Coast Fishing Guide Association have people involved in the DFO process representing our sportfishing interests, and we will keep you updated as information becomes available.

We’re seeing a reasonable number of Chinook caught now, anywhere from 8 to 15 lbs, mostly hatchery clipped fish. Please return your hatchery salmon heads to your local DFO head depot so we can get the coded wire tag (CWT) data. Fish are being caught anywhere along the Bamfield Wall, Sarita, Assits, Pill Point, Veron Bay, and of course Swale Rock. People are having luck with small spoons like Gibbs Wee G and Skinny G, as well as TKO, Coyote Sardine 3.0 & ATP sand lance, or anchovy 3-inch spoons. Also effective are needlefish hoochies like the Yo-zuri B103, OG0001, G260001, M36L, and of course the B560A. You can never go wrong with a black glow flasher or the O’Ki BS flasher Kentic Glow, Salty Dawg, or my favorite this time of the year, silver green blade glow back BS flasher. Fish your gear deep and on the bottom for best results.

There seems to be a few crabs around if you know where you are going, and prawning is all right if you know your spots. Please remember regulations require you to release all berried prawns. If you are planning to fish prawns this time of the year, please check your regulations, as some of the sub areas in Barkley Sound are currently closed to prawning until April 1, 2019 (see www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/shellfish-coquillages-eng.html)

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Sept-Dec 2018

Well, the days are getting shorter and the kids are headed back to school, but don’t think fishing season is over! Throughout the month of September there will still be loads of mature Chinook and coho milling around the Sound headed back to either Robertson Creek or Nit Nat. September also brings the warm ocean currents closer to shore, which in turn brings in the tuna!

As the fall progresses and slowly turns into winter don’t be depressed, as there will be lots of chances of prawns, crabs, and winter springs. Fishing into September brings fewer boats yet still large fish; most big fish are coming in close to shore and town at places like the Wall, Nanat, and Pill Pt.

The springs and coho are milling around shallow and most of our fish are coming 20 ft to 40 ft deep, and on bait or white glow hoochies. Lots of times you can find coho milling around in the middle of Trevor Chanel or off Wizard Rock. Offshore, things are slowing down for the salmon, but you can still find coho and the odd feeder spring.

September brings the warm ocean currents closer to the island, and those currents are loaded with tuna! This time of year gives the hardcore offshore fisherman a chance at tying into these bad boys with rod and reel. Tuna fishing is variable based on water conditions, wind, and temperature, so getting an up-to-date report before heading out is a must.

Be safe out there, and get them to go!

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August 2018

August is the time when the mature local fish are swimming towards their natal rivers to complete their lifecycle, and it’s our chance to fish close to home for these massive fish. The local river forecast is very good for both the Robertson Creek and the Nit Nat River, and all signs are pointing towards this being a wicked year of fishing.

So far lots of fish have been stacked up at Fleming, Swale Rock, and my favourite, Cape Beale. The first light bite is without a doubt the best bite of the day, so get out there early and make sure you’re ready to get them while the getting is good. Lots of coho have moved in as well, and they seem to be milling around Ship, Kirby, and Sanford. Typically, most of the day we are rolling anchovies with UV or Purple Haze teaser heads with about a 6-ft leader tied to a Gibbs Madi Flasher or the new Gibbs Phantom Flashers. Our boats have also been having good luck on the very first part of the day on clear UV hoochies. Trolling a bit slower and shallower is the ticket to producing larger fish.

Offshore is still going great for mature Chinook and coho, with the most consistent spot being the Big Bank. Hoochies like the 140r, LGB57, and J79 are the go-to hoochies right now and can easily produce salmon and halibut on the troll depending on the depth you’re fishing. Jigging halibut has slowed down and can be a bit frustrating if you’re used to the kind of fishing that we get in May and June. That being said, if you stick it out and weed through the dogfish, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to get your legal limit. I find that typically herring slows down a bit as a halibut bait this time of year, and salmon bellies, tails, and heads are the only thing that consistently produce time and time again. However, trolling is the more effective way to get your halibut this time of year, as you don’t deal with dogfish. You typically get your bigger springs using the same method.

It’s a big ocean with tonnes of fish, so go out there and get them. When coming to town, make sure you stop by Breakers Marine for the hottest gear of the week and fresh bait as well as second to none marine service.

See you on the water!

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July 2018

Peak season in Bamfield is upon us! Fishing has been nothing but incredible the past few weeks, and it’s not showing any sign of slowing down. Salmon fishing in the sound has been great, and it’s been even more amazing offshore, with limits being the daily norm. Halibut fishing continues to be outstanding, with a fair amount of chicken halibut making it easy to attain one’s desired sub-115 cm fish.

Salmon fishing in Barkley Sound has been astounding, with large numbers of Chinook and coho milling around aggressively feeding all day. Inside the sound, we have noticed that most fish have been coming on the Gibbs Delta Herring Aid or Bon Chovy Skinny Gs behind the Gibbs Highliner or Phantom Flashers. Spots to try on the inside are Cree and Austin, Kirby Point, Cape Beale, and the infamous Wall. Most of our guiding days have been spent on the offshore banks, where we have been seeing incredible fishing all day long with many 20-50 Chinook and coho days. The Big Bank, from the Bottle Neck down to the Rat’s Nose and the 12 Mile, has been the highest producing area lately.

Bottom fishing in Bamfield, like always, is nothing short of spectacular. Limits of halibut have been the daily norm, and we are fortunate enough to have lots of spots close to home that continually produce halibut in the 80- to 115-cm range, which is perfect for this year’s regulations. Most of our halibut jigging has come off the Gibbs Hali Hawg tipped with salmon belly. If you’re looking for something different then try lingcod! The numbers this year have been strong, and if you’re not looking at putting in the time for halibut, it’s an easy way to get some whitefish. Before heading out and bottom fishing, make sure you know the regulations at the time and where any closures may be.
Best of luck and keep that tip up!

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June 2018

Things are starting to heat up here on the west coast! Salmon fishing continues to get better and better daily in the sound and offshore, and halibut fishing is incredible.

Salmon fishing in the sound and close to shore has been fairly consistent all May, and it seems as though June will be the same if not better. The fish are in large numbers along the surf line, in places like Cree Island, Ship, and Cape Beale. These fish are heavily feeding on needlefish, so fishing the new Gibbs Wee G spoons or the Skinny G have proved to be the most productive. We have been trolling fairly fast (3.2 mph), so rocking a 5.5- to 7-foot leader has fished the best in the last few weeks. I’ve always been a big fan of matching the color of water to the color of your gear, so having a fair amount of different colored spoons and flashers seems to be the most productive.

The offshore banks have been nothing but mind-blowing. Incredible numbers of fish have been feeding off the Big Bank, making 50+ fish hook-up days almost the norm, and it’s fairly easy to troll up your limit of underslot-sized halibut at the same time.

If you’re in the market for jigging for halibut, then I strongly suggest changing up your hook configuration to either singles or circles to make it easier to release larger fish. I’ve been using Mustad Single Circle hooks; they are the perfect size to hold your bait and maintain a solid hook-up ration with the fish, and small enough to land smaller ‘chickens’. These new slot size regulations have definitely put the ‘sport’ back into ‘sport fishing’. Our boats have been finding that most fish have been coming on herring, or the Gibbs Hali Hawg tipped with octopus or salmon belly.

If you’re looking for a day-to-day report, see your friendly people at Breakers Marine for all the hottest new gear or give me a call! See you on the water.

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March 2018

Well the long, cold, and wet winter is slowly coming to an end and with that a new dawn on another fishing. I love this time of year as we prep our boats and calendars for the advancing season. This season like last is shaping up to be another stellar year on the coast.

If you’re planning on coming out this spring then be ready for some steady winter spring fishing, just like last year. Solid numbers of decent sized 5-12 lb springs are milling around the Sound right now and aggressively feeding on herring as they are trying to bulk up and get food while the getting is good. This time of year focus on bait balls, watch for them on the sounder and on the surface. Telltale signs of bait are birds and other marine life, this is where the winter feeders will be hanging out. Troll fast and deep, however continually check what depth the bait balls are at and try and match that. This time of year I love fishing Pill Point, Vernon Bay, Kirby Point, or Ship Rock. I find most fish are hitting small 4-inch spoons or needle fish hoochies, behind a Hot Spot flasher.

Halibut fishing out of Bamfield is a blast this year; most spots have had no pressure on them since the halibut closure last September, so it’s always fun going back to old faithful holes, pinnacles or banks to see what is lying down below. I tend to find halibut don’t come as aggressively in March and April as they do in May, but that’s also a fact that weather is a bit more touch and go and heading offshore on a fair amount of days is out of the question. Octopus and herring is my bait of choice usually behind a Rite Angle Spin and Glow or Octopus Skirt. The Spin and Glows have been a staple to my halibut tackle box for a few years now and I find it really has increased my catch rate, especially on big current moving days.

The early spring is a great time to come out to Bamfield for more reasons than to test out the downriggers, it’s fun and typically very quiet. Make sure when coming out you recheck the up-to-date fishing regulations and feel free to stop into Breakers Marine for friendly service and daily fishing reports.

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Sept/Dec 2017

Well the nights are getting longer and the days are getting colder but that doesn’t mean that it’s time to lock your fishing rod away just yet. There is still lots of incredible fishing to be had all the way through the month of September; lots of mature springs and coho are still milling around the Sound, halibut still wanting to chomp down on some gear, and of course tuna are still offshore skipping along the surface just dying to be seared on a barbecue.

Once labor day weekend wraps up most people head home and call it a fishing season; however there are still loads of salmon milling around. The peak coho run is in with massive schools of aggressive fighting fish milling around waiting to chomp on your bait as well as the odd massive mature Chinook, as the tail end of their run finishes off. Fishing at Whittlestone, Cape Beale, Assits, Pill Pt., and Flemming are always productive, using bait, or spoons for those hard-hitting coho and sluggish mature springs.

Offshore the halibut fishing has slowed down a bit but they are still out there and one just needs to put in the time and be rewarded with some BC white gold. There are still lots of coho salmon with the odd mature Chinook mixed in offshore as well. It makes for great and very fast action once you get into them. Salmon fishing is great in September but the odd few fishermen have switched over and are now tuna fishing.

Tuna fishing, which has rapidly expanded in popularity among the sport fishing community, is incredibly fun and very extreme. The runs far offshore mixed with the hard-hitting, fast-paced action make for an incredible trip. Just plan the weather out and make sure your boat and crew are capable.

As the days get colder then it is time to pack the tuna gear away and focus on winter springs, prawns, and crabs. Keep up with in season regulation changes and fishing reports throughout the winter at Breakers Marine in Bamfield.

Until next year, keep your tip up, boots tight and shoot straight.

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August 2017

Well, it’s time to grab the anchovies and head up to Bamfield because the majority of our local salmon are now in the Sound! August is historically the peak month for salmon fishing in our area with the largest influx of returning mature salmon literally swimming past our doorstep.

Salmon fishing throughout the Barkley Sound has been incredible lately with great fishing being had at Cape Beale, Flemming and Swale. The lure of choice is anchovy right now in a teaser head, however small Skinny G spoons and UV glow hoochies have also been productive. The first light bite is crucial to hit so don’t miss out on that by sleeping in.

Offshore fishing continues to be productive with solid action all day for Chinooks and coho. The Big Bank and 12 Mile have been consistent for both salmon and halibut. Most of the fleet have been using hoochies or five-inch Tomic plugs for salmon, and have been trolling up the halibut with glow-green hoochies. Slowing your troll down and keeping your gear right in the mud will get you a halibut, guaranteed.

Tuna fishing offshore has also started to become a very realistic day trip for most large sport fishing boats because the warm water currents are being pushed closer and closer to the island. This fishery is expanding rapidly throughout the sport fishing community and is a lot of fun when done right. It is a long way offshore so you need to know your boat and crew are capable and it is always best to go with a few boats. As the month of August comes to an end you will start seeing more people start switching gears from salmon to tuna. Pick your right weather window and you will be in for a wild ride of tuna fishing.

Keep your tip up and go get ’em.

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April/May 2017

April and May are when our first wave of migratory “feeder” Chinook show up on the fishing grounds and for the most part, fishing at this time is done inshore, due to the weather. Some great action can be found right at our side the Ucluelet Harbour entrance, either alongside Beg Island or turn right and fish the Red Can Buoy tack.

Proven hotspots like Bear Rock, Mara Rock, Sail Rock and Swale Rock are excellent areas to explore at depths ranging from 70 feet down to 10 feet off the bottom. Many of the guides use Coyote Spoons in various colors and sizes behind green or blue flashers, but when the fishing is slow try switching to an anchovy or herring in a Rhys Davis Anchovy Special in one of the metallic green or blue finishes, and troll at speeds of 4-5 kmh.