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Campbell River Fishing Report

Find out what’s working and what’s not when fishing in the Campbell River area on North Central Vancouver Island. Tips, best practices, places and the go-to lures are just a sample of what you’ll find in our fishing report.

Campbell River Marine Map

 


Campbell River Marine Weather Forecast


Campbell River Fishing Report

Click Here For Area 13 Current Regulations

 

November 2023

I am very pleased to report the winter season is off to a strong start, not unlike the past 2 or 3 years.  Winter fishing in Area 13 has its own primal majesty, the seascape is like no other and provides several options for the adventurer.

We are finding fish in the usual local spots in Campbell River, the Hump, Francisco Point and between the Wilby Shoal cans on the approach to Discovery passage provide short rides to effective fishing possibilities.  Locations with further travel from Campbell River include but not limited to “ Plumper and Deepwater Bay, Helmcken Island to Tucker Point, Shoal Bay to Davis and Thurston Bay, Henrietta Point off Stuart Island to the north tip Cortes Island, Channel Island, Brettell Point in Toba Inlet to the east side of Quadra island and the Sutil Channel” All these locations will have their moments this winter, fish the tide changes and get your gear down on the bottom. Troll fast and work your tacklebox till you find the right presentation.

When the weather permits there will be great winter fishing Jan – March for resident feeder Chinook salmon which provide in my opinion the best table fare eating of the year. Anticipation for the late spring bloom of herring and anchovies in Area 13 means the salmon stocks and marine life benefactors will be thriving. I really enjoy prawning and crabbing during the winter months due to less boat traffic, as I aim to gamble my chances at the bounty before the commercial fishery begins.

After the end of an awesome fishing season, the last 2 months brought a little well-deserved rest and down time to recharge.  I use the winter months to get a head start on my 2024 repair and maintenance budget planning. Any maintenance that cannot be completed with your own sweat equity is a good idea to get the work booked in with local “pros” during the winter downtime. The marine repair businesses book up fast and so to avoid the disappointment of not getting the work completed in May or June make your arrangements now.

3-night Kingslayer Charter bookings for summer 2024 are selling fast. With only a few spots remaining, if you seek adventure that challenges and charges the soul give me acall. I’m reminded of a great thought to get out in the wild and create some memories….

“You never see a Uhaul attached to a hurst”

Samuel Hicks
[email protected]
604-781-6697
kingslayercharters.ca


September 2023

Summer fishing madness is still in full swing. The river mouths are swelling with species of staging salmon attempting their final journey of life. This point of the year has a certain primal energy that can be understood only by spending time
on the water and acknowledging the journey in the salmon’s life.

All the boat launches and the local hotspots will continue to be very busy for the next month. It’s important for everyone to be courteous and safe on the water. Know some basic rules, and remember that whoever has the right rod to the shore has the right of way. We all like to be tight to the rocks, but if we all gave the right of way to others it would limit losses during hookups.

Fishing The Pier

Experience the history and culture firsthand at Campbell River’s Discovery Pier. The pier extends 150′ from shore and is 600′ long with accessible views that span across Discovery passage. It’s C a fun spot for anglers without boats— visitors and locals alike. There are evenM rod rentals available through Labour Y Day, so anyone traveling through can create some fishing memories. Don’t CM forget to support local businesses like MY tackle shops, and enjoy a tasty ice cream cone or fish & chips.

Tyee Pools

The Tyee pools are still providing anglers with opportunities for a special fish. Make sure you understand the regulations and boundaries to fish in the pools. If you want to join this historic club and become a member, check out the Tyee Club of BC at www.tyeeclub.org.

I’ll end this report with two of my favourite fishing quotes.

“One thing becomes clearer as one gets older and one’s fishing experience increases, and that is the paramount importance of one’s fishing companions.”
—John Ashley Cooper

“There’s a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.”
—Steven Wright

Samuel Hicks
[email protected]
604-781-6697
kingslayercharters.ca


August 2023

Area 13 is in full throttle. The abundance of marine life is staging and preparing for the feeding frenzy. And for some, the final chapter of life has begun. Nowhere on earth is more powerful and unforgiving—or stunning and endlessly captivating—than the ocean.

Chinooks are showing up in good numbers throughout the Johnstone Strait. Try Fish Rock Bay just off Chatham point on slack tides, as the current can be difficult to navigate. Davis Point to Sonora Point is a good tack; the Chinooks are down deep, so get those plugs down in the zone, sometimes 200′ or more. Brown’s Bay and Deepwater Bay walls should produce a steady flow of fish as well. The Wilby Shoals area, around the red and green cans, is always a good option if the winds behave.

The coho fishery continues to hold strong, allowing sport anglers to pack some tasty meat in freezers. Use a little different presentation to target the C coho—longer leaders, smaller spoons (3.5″), and quicker trolling speeds should give you better chances overall.

The Tyee pools are in full swing, with this year’s brood stock showing a terrific return over last year. Make sure you understand the regulations and boundaries to fish in the pools.

If you want to join this historic club and become a member, check out the
Tyee Club of BC at www.tyeeclub.org.

Prawning has slowed down per normal for this time of year, but you will have opportunities if you have the right depth and bait and the tide is in your favour. Sweet Dungeness crab will be maturing and plentiful in areas where they thrive. Contact your local tackle shop for info on these areas or give me a call. Have the right floats and gear, as DFO will be patrolling to ensure compliance.

Personally, I love August and September on the water. Not just because of the abundance of fishing opportunities, but also because of seeing BBQs smoking on the back decks of fishing boats, cooking up some fresh catch. It just reiterates the joy sport fishing bring to our community.

Samuel Hicks
[email protected]
604-781-6697
kingslayercharters.ca


July 2023

Here we go! Summer has arrived, kids are out of school, vacations have begun, tourism is back in full force on the island, and our passion for fishing has us anglers prepped and ready for the months ahead.

The Chinook fishery will be well underway in Area 13. Know your regulations within the SMZ in Campbell River and update your chart plotters so you can see these zones. The Tyee pools will begin seeing this year’s returns arriving in mid- to late July. If you want to join this historical club and become a member, check out the Tyee Club of BC at  www.tyeeclub.org.

In Campbell River, the bait is typically larger, so when presenting your gear remember this. Plugs, larger spoons, and 6″ anchovies should get the job done. Properly adjusted sonar equipment will let you know where the bait is, and you’ll see the springs feeding off the bait balls. Get your gear down and adjust trolling speed accordingly for perfect presentation. A clip banger awaits you—I can feel it!

Lingcod fishing will still be hot, even Y with the added pressure of anglers targeting them in May and June while CM we waited for the salmon opportunities. Delta Power Paddle swimbaits are one of my favourites—the lings can’t help CY themselves. If you’re on the troll, keep your eye on the rod tips because you only see them bite once. If you miss it, you’ll be dragging them till you check your gear.

Prawning will slow down a bit after the commercial fleet has cleaned up, but there are always those secret spots that will produce daily bounties. Fish the tides, and know that fresh bait and weighted traps will give you the best opportunity for success. My favourite locally made prawn trap is the Bauer. You can’t beat it, and it’s sold in most tackle shops on the island.

Coho fishing is on fire! With the expectations and projections of solid numbers, we should be looking at fantastic opportunities. Head to the local tackle shops for insight on gear and rigging if you’re not familiar on how to target them, or reach out to me for tips.

Respect nature, enjoy the scenery, and stay safe on the water.

Samuel Hicks
[email protected]
604-781-6697
kingslayercharters.ca


June 2023

June is an exciting time, with the arrival of warm summer vibes and fishing enthusiasts preparing for the next 4 months. June is a premier month to fish for Chinook in Area 13; however, we continue to follow catch- and-release protocol at this point. Up and down the coast, stock projections are coming in well above last year’s numbers, so we have something to look forward to on the horizon.

The coho fishery is always a treat as these “pound-for-pound” silver bullets will provide a fight to remember. They don’t tire out, so be ready—your skills will be tested. I like using lighter gear when targeting these salmon as opposed to a typical Chinook setup. Try a little longer leader of 8′ to 9′ with the 3.5″ Sliver Horde Kingfisher and your favourite charged up UV flasher. This setup has worked well for me in the past and is always in the rotation. Make sure you’re cleaning your lines throughout the day, because the algae bloom can compromise your under-water presentation.

The lingcod fishing should be well underway, with prawns and crabbing remaining strong till the end of the month.

June is one of my favourite months for exploring Campbell River and all of Area 13. Follow the shoreline walls from the start of Deep Water Bay and head west. Get the gear down deep 117′ to 177′ for the chance to stir up a beautiful Chinook.

Another fun spot that requires a bit more travel is trolling from Davis Point northwest along Sonora Island. Get your gear down deep to avoid “shaker town;” cut plugs, herring, anchovy on a Bloody Nose teaser head, and hoochies all have worked well. Make sure to roll through your tackle box and give them what they want. Between the Red & Green Can markers within Wilby Shoals is always a good option. Once again, get the gear on the bottom and anything can happen.

Samuel Hicks
[email protected]
604-781-6697
kingslayercharters.ca


Exciting vibes are in the air as the fishing season approaches; it’s time to get our gear and boats tuned up for the adventures ahead. Update your chart plotters, sharpen your hooks, and get those engines serviced.

With the March herring spawn having returned to Area 13, the abundance of marine life is trending in the right direction, and positive projections are being whispered amongst anglers in the area. The snowpack in April started slightly above historical averages on the north island, providing and insuring the nutrients in our rivers that benefit our oceans.

The anticipated lingcod opening on May 1 will bring out the local warriors to enjoy the area. Prawning and crabbing still will be great at this time of year— just be mindful where you are dropping gear, as the commercial fleet will be out cashing in on the bounty, as well. Also ensure your gear meets the new regulations; the trial and education year is over, and I expect full compliance will be the expectation.

May is one of my favourite months for exploring Area 13 and the adjacent areas. Between the Red and Green Can markers within Wilby Shoals is always a good option. Get the gear on the bottom, and anything can happen, with the potential for lings. Maybe an elusive halibut will even check out your gear. This area provides some of the best views in the world, with the snowpack melting from the alpine peaks creating epic waterfalls and swelling river mouths. Whales are arriving back to gorge on their favourite meals, and their arrival triggers the rest of nature to take notice in a primal way.

Samuel Hicks
[email protected]
604-781-6697
kingslayercharters.ca


March/April 2023

Late winter into early spring is a time of change, so be prepared for any kind of weather! And on the saltwater, there’s a change in the middle of this period, going from the usual Chinook retention limits in March (with certain exceptions) to widespread non-retention in April. Once again, it is anticipated that there will be limited Chinook retention (1 per day, 80 cm maximum length on unmarked fish) in portions of the mainland shore of Area 13 around Bute Inlet and the adjacent portion of Area 15 into lower Toba Inlet.

Welcome as this opportunity is, for those not familiar with the territory, the allowable Chinook retention area is a long hike (1 hour+) across the open north Strait of Georgia from any departure point on the Vancouver Island shore. Be mindful of the marine weather forecast and also note that weather along the mainland shore can be cooler than in town. Another upside of making the trek there is that it puts you in prime—and not heavily fished— territory for prawns, at least until the commercial fishery starts in May.

These are feeder Chinook, so troll at a Y fair clip to cover territory, mostly tight to the shoreline with 60′ – 80′ of cable CM down on the inside rigger, between 90′ and 120′ down on the outside rigger. Octopus hoochies in green or blue patterns, 3 1⁄2″ – 5″ spoons or 4″ and 5″ Tomic plugs all work.

Halibut aren’t all that common in Area 13, but some in-the-know anglers travel to Kelsey Bay to fish the ledges off the west end of Hardwicke Island. In fact, fishing off the wharf at the end of the road might be one of the very few places halibut are caught from shore on the east side of Vancouver Island.

In freshwater, this used to be prime- time for steelhead in several local rivers, but sadly, not so much now. However, fishing for sea-run cutthroat can be productive, once the pink fry migration gets underway. Once the water temperature reaches 5° to 6°, pinks really start to emerge from the gravel, and they head directly to sea. Focus on the lower sections and estuaries of systems known to have a pink run.

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


September 2022

Until mid-September, the fishery in Area 13 is a continuation of August. Large Chinook remain the focus, both in the lower straits above Campbell River and in the fishery along the town waterfront, exemplified by the traditional Tyee Club rowboat fishery. The fishery for good-sized feeder Chinook remains active off the bottom end of Quadra Island, as well.

Once again it appears that 2022 is a predominantly outside distribution year for coho, and as September progresses, homing fish will make their way into inside waters. These fish may be found anywhere, but good places to look for them include the lower straits and around the shallows close to shore at the bottom end of Quadra Island. With the release of the regional Salmon Integrated Management Plan (June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2023) DFO has indicated it intends to allow the retention of one wild coho per day starting September 1 in the Georgia Strait North Management Unit (Areas 13, 14, and most of 15).

Being 2022, there may be a sockeye fishery still underway in Area 13 in September. It all depends not only on the run size to the Fraser River but also the nature of the diversion rate—inside or outside—after they make landfall on the outer coast. Only time will tell, but in years past there has been some very productive sockeye fishing in the zone just above Seymour Narrows in early September.

Chum season gets going as September changes into October, and we are fortunate the fish are usually still in silver bright condition in the lower straits. Last year, the return of chums to inner south coast rivers was below average, and DFO has indicated it intends to manage recreational opportunity in-season if there is a repeat, despite the very small recreational harvest of these salmon. This localised fishery is important to the Campbell River area.

Good luck!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


August 2022

There are so many fishing options during August in Area 13! More than any other it is, of course, big fish month. Fishing anywhere in the lower straits from Seymour Narrows to Ripple Point and over towards Stuart Island at this time of year, anglers can expect to encounter large Chinook as they migrate towards their home rivers from the north coast.

These maturing fish aren’t aggressive feeders, so a slow troll hugging the shoreline is the trick. Dogfish are largely absent, so anchovies in a teaser head or cut-plugged herring work well. Hoochies are favourites—Blue Meany, Jack Smith, and Speedo amongst others, usually in the larger cuttlefish size. One tip is to sweeten them up with a drop of anchovy or herring oil.

Along the Campbell River waterfront, the traditional fishery for large Chinook will be underway. Keep in mind the special regulations when fishing in the C.R. Special Management Zone (SMZ), printed on every tidal waters license. Other than in Tyee Pool proper, anglers in powerboats can fish throughout the SMZ. Please keep an eye out for the slow-moving and low-profile traditional rowboats. First and last light are typically the best times to pursue these large Chinook in this shallow-water, shoreline-oriented fishery.

Off the bottom end of Quadra Island and elsewhere in the north Strait of Georgia the fishery for feeder Chinook will be active. Troll deep at a fast clip with artificial lures; dogfish can be a plague here. Depending on the year, coho may be mixed in, especially in the top part of the water column.

Being 2022, fingers are crossed for a strong return of sockeye to the Fraser River this summer. Run size and the diversion rate (i.e., if the fish migrate down the outside of Vancouver Island as they did in 2018) could make a retention opportunity largely meaningless. If, however, most of the sockeye choose to migrate through Johnstone Strait, places like Deepwater and Greensea bays can offer terrific sockeye fishing.

Lingcod fishing will be productive on the rockpiles, and August is also the peak month for the in-river pink salmon fishery in the Campbell River. So many choices to enjoy!

Good luck!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


July 2022

More than ever, July is now a month of change in the north Strait of Georgia, driven by the beginning of widespread Chinook retention in this area on July 15. On the southeast side of Campbell River, fishing for feeder Chinook should be highly productive in a broad arc from the Vancouver Island shore across the bottom of Quadra Island and into the Discovery Islands adjacent to the mainland shore.

Finding the bait is half the battle because almost certainly that’s where these Chinook will be. The bait is usually herring, either medium to large fish in the 5-6″ range or young of the year herring an inch + long, so size your lures to match the feed. Dogfish can be a plague at this time of year, so fishing lures at a fast clip is the way to avoid them and succeed with Chinook. Campbell River is a plug town—hard to go wrong with 5″ and 6″ Tomics. Spoons work well also, as does a flasher and hoochie rig. The larger herring—and the Chinook anglers are after—are often found deep, 250″ + and trolling this deep at speed can be a challenge. In these circumstances, simplify things, and be mindful of the adage that it’s always better to fish one line well rather than two lines poorly.

July sees Chinook action start up in the lower straits above Campbell River as migrating fish begin to work their way down the coast. The approach for them is different as they aren’t feeding, although we do know from experience they bite, with the trolling speed much slower than further south. Dogfish are mostly absent here, so fishing bait, usually anchovy in a teaser head, is a good tactic, with hoochies being the other common lure of choice—plugs and spoons, not so much.

Late July will see pinks moe into the Campbell River itself. The in-river fishery for these silver bright fish has become very popular. The traditional Tyee Club rowboat fishery for large Chinook along the town waterfront will get slowly underway at the same time, and lingcod fishing is usually productive over the many rockpiles in Area 13.

 

Good luck!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


June 2022

Historically, June is a premier month to fish for Chinook in Area 13, and prior to 2019 the average landed monthly catch was about 5,500 fish. Since then, of course, the reduction in retention opportunities, the Covid pandemic, and now the astronomical price of gas has changed this fishery considerably. About the only certainty now is that the Chinook fishing should be great because the drop in fishing pressure has resulted in more fish in the water.

One modest piece of good news this spring is that limited Chinook retention opportunity started on April 1 (and was announced before April 1) in parts of the mainland shoreline of Area 13, and adjacent Area 15. The downside, of course, is that this zone open to Chinook retention is well over an hour’s run from communities like Campbell River, Comox, and Powell River, so check the marine weather forecast before planning a trip! That said, whatever the logistical challenges, any retention opportunity is welcome, given that so many parts of the inner south coast continue to have none.

I described how best to fish this shoreline oriented fishery in last month’s column. One DFO request is to have as many Chinook, both retained and released, bio-sampled to enable a comprehensive stock composition analysis. Recently, the results from mid-May to mid-July in 2021 were released, and the results make for interesting reading. Consistent with research in previous years, Chinook were predominantly from east coast rivers (Puntledge, Big Q, Nanaimo, and Cowichan) and the lower Fraser (Chilliwack mostly, a few Harrison River fish), with some Squamish River and Puget Sound Chinook in the mix as well. There also were some outliers, including four Quinsam River fish (usually thought to be a far-north migrating stock) and several from rivers up coast like the Nimpkish and Klinaklini (upper Knights Inlet).

Of course, there will be good Chinook fishing on a non-retention basis everywhere else in Area 13; June is usually better on the Strait of Georgia side of Campbell River rather than above in the lower straits. Coho opens on June 1 with marked hatchery fish-only retention at this time, and lingcod fishing should be well underway. Tight lines!

Good luck!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


May 2022

In some respects, circumstances are more favourable for sport fishing now than a year ago. The COVID pandemic is receding, with public activities much less restricted and,
in some parts of southern BC, limited Chinook retention opportunities proceeded on April 1, even as non- retention came into effect more widely.

By accident of geography, away from the usual migration route of Fraser Chinook stocks of concern, portions of Area 13 and adjacent Area 15 along the mainland shore will allow anglers to retain one Chinook per day, with a maximum size of 80 cm on unclipped fish. This area from lower Toba Inlet along the shoreline to Ramsey Arm and then the mid-section of Bute Inlet, is a minimum of an hour’s travel from any population center or boat launch. It’s a stunningly beautiful trip.

This opportunity is welcome, and given the right weather, a chance to fish amid spectacular scenery is not to be missed. Herring are the predominant bait fish in this area when considering lures or bait. Chinook fishing is generally best close to the shore, and you should fish the inside line shallower than the outside line as the drop-off is always steep. 120′ on the downrigger is considered deep in this fishery. Some anglers fish cut-plugged, medium-sized herring, but to go faster and cover more territory, anchovies in teaser heads or lures are a better choice.

Flashers and hoochies definitely work, with the Blue Meanie being a favourite, but plugs and spoons are just as good. A 5″ Coyote spoon fished behind a dummy flasher attached to the cannonball is my favourite.

At time of writing, the rest of Area 13 will be Chinook non-retention until July 15. Make every effort to release caught fish unharmed, ideally without taking them out of the water. Please consider skipping the glory shots of release fish held up high out of the water—it isn’t good for the fish, and anti-fishing interests are always looking for reasons to take aim at the recreational fishery.

Lingcod opened May 1, and it should be another good year for them, while prawning should be productive in advance of the commercial fishery beginning sometime mid-month.

Good luck!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


March/April 2022

Springtime Chinook fishing in Area 13 can vary considerably between days, weeks and years, and—not surprisingly, considering the large geographic scope—between locations. However there’s always a good chance of success. Consistent with recent years around most of southern BC, we anticipate that widespread Chinook non-retention will come into effect on April 1. We hope for a repeat of 2021’s limited Chinook retention opportunity along the mainland shoreline in the Bute to Toba inlets area. We’re on standby for an announcement.

Early season fishing usually takes place on the Strait of Georgia side of Campbell River, around the south end of Quadra Island and the adjacent Vancouver Island shoreline. Further northeast over towards the mainland, Viner and Sarah Points, Twin Islands and Lewis Channel (some of which are in Area 15) can all be productive this time of year, and then there’s the mainland shore itself. As well, trips down into Area 14 to fish places like Sentry Shoal and the Kitty Coleman Hump are worth considering.

Lure choice for Chinooks at this time of year is wide open unless there’s consistent sized bait around. I fish plugs a lot and have had success with them in the 4″-6″ sizes. Ditto with spoons, although I’ll often fish them in smaller sizes too. Often I start fishing with some contrast in lure size between lines something larger on one side and something smaller on the other, refining my selection as success dictates. Hoochies are always worth a go and, at a time of the year when dogfish are usually absent, bait can be fished with confidence, either anchovies in a teaser head or cut-plugged herring—old school!

The seasonal prawn closure in effect widely this winter will end on March 31, so there’s an opportunity that will open up. Lingcod and rockfish season will commence May 1 on inside
waters, and halibut are already open this year. Area 13 isn’t a known hotspot for halibut fishing, but you can find them there, with several locations known to produce over the years. In the absence of Chinook retention, the CMY chance of boating a halibut will doubtless generate greater attention.

Good luck!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


Fall/Winter 2021

The September to December period really showcases the diversity of saltwater fishing experiences Area 13 has to offer. The first half of September is really a continuation of the August fishery, with Chinook as the focus. The fishery continues in the lower straits above Campbell River for in-migrating Chinook from the north coast, as does the fishery for feeder Chinook across the top end of the Strait of Georgia on the other side of town. The shoreline-oriented fishery for large Chinook returning to the Campbell/ Quinsam system will be in full swing for anglers fishing from both powerboats and rowboats; salmon retention is legal in the CR Special Management Zone until the end of the month, but the Tyee Club season always ends on the 15th.

Anglers may encounter greater or lesser numbers of coho salmon at this time of the season; it varies from year to year. Usually only hatchery origin fish may be retained, although once again the SFAB has advanced a proposal that would allow the retention of one wild fish per day beginning on September 1 in the Georgia Strait North management area; as of the time of writing DFO has yet to decide on this. Good numbers of coho are often encountered in the lower straits area by September, although

these fish are overwhelmingly of wild origin. The odds of encountering hatchery-origin coho are better in the Strait of Georgia itself and, in addition to the usual feeding areas, these fish will start to congregate near creek and river mouths, allowing for shore fishing opportunities.

As we head into later September, Chinook fishing tapers off and the focus shifts to targeting chum in the lower straits from Seymour Narrows on up. This fishery often lasts until the very end of October and may be best described as “sockeye fishing on steroids.” Fish as much red gear as you can manage, with dummy flashers from downrigger cannonballs to enhance the attraction power around your boat. Averaging 10–15 lbs, most chums encountered in this area are silver bright in peak condition and are impressively strong fighters when hooked. Be prepared for multiple hookups at the same time as waves of fish migrate through—mayhem!

Basic sockeye gear will work, although sometimes pink and blue hoochies work better and many successful anglers put a small Spin-N-Glo in front of their hoochies. Experiment with leader length; 4′ to 4.5′ long is common, sometimes even longer. Chums are different critters, but definitely a feature of the Campbell River area fishing calendar. Hopefully the Browns Bay Chum Derby will proceed this year, although dates have not yet been set for the 20th running of this always very popular event.

With hunting season providing a distraction and the prevalence of southeasterly winds, November usually is the quietest month of the angling year. By early December, though, good-sized feeder Chinook show up around the top of the Strait of Georgia. This marks the beginning of the winter fishery out of Campbell River, especially along the Vancouver Island shore.

From late summer on into winter, there’s one fishing opportunity after another in Area 13!

Tight lines!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


August 2021

August is the most popular fishing time for tourists to Campbell River. It’s going to be a long, hot summer—June and July have been more like August, weather-wise—but guess what? The fishing is just as hot.

Campbell River (and adjacent areas) are known for having good weather and sheltered areas if the wind blows.Still, tidal anglers must watch out for currents running against the wind direction, including the northwest wind that can come with sunny weather.

In August, the fishing areas and techniques will be divided between targeting mature Chinooks and the more actively feeding and growing Chinooks. The areas above Seymour Narrows through Johnstone Straits (including Nodales and Cordero Channels) are primarily migration corridors. Those fish are heading home, dodging predators, and playing safe. Bait—such as anchovies in teaser heads—works well, fished slow, and the fish regularly bite very lightly. Don’t be fooled into thinking that light tap is a small fish.

In contrast, the waters of Georgia Strait have a mix of Chinook from immature feeders to mature migrants. There is an abundance of herring and krill which also feed the dogfish—the small, but numerous sharks. Troll your lures at speeds just fast enough to avoid most of the lazier dogfish, and avoid bait.

A variety of lure combinations do the job imitating the medium-sized herring— Tomic plugs are very, very popular. Those salmon will chase down your lure.

In recent years, fishing very deep has really caught on. But don’t give up on trying shallow, too. It may contradict some conventional wisdom, but Chinook can be caught in shallow water, even in bright sunlight, more frequently than many realize.

The fishing that first put the area on the world map is the return of the big Chinook to the Campbell River, which resulted in the formation of the Tyee Club of British Columbia in 1924. To join that prestigious club, you’ll need to fish from a rowboat with the same simple sporting tackle and rules that were in use then, and weigh in a Chinook salmon over 30 pounds. That is a real “Tyee.” While the Club season is July 15 to September 15, in most recent years the first registered Tyees come in early August. Always be sure to check the current fishing regulations before you fish the area.

Rick Hackinen
[email protected]
(250) 830-8680
www.gobrightfish.com


July 2021

July is always a month of change in Area 13, with new opportunities arising as different runs of salmon start moving through the lower straits above Campbell River from the open Pacific Ocean or the north coast. And this year once again, Chinook retention will become widely available starting July 15.

The fishery for feeder Chinook in a broad arc across the north Strait of Georgia will be in full swing, ranging from the Vancouver Island shoreline below Campbell River in the southwest across to the mainland shore to the northeast, as well as around the many islands in between. All the usual haunts around the south end of Quadra and Cortes Islands, down at Sentry Shoal, and in Lewis Channel along the West Redonda shore and beyond (up to and around Stuart Island) will be productive for these actively feeding fish—so many choices, limited only by time and gas budget.

Spoons, plugs, and hoochies all work, but bait generally becomes less ideal, as this is peak season for dogfish in the area. Fish with the artificial lures of your choice and don’t be afraid to troll quite fast, both because these feeder Chinook seem attracted to a lively presentation and because it allows you to cover more territory in search of fish and/or bait.

In early July, maturing Chinook start to show up in the lower straits, that complex of channels west of Stuart Island and above Seymour Narrows. In contrast to feeder Chinook, these less aggressive fish require a slower approach—it’s more about the right location and waiting for them to move through. It’s rare when cleaning these larger chinooks to find any feed in their stomachs. Why they bite is something of a mystery but it’s enough to know that they do!

In this fishery, hoochies are the most common lure, and in the absence of dogfish, anchovies are a good bait to use. Yellowy green hoochies (Speedo, Jack Smith) are local favourites, as is the Blue Meanie, along with anchovy teaser heads to match. Spoons can be good at times, but plugs are infrequently used in this fishery.

Later in July, the fishery for large Chinook returning to the Campbell River watershed will get underway along the shoreline in front of town, best exemplified by the traditional fishery from rowboats for the Tyee Club, now in its 97th season. For those without a boat, casting off the purpose-built sportfishing pier right downtown offers one of the best places on the coast to hook a large Chinook while fishing from shore. Visiting anglers should be aware of the special tackle restrictions that commence July 15 for what is called the Campbell River Special Management Zone, all of which are detailed on every tidal waters license.

At the same time, pink salmon will start to show up in the river itself. This has become a very popular fishery, especially when the fish first arrive and are in peak silver bright condition—the creel survey estimates 14,000 pinks were retained in 2020! Of course, these same fish will be encountered out in the marine environment as well.

Coho could be part of the catch around the south end of Quadra Island, but in recent decades their midsummer presence has been erratic despite the consistent presence of schools of herring. In contrast to fishing for Chinook there, try slightly smaller lures at a shallower depth for coho. Regulations allow retention of hatchery fish only.

Tight lines!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


June 2021

Unlike a year ago, we can’t say, “About the only positive thing this year is that the low gas prices make excursions on the water much more affordable.” I would of course cheerfully pay the current price of gas to go Chinook fishing, but once again the DFO is throttling the inner south coast recreational fishery with widespread Chinook non-retention. The SFAB submitted a limited Chinook retention proposal at the end of March for April and May. The DFO reviewed them and assessed them as posing low risk to stocks of concern, but as of this writing has yet to make a decision.

Creel survey data from past years consistently shows that June in Area 13 is a productive month to go Chinook fishing, primarily around the Strait of Georgia and mainland inlet sections of this large and geographically diverse management area. The lower straits portion generally doesn’t start to produce fish consistently until July, as maturing Chinook start to migrate home from their time spent on the north coast.

Close to Campbell River, the usual hotspots around the south end of Quadra Island and the Vancouver Island shoreline between Willow and Shelter Points are always worth fishing. Further afield, the reef at the south end of Cortes Island and nearby Twin Islands are well known for producing Chinook in June, as is Lewis Channel (actually in Area 15). Along the mainland shore between Bute and Toba inlets can likewise offer very good fishing in June, but these locations are a fair hike from any Vancouver Island starting point. Spectacular scenery, though!

Lingcod opened May 1, and those fish will once again be receiving greater than usual attention in the absence of Chinook retention. Coho open June 1 for hatchery origin fish only, but with the forecast (based on a long-term salinity index taken at the Chrome Island lighthouse, at the bottom end of Denman Island) predicting an outside distribution, it might be later summer before anglers on the inside see any numbers of coho. Time will tell.

And just remember, if you do go Chinook fishing on a non-retention basis, be careful with any fish you release. Keep them in the water at all times if possible, and no glory photo shoots holding the fish up high, especially not posted on social media. Not only aren’t you doing the fish any favours, but you’re potentially doing the same to our fishery, as anti-fishing interests are looking for every possible reason to keep anglers off the water.

Tight lines!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


May 2021

There will be productive Chinook fishing on a catch-and-release basis, and maybe, just maybe, there will be a limited Chinook retention opportunity along the mainland shore in parts of Area 13 (Bute Inlet) and over into adjacent parts of Area 15 (the approach waters to lower Toba Inlet and Homfray Channel), off the migration route of the stocks of concern. This particular proposal is part of a suite of individual proposals made by the SFAB a year ago and intended to start April 1. They have all been thoroughly reviewed by DFO management staff and assessed as being a low risk to the Fraser stream-type Chinook stocks of concern, but as of the end of March no announcement had been made regarding implementation. If you do go Chinook fishing before we can retain fish, take every precaution when handling any fish encountered.

Apart from the fact it’s the right thing to do, the recreational fishery is under intense scrutiny by those interests not always well-disposed to our fishery, and the topic of FRIM (fisheries related incidental mortality) is a cudgel that these interests are prepared to use in pressuring DFO and advocating for more and more restrictions. Glory photo shots with a supposedly live fish being held well out of the water are not only damaging to the fish but also to our fishery. The best practice is to fish using an artificial lure with a single (barbless) hook, minimizing the chance of deep hooking and facilitating an easy release in the water.

Lingcod open May 1, and they’ll be a much sought-after fish once again this year—good luck!

Tight lines!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


March 2021

By process of elimination, springtime in Area 13 means Chinook fishing, with some prawn fishing in the right locations where the currents aren’t too strong. The good news is that Chinooks this time of year are all feeders—bright immature fish looking to grow. The bad news is they can be anywhere, much depending on where the feed is.

There’s productive fishing along the Vancouver Island shore between Willow Point and the top end of the Oyster Bay RCA, or across Discovery Passage around the bottom end of Quadra Island at places like the Red Can and the Hump. Further afield, you’ll find feeder Chinook at places like the Penn Islands, Viner Point, the south end of Cortes Island Reef, down at Sentry Shoal in Area 14, or over in Lewis Channel or the approach waters to Toba Inlet in Area 15. Then there’s fishing in mainland inlets themselves. It’s spectacular scenery but realistically more than a day trip from Campbell River.

You’ll want to troll at a pretty good clip to cover territory, as feeder Chinook are aggressive and not easily deterred. Use lures to match the size of the bait you know, or think, is around. If in doubt, try lures with a real contrast in size, such as a flasher and smaller spoon or hoochie on one line and medium or large plug on the other.

Bait could be yearling herring or lantern- fish (3″, give or take) or adult herring (5″ to 8″); needlefish or squid are less common. Anyway, it pays to experiment. Don’t use the same old, same old lures, just because something worked several years ago.

Once again Chinook non-retention is likely to come into effect around much of the south coast on April 1, although the SFAB has crafted a number of limited Chinook retention opportunities in areas away from the main migration routes of the Fraser Chinook stocks of concern. No decision has been made on these at the time of writing, but pay attention to fishing news sources or the DFO fishery notice website. Good luck!

Tight lines!

Jeremy Maynard
[email protected]
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


September 2020

The first half of September will see a continuation of the summer Chinook fisheries, both for feeder Chinook and maturing fish as they migrate through the lower straits or when fishing along the Campbell River waterfront.

All the usual locations along the drop offs at the south end of Quadra Island from the Cape Mudge lighthouse around to Fransisco Point will hold feeder fish. Just find the bait, usually larger herring, and success will follow. Coho are often found in the same areas, albeit usually in shallower water, gorging on the young- of-the-year herring. Scale your lure to the bait size for the species you are after.

The waterfront Chinook fishery, especially in the Tyee Pool and the adjacent shoreline, will be in full swing until September 15. Fish early and

late in the day for the best success; the change of light seems to reliably provoke the best bites of the day by these large non-feeding fish.

After mid-September the focus will shift into the lower straits as anglers and guides start to target chum salmon, quite often with large coho mixed in the catch. Even well into October, most chum salmon caught above Seymour Narrows are silver bright. These fish are great scrappers when caught on rod and reel, with peak season generally around Thanksgiving.

Basic pink gear will catch chums, but generally locals in the know will use longer leaders than for sockeye and often rig a small Spin-n-Glo in front of the hoochie. As with sockeye, the more gear you can fish, the better, with teaser flashers added to cannonballs for added attraction.

Lingcod will be open until the end of September and there will be local “niche” fisheries for coho near river mouths, with anglers often casting from the adjacent beaches. There also could be productive coho fishing in any shallows with kelp beds where young- of-the-year herring congregate. Before you know it, November arrives, and in between the southeast gales, anglers can get out for early winter Chinook, with the fishery near Campbell River usually cranking up in December.

Tight lines!

Jeremy Maynard
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


August 2020

All along the southern BC coast, August is the peak of Tyee season. Nowhere is this more true than in Campbell River, home of the Tyee Club (www.tyeeclub.org), which is about
to start its 96th season. This year will be very different, however, as DFO has implemented an 80-cm maximum size limit for Chinook throughout the Salish Sea until the end of the month. At that length, a Chinook usually weighs 20 lbs or less, so for many anglers the fish of the year, possibly a lifetime, will have to be released.

Discussing the rationale for this regulation is outside the scope of this column, but I’m confident that anglers and guides will be pursuing large Chinook in their familiar ways and places. Along the Campbell River waterfront, from the river mouth at Tyee Pool and past downtown, anglers in both power- and rowboats will be trolling slowly in the traditional fashion with large plugs and spoons in the Special Management Zone; visitors, please note the special tackle restrictions in effect there, detailed on every fishing license.

Elsewhere in Area 13, the larger fish normally arrive from up-coast feeding grounds, so the lower straits, from Seymour Narrows on up, is the area to target these larger-than-average Chinook. There are many locations throughout upper Discovery Passage, lower Johnstone Strait, and in Nodales Channel heading over to the mainland shore near Stuart Island. If unsure about where to go, consult with the staff at either of the excellent tackle stores in town.

In the absence of dogfish in this broad area, bait can be used for salmon with confidence, usually anchovies or herring in a teaser head. Hoochies also work well, popular patterns being the Blue Meanie, Speedo Jack Smith, and Disco. One local trick is to “stuff” a thin strip of anchovy inside the hoochie to add extra inducement for these non-feeding fish to bite. Try fishing in shallower water than usual, early and late in the day, and in general troll slower than usual.

Closer to Campbell River in the opposite direction, along the drop-off, near the south end of Quadra Island, the highly productive fishery for feeder Chinook will be in full swing. These fish require a different approach, trolling fast with lures, as dogfish can be a real nuisance. Use shorter leaders on your hoochies, or better yet, don’t use them at all and fish with plugs. 5″ to 7″ Tomics are the local favourites to match the large herring that school out wide of Wilby Shoal, and don’t be surprised if a humpback whale or three show up nearby—they’re around for the same reason the Chinooks are, to eat the herring. This is typically a deep troll fishery, 250′ down and deeper. It takes a bit of getting used to, as there are often times when one downrigger line is pulling hard under the stern. A cable in a prop is a sure way to spoil your day, so remember, it’s better to fish one line well than two lines badly.

At some point in August, coho will start to show up, usually larger but overwhelmingly wild fish in the lower straits that have to be released. South of town there can be a fair number of identifiable hatchery coho around lower Quadra Island; just fish shallower in the same area near the Green Can (P-61) identified above.

If you do catch a large Chinook that has to be released, please don’t take it out of the water. Its chances of survival will increase significantly if you don’t.

Tight lines!

Jeremy Maynard
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


July 2020

July is always something of a transition month in Area 13 as the focus on Chinook changes from the pursuit of smaller feeder fish to the sometimes larger, in-migrating, maturing fish—or a mix of the two, depending on location and the time of month you are fishing. Coho can become more of a fixture as well, especially since they typically are growing fast by July.

The usual haunts around the south end of Quadra Island and over in the islands closer to the mainland will produce plenty of Chinook. As the month progresses, fishing in the lower straits to the northwest of Campbell River will become increasingly productive, as fish increasingly migrate through from the north coast. Last year saw some terrific fishing in the Ripple Point, Chatham Point, and the Greensea Bay area, as well as up Nodales Channel and into the waters approaching Stuart Island.

Along the Campbell River waterfront, powerboat anglers will be joined by those diehards fishing for large Chinook from rowboats as the Tyee Club (www.tyeeclub.org) kicks off its 96th season on July 15th. It’s rare to land a registered fish—which is to say 30 lbs or more, caught under club rules—in July, but it has been known to happen. With curtailments to northern Chinook fisheries once again this year, hopes will be higher for a good start to the club season.

Jeremy Maynard
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


June 2020

It seems like each passing year has presented new challenges for the keen saltwater angler but 2020 tops the list. About the only positive thing this year is the significantly lower price of gas making excursions on the water much more affordable.

At the time of writing, non-retention for Chinook is in effect in Area 13 and the rest of the inner south coast. The Sport Fishing Advisory Board has submitted proposals for limited retention away from the main transit routes for maturing Fraser stream-type Chinook, those offshore migrating fish headed home. In Area 13 and adjacent parts

of Area 15, that area covers portions of Bute and Toba inlets, and limited means one Chinook per angler per day, with a maximum size of 80 cm on unmarked (non-adipose fin-clipped) fish. Although the proposals started April 1, in reality a decision on the regional salmon plan won’t be made by the minister until sometime in June, although the annual plan will be in effect until May 31 of 2021, with the same proposals put forward.

Angler effort in 2020 is likely to be significantly reduced as long as Chinook non-retention is in effect (currently until July 15), and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will only decrease fishing further. Hopefully local anglers will be getting out and experiencing some productive catch-and-release Chinook fishing while soaking crab or prawn traps. In the meantime, lingcod opened May 1 and coho will be open June 1, with retention of hatchery-origin fish only).

The forecast for southern BC coho has just been released, and survivals are expected to be similar to recent past years. Importantly for Strait of Georgia anglers, researchers are predicting a strong outside diversion based on the salinity index at the Chrome Island lighthouse, which is to say we likely won’t see many coho around inside waters until late summer.

Halibut can be caught in the western section of Area 13 near Kelsey Bay. The size, daily, annual and possession limits are the same as the 2019 season—check Fishery Notice #0156 for full details.

Jeremy Maynard
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com


Campbell River Fishing Report Archives

Click Here For Area 13 Current Regulations

May 2020

Area 13 offers lots of good fishing opportunities in May, from the open top end of the Strait of Georgia near Campbell River, over to the mainland shore, and up the inlets and into lower Johnstone Strait. It’s a sprawling and varied geography, and the big challenge will be finding the motivation to head out in the absence of Chinook retention.

On the positive side, gas is much cheaper than usual, and the lingcod season opens May 1. Additionally, there are persistent rumours that the commercial prawn season, which normally commences in early May, will be postponed because prices are expected to be low due to depressed demand for fresh seafood in key markets because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If this occurs, recreational prawning should be more productive than usual for the time of year. Remember: The daily limit is now 125 prawns.

Along with a number of other areas around the inner south coast, the Sport Fishing Advisory Board has put forward a limited Chinook retention proposal in those parts of Area 13 where CWT and other stock composition data shows that the Fraser stream-type Chinook stocks of concern are not present, primarily along the mainland shore and parts of some inlets. It’s hard to estimate the likelihood of these proposals being implemented by the DFO, but it’s unlikely to happen by May because of how the planning and decision process in the department works. That process is even slower this year because of COVID-19 limitations on staff work capacity, but with non-retention scheduled to last until mid- July, anything is worth a try.

Inevitably, anglers will be out fishing for Chinook, even on a catch-and-release basis. Given the extremely depressed state of Fraser stream-type Chinook, exacerbated by the Big Bar Slide, some interests believe that the recreational fishery for them should be closed entirely, and the DFO has to take this perspective into consideration. It is in the best

interest of the recreational fishery for anglers to be extremely careful when releasing Chinook in order to ensure their best chance of survival. Don’t remove fish from the water, avoid “grab and grin” photo shots, and don’t brag on social media when you’ve had a productive outing. Failure to observe these guidelines may result in actions that will come to haunt our fishery for possibly years to come, so please use common sense!

Jeremy Maynard
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

March/April 2020

From late winter into spring, the fish­ery in Area 13 is focused on Chinook salmon, with prawn fishing another option in those areas where lower currents allow. Just remember the daily limit for prawns will be reduced to 125 per angler on April 1, and that’s no April Fool’s joke!

The Chinook around at this time of year are all immature feeder fish, so one objective is to fish where the groceries are. Usually that means herring, and in some places needlefish or anchovies. But in the absence of these species, Chinook will often be found to contain a few lanternfish and small hake. Plugs and spoons are favourites in Campbell River, but the old coastal standby of a flasher and hoochie also works well. Like an increasing number of anglers and guides, I prefer not to use a flasher on the line if possible, instead using a teaser flasher connected to the downrigger cannonball with the lure set only a short distance behind the release clip. That makes it much more fun to play fish after hookup. Normally dogfish aren’t around in the spring, so bait can be fished with confidence, usually cut-plugged herring or anchovies rigged in a teaser head.

If an abundance of bait isn’t around, be prepared to fish structure that you know will attract Chinook. Unlike maturing and migrating fish in the later summer, feeder Chinook are always on the prowl for something to eat. Don’t troll slowly; get out and cover territory at a good clip in search of fish. In Campbell River, the drop-off between Willow and Shelter Points and beyond (mindful of the Oyster Bay RCA) is a good area this time of year because sooner or later some fish will be motoring around the very top end of the Strait of Georgia. Also try the Cape Mudge ebb tide drift from the Hump and Red Can area right down to the lighthouse.

Further afield, the Penn Islands, Twin Islands at Baker Passage, and Lewis Channel are well worth trying, and be­yond them many places on the mainland shore from Ramsey Arm down towards Toba Inlet or up into Bute Inlet itself—the choice is limited only by a combina­tion of time, gas money, and weather!

For those in search of halibut in Area 13, the best place to go is out of Kelsey Bay in central Johnstone Strait, choosing the slowest tides of the semi-monthly cycle. Start as close as the west end of Hard­wicke Island.

Jeremy Maynard
(250) 203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

September 2019

For the angler in Area 13, September can be divided in two ways: opportunities during the first half of the month are similar to those in August, but come mid-month the fall fishery kicks in and the focus shifts from Chinook to chum, with coho mostly an incidental catch.

In the first half of the month Chinook fishing remains the focus everywhere, with good-sized maturing fish still being caught in the lower straits and the rivermouth/town waterfront fishery, exemplified by the Tyee Club and its rowboat focus, continuing until the 15th. There can be some good fishing for immature feeder Chinook in the deeper water off the south end of Quadra Island, although there’s often a considerable number of sub-legal fish in the catch at this time of year.

Once into later September and all through October, a main focus in Area 13 is for chum salmon in the lower straits above Seymour Narrows, with Plumper Bay, Deepwater Bay, and on up to Greensea and the Chatham Point area being consistently productive.

Most of the chums are still bright fish and pull hard on the line—think sockeye fishing on steroids! As with sockeye, use as much red gear as you can and get ready for multiple hookups as the schools move through—these are migrating fish, and it can be quiet one minute and pandemonium the next. Mixed in with the chums are coho, which readily bite the same gear; remember to only retain adipose fin-clipped coho. Leader length is typically longer than for sockeye (42 to 48 in) and a simple pink hoochie will work most days, however local anglers have found that a small spin n’ glo in front of the hoochie gives them extra appeal to chums.

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

August 2019

August 2019 will be a productive month; Chinook retention will have begun, albeit at a reduced one per angler, per day. However, the fishing for feeder Chinook on the Strait of Georgia side of Campbell River should be excellent, with a higher-than-usual abundance resulting from the low fishing pressure and lack of harvest prior to mid-July.

All the usual places around the south end of Quadra Island will hold Chinook, in a rough U-shape beginning at Francisco Point down to the Green Can, across to the Red Can, and over to the Hump. Because of the strong recovery of the Cowichan River Chinook stock, there is hope that the annual finfish closure around the Cape Mudge lighthouse area will not be in effect this year, but there’s no news on this important development at the time of writing. Other than early and late in the day, most successful Chinook fishing in these locations is by deep trolling in the 200- to 300-ft range. Large Tomic plugs are local favourites; troll fast to keep the dogfish off. Flasher and hoochie or spoon setups also work; it’s nicer to play fish without a flasher on the line though. Early summer indications are of a reasonable abundance of coho, and all the same areas listed above will offer good fishing. Just fish shallower and with smaller lures.

Because of the delay in the north coast Chinook commercial fishery this summer, there could be better-than-average Chinook fishing in the lower straits above Campbell River for fish headed to south coast rivers. Chatham and Ripple Points in lower Johnstone Strait, the northwest shoreline of Sonora Island in Nodales Channel, and along the mainland shore at Denham Bay are Chinook producers every year. Closer to Campbell River, the Deepwater and Browns Bay area just above Seymour Narrows get lots of attention as well. Dogfish are largely absent from all these locations, allowing for the use of bait, usually anchovies in a teaser head. Favourite hoochies include the Blue Meany, Speedo, and Jack Smith.

The traditional rowboat fishery under Tyee Club rules will be underway in the waters adjacent to the estuary of the Campbell River itself, and the chance of catching large Chinook from both power and rowboats is good all along the downtown waterfront, especially early and late in the day. Starting at the Hidden Harbour breakwater, be aware this is part of the Campbell River Special Management Zone, with specific tackle regulations in effect, all of which are listed on every tidal water license.

Being an odd-numbered year, there will be pinks headed to the Fraser River, likely showing in the second half of August. There also will be the usual returns to east coast rivers, so pink salmon will be encountered all through the month—these are great fish to engage youngsters in this sport!

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

July 2019

July is always a month of change in Area 13, and at mid-month anglers will be able to retain Chinook salmon again. The more usual seasonal change occurs because, as the month progresses, Chinook fishing becomes more productive in the straits above Campbell River, with stocks that have spent their ocean lives along the north coast beginning their migration to home rivers in the south.

One outcome of the extraordinary Chinook management measures is the delay of the northern BC troll fishery (Area F) for Chinook until late August, meaning all Chinook of mixed-stock origin normally caught in June and July will be headed to their home rivers in larger numbers than usual. Foremost amongst these different stocks will be South Thompson River summer-run fish, many of which migrate along the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.

All the hot spots from Seymour Narrows on up to Ripple Point, and east of Chatham Point over to the Stuart Island area, could see better-than-average Chinook fishing in mid-summer.

Elsewhere, south and east of Campbell River in the open north Strait of Georgia, Chinook fishing should be productive in all the usual hot spots around the bottom end of Quadra Island and further afield to places like Sentry Shoal. One big question will be whether or not the six-week-long finfish closure at Cape Mudge will come into effect July 15 just as Chinook retention resumes. Anglers should check for updates mid-month.

The last few summers have seen big schools of large herring take up residence along the Wilby Shoals dropoff between the Red and Green Can buoys, serving as the base for highly productive Chinook fishing. The ticket is to troll fast at depth with lures, usually large plugs, using 250 feet of cable at a minimum. It takes a bit of getting used to, and keep a sharp eye out for the angle of your downrigger cables around the back of the boat. One piece of advice I’d give is it’s better to fish one line well than two lines badly. Frequently that’s all that is needed, and many anglers and guides are now fishing with 7-in Tomic plugs, to best match the bait size.

It’s a guessing game whether coho will be around in any numbers in the north Strait of Georgia. Based on a salinity index this past winter, the forecast is for a moderate outside distribution of coho, but with a small snowpack and a dry summer keeping freshwater inflow into the strait on the low side, conditions might encourage coho to be around. In any event it will be hatchery origin-only for retention through summer.

With Chinook non-retention in effect until mid-July, lingcod have been receiving a greater than usual share of attention, but there should be enough to provide decent opportunities this summer to catch some of these favourite dinner fish in Area 13.

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

June 2019

With non-retention of Chinook in effect throughout the month, the focus of activities in the Area 13 tidal waters recreational fishery will be somewhat different than the norm. There will be some anglers and guides who will be Chinook fishing on a strictly catch-and-release basis—this is a sport fishery after all—but at the current price of gas the amount of effort directed at Chinook will be small while non-retention is in effect. I very much hope that those who are Chinook fishing are doing so thoughtfully, ideally fishing with artificial lures and single hooks to facilitate easiest release. Don’t remove the fish from the water, and glory photo shots of anglers holding the fish inside a boat are very much discouraged.

Come June 1, hatchery origin coho become legal for retention, so we can only hope there’s some around the inside. If there are, coho will offer some more surface-oriented, light tackle opportunities. Small spoons, especially with a touch of red on them, work well but so do small plugs, as the coho will be big enough to eat small baitfish. This isn’t necessarily fishing structure, as is true for so much Chinook fishing. Look for flocks of gulls and terns working over tide lines in open water where hatches of crab spawn or euphausiid shrimp get concentrated.

Lingcod will be getting more attention, and there are certainly lots of those in Area 13. There are no special tricks to this game other than looking for rock piles using your chartplotter and sounder in combination—for these fish structure is all-important. Anglers are reminded that it is now a condition of licence that when doing focused bottomfishing for any species, you must have a descending device rigged and ready to go to release rockfish with the best chance of survival. Additionally, yelloweye rockfish, a.k.a. red snapper, are no longer legal for retention in inside waters.

Most anglers seeking halibut will travel elsewhere, but they are caught in Area 13, especially in Johnstone Strait west of Kelsey Bay. There will almost certainly be more effort directed at halibut this year, and there could be some positive surprises in store!

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

May 2019

We all know about the new fishing regulations that just came into effect in April, but there’s lots of fun fishing and enjoyment and the beautiful ocean environment to be had. Don’t miss it! First off, it is mandatory to carry a descender device for rockfish, since we are not allowed to keep any yellow-eye rockfish. We can’t keep Chinook salmon for now, but catch and release is in full swing. Please handle the fish with care during catch and release. Use catch-and-release rubber mesh nets to reduce damaging the scales of the fish. Keep the fish in the water as long as possible before you take pictures. Wet your hands before touching the fish, so you do not accidently remove some fish scales. Do not pull the fish out of water by its tail, but lift the fish out of the water by supporting the belly and tail.

May can be spotty fishing time in Campbell River. If you want to fish near Campbell River for Chinook, you will find the ebb tide at the Hump to the Lighthouse will pick up some fish. Fish close to the bottom with spoons, hoochies, or plugs. Effective color schemes for spoons will be Cop Car, Irish Cream, Paddy Wagon, Outfitter, Gut Bomb, Leprechaun, The Janitor, and Homeland Security. Green Glow, Army Truck, and Blue Meanie hoochies will do fine too, as will 500, 602, 603, 604, 639, 649, 700, JM1, and 118 plugs. You might hook into a lingcod while trolling this tack. At Red Can, Green Can, and the area in between, you’ll find some fish hanging around depending on tide and bait. Try fishing between 120 and 250 ft contour at those areas, and you might hook into a lingcod. If you want to try for halibut, try between Red and Green Can, where you’ll typically find transient halibut. Willow Point to Shelter Point can have some productive days in May. If you find the hump action is slow try fishing there during ebb or flood tide.

Sentry Shoal, Grant Reefs, Cortes Bell Boy, Lewis Channel, West Hernando Island, and Rebecca Spit are solid May fishing spots if you want to venture out. Fishing with anchovies and cut plug herring works very well at these spots while there are no dogfish around. Venturing out to these spots, you might encounter a whale or two. In Campbell River, we normally see transient killer whales and humpbacks being playful between Rebecca Spit and Cortes Island. We also see the whales swim between Rebecca Spit and Mitlenatch Island. If you are around Mitlenatch Island, sometimes you will see seals and sea lions sun bathing. Lingcod fishing will be open in May. You can find these bucket heads anywhere there’s a rocky bottom with some kelp. Use big jigs or try mooching with herring with a heavy weight to get down to the bottom. You can also troll slow with the downrigger near the bottom. Tight lines, and enjoy the ocean.

Montagu Lee

March 2019

Spring is a season of transition for the Area 13 saltwater fisherman, from potential winter conditions in early March to the cusp of the summer fishery by late April. Given the geographic scope of Area 13, weather conditions can vary radically depending on location.

Fishing is largely focused on Chinook, with prawning a second choice for some anglers or over towards the mainland shore, often in combination. A few anglers targed halibut in Area 13, usually out of Kelsey Bay on the slower tides of the cycle.

As always, success with Chinook largely depends on where the bait is. Early in March most bigger herring are concentrated to the south along the east coast Vancouver Island shoreline in the big spawnathon, but by later April are starting to scatter around the north Strait of Georgia, hopefully sticking around for the summer. Regardless of whether there actually are large herring around, Chinook seem to expect to find them and so I always fish with at least one good-sized plug (5 inches or bigger). One day last March on the southeast side of Campbell River all three fish we caught hit a 6-inch plug, so don’t be shy about going big.

If adult herring aren’t around then often the bait present yearling herring, lanternfish, and small hake is considerably smaller, so fishing with appropriately sized spoons or hootchies is the way to go. And given the usual absence of dogfish at this time of year, bait like anchovies in a teaserhead can be fished with confidence.

All the usual locations on the southeast side of Campbell River (Willow to Shelter Points, the Hump, and Cape Mudge lighthouse area) can produce in the springtime, but given the right weather conditions, travelling out to Sentry Shoal (A-14) or over towards the mainland shore on the border of Areas 13 & 15 (Lewis Channel, Elizabeth Island, Francis Bay) can all be productive.

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

Sept-Dec 2018

September in Area 13 is a month of change. The first half is a continuation of the August fishery focused on large Chinook, while the second half will finish up with the fall fishery targeting chum and coho salmon.

Early September is prime time to go after Chinook returning to the Campbell River itself, and the entire town waterfront area from the rivermouth down to Big Rock will see lots of fishing activity, especially early and late in the day. The Tyee Club (www.tyeeclub.org) season closes on September 15th and tradition-minded participants will be out in full force during the final two weeks of the season, especially in the Tyee Pool area. Nearby powerboats will also be slow trolling large plugs and spoons hoping for the fish of a lifetime, with lots of fish weighing less than 30 pounds being caught.

Prospects are positive for the 2018 season, and you don’t even need a boat to get in on the action—the sportfishing-dedicated Discovery Pier is ideally situated, with good numbers of large Chinook being encountered by anglers casting from it. Those fishing in the lower straits above Seymour Narrows will be targeting the same migrating Chinook headed to their home rivers, while south of town around the bottom end of Quadra Island there are usually good numbers of immature feeder Chinook. Sometimes these fish can be on the small size in the early fall, with a high percentage of sub-legal fish encountered, though there are usually some keepers in the mix.

2018 might offer a fall to remember because of the coho that have been present in the Strait of Georgia all summer, so the prospects for traditional late season coho fishing in the shallows are good. If there’s at least a moderate chop on the water, old-style skip fly fishing—with unweighted flies trolled fast just behind the propwash—is an exciting way to go. The visuals as coho surge and boil around the flies before one hits are unmatched, and the use of a single hook makes releasing wild coho an easy task. In calmer conditions, with the coho reluctant to come right to the surface, I use small Rapala plugs that dive down a few feet. They are a perfect match for the small herring the coho are feeding on, and I replace the little treble hooks with a single siwash hook attached to the rear of the plug.

In later September, the chum fishery gets going in upper Discovery Passage. Something of a Campbell River area specialty, this fishery will go right into early November in a dry fall when the chums are migrating less quickly. Think sockeye fishing on steroids, as schools of bright silver chums move through the fishing grounds. The 17th annual Brown’s Bay Chum Derby will be held October 12-14, so get your tickets early. This popular event always sells out—helping raise money for local salmon enhancement was never so much fun! And mixed in with the chums are returning coho from outside waters. They’re often the biggest of the year and will readily bite the same “pink gear” used for chums.

September is the final month of the inside lingcod season, a last chance to get some of these tasty fish for winter dinners. Come fall, there’s a lot going on in Area 13. Sometimes it’s a challenge just deciding what to fish for!

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

August 2018

August in Area 13 means big fish season, and prospects look good this year for a higher than usual number of large Chinook being present. The reductions and delay in northern Chinook fisheries, including in SE Alaska where many Canadian origin Chinook stocks are caught, will have benefited passing stocks. And there has been a noticeable improvement in marine survival of Campbell/Quinsam Chinook in recent years, the positive effects of which should continue this year.

There’s a lot of territory in the lower straits between Seymour Narrows and the border with Area 12 west of Kelsey Bay, and then northeastward through Nodales Channel towards Stuart Island, with choice of location limited only by available time and gas budget. Unlike fishing for feeder Chinooks in the open Strait of Georgia southeast of Campbell River, Chinook fishing in the lower straits is very much a shoreline-hugging effort as the migrating and maturing fish work their way home.

Most guides here will be fishing slowly with a flasher and either an anchovy or a hoochie behind, or sometimes a spoon. Jack Smith, Speedo, Blue Meanie, Disco, and Green Hornet are some of the proven hoochie patterns, almost always in the cuttlefish size. A local trick known as ‘stuffing’ is to secure a half a fillet of anchovy inside the hoochie; many guides swear this increases the number of strikes.

Along the Campbell River waterfront, from the rivermouth past downtown to Big Rock, fishing for large Chinook should improve steadily through the month as returning fish begin to hold throughout this area. Visiting anglers should be aware of the boundary and tackle regulations in effect in the Special Management Zone, printed on every tidal waters license. For those anglers without a boat, casting from the Discovery Pier offers a really good chance of hooking large Chinook.

2018 is the 94th season of the Tyee Club (www.tyeeclub.org) fishery, and after a productive 2017 (44 registered fish) hopes are high this will be bettered this year. Keep in mind that for every Chinook over 30 pounds landed, there’s at least 10 less than the magic weight brought to the boat. Visiting anglers should also be aware of the no-power zone in Tyee Pool itself.

One big hope for August is that there will be a strong run of Fraser sockeye, allowing for a fishery. Much depends on ocean survival, which has been poor in recent years, but the last two returns on this cycle line (2010 and 2014) have seen productive fishing, so be alert to news that the fishery has opened.

Coho showed up in the north Strait of Georgia in mid-June, so hopefully they will settle in for the rest of the summer. The shallows off the bottom end of Quadra Island attract herring-of-the year, and these schools in turn are a magnet for coho. This light-tackle fishery is terrific fun, often using weights of one ounce or less, sometimes none at all, as when trolling flies fast across the surface. If sunny conditions make the coho reluctant to come right to the surface, I troll small Rapala plugs. I take the nasty little treble hooks off and replace them with a single fine-wire Siwash hook.

Lingcod fishing remains productive, and there will be some pinks caught in the ocean as well, as the always-popular fishery for them in the Campbell River itself. Tons of good options in August in Area 13–the first challenge is deciding where to start!

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

July 2018

To use a DFO acronym, PFMA13 (Pacific Fishery Management Area 13) is a large area covering a lot of diverse geography, from the fairly small open Strait of Georgia portion southeast of Campbell River to a complex of straits in the middle and western parts and on over to the mainland inlets on the northern side. And in July the switch from the first and to a lesser extent the last of these over to predominantly the first and second of these sections becomes apparent.

The fishery around the south end of Quadra Island on the edge of the open Strait of Georgia is almost always productive, and all the more so if the adult herring have settled in off the dropoff from Wilby Shoals, as they have done in recent years. Very large schools of big herring anchor a food chain that Chinook and coho–and, increasingly, humpback whales–can’t resist. Other than early and late in the day, this is a deep water fishery, and locals have become proficient at trolling 300 feet or more down–visitors, come prepared!

Large Tomic plugs are the lure of choice for local guides in this fishery, especially the new Uvbii models–they simply work better than anything else and make playing fish more fun than anything with a flasher on the line. Another attribute of these lures is that they fish well at speed–dogfish can be around at something beyond nuisance levels, so motoring around at a brisk clip with an artificial lure is one way of dealing with this challenge.

Another approach is to simply fish elsewhere, up in the lower straits above Seymour Narrows and over towards Stuart Island. Dogfish are much less frequently encountered in this portion of PFMA13, and this is where anglers encounter migrating Chinook salmon heading for home after several years up on the north coast. These are different critters than the feeder Chinook encountered in the Strait of Georgia–not really feeding, but inclined to bite a properly presented bait or lure, usually fished at a considerably slower speed than the fishery described previously.

Flasher and anchovy is a standard set-up, as are the right flasher and hootchie combos. The closer you get to the mainland the more the fish seem to like a greeenish/yellow colour, so hootchies like the Speedo and Green Hornet are local favourites. Stuffing half a lengthwise cut fillet of anchovy inside a hootchy is a local trick worth mastering. Another contrast with the open water fishery south of Campbell River is that the lower straits fishery is all about working slowly along the shoreline, fishing your outside line as deep as you dare. Coho are uncommon until late in July, after which their numbers steadily increase.

July 15 will see the usual start of the special management zone embracing quite an area either side of the Campbell River estuary. This zone is described on every tidal waters license and is designed to keep the powerboat fleet fishing there somewhat in balance with the traditional Tyee Club rowboat fishery, with the club kicking off its 94th season the same day. Tyees are rare before the end of July, but catching one before months’ end has been known to happen.

Being an even year, 2018 shouldn’t see big numbers of pink salmon around. Still, there definitely will be some, and hopefully there will be a productive fishery for them in the Campbell River itself. Call either of the two main tackle stores in town (Riversportsman and Tyee Marine) for the latest news.

Lingcod feature regularly in the catch, and enough halibut to keep things interesting. Area 13 is a fine place to fish in July!

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

June 2018

June is an excellent month to be fishing in Area 13, with lots of widespread opportunity to chase Chinook salmon. The entire bottom end of Quadra Island is worth fishing depending on the tide, from the Cape Mudge lighthouse right around Wilby Shoals and up to Francisco Point. The Vancouver Island shoreline can be very productive as well, between Willow and Shelter Points, at the border with Area 14.

Further afield, Campbell River anglers will make the run down to Grants Reef or over to Lewis Channel towards the mainland (both in Area 15) or, if time and gas budget allows, over to the mainland shore itself in Ramsay Arm or up Bute Inlet. Later in the month the first Chinook migrating from up north will start pushing down the straits above town, with anglers fishing from Ripple Point down to Seymour Narrows or over to Stuart Island via Nodales Channel–many places to choose from!

More than ever, Campbell River is a plug town when it comes to fishing for feeder Chinook. Just match the size of the bait to what you expect the fish to see. Local favourites are the Tomic uvbii series (UV body with iridescent insert). They frequently out-fish just about anything else, and playing a salmon without a flasher on the line really adds to the experience.

If smaller bait is around, small spoons work well, fished either on their own, close behind a dummy flasher attached to the cannonball, or behind a mini-flasher on a three-foot leader. Of course, if dogfish aren’t around, then bait can be used with confidence, trolled fast in a teaser head or less quickly with cut-plugged herring.

June 9 will see the third annual Royal LePage Advance Realty Chinook salmon derby being held in Campbell River. See picatic.com/royallepagederby for more complete information. The first two events have been very successful, with many fish caught, plenty of great prizes won, and most importantly, significant funds raised for two important local charities.

Anglers should be aware of the change in the maximum size for halibut in the 2018/19 season; reduced to 115 cm in length, typically in the low 40-lb range. Other changes include the mandatory non-retention of berried prawns in the recreational fishery, and DFO is reminding anglers it is also mandatory to have a printed copy of your license, in order to be able to record fish. Whatever the advances in technology for acquiring a license, there is no substitute yet for a paper copy according to DFO!

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

May 2018

May in Area 13 and the adjacent portions of Areas 14 and 15 is a wonderful time and place to fish, on the switchover from spring into summer. The fishing at this time is largely focused on Chinook salmon, feeders looking to bite something, unlike the fussier maturing fish of later summer. As a rule, the best fishing is found south of Campbell River across the top of the open Strait of Georgia or over in the islands adjacent to the mainland shore and nearby inlets.

Along the Vancouver Island shore between Willow and Shelter Points, or around the bottom end of Quadra Island from the Cape Mudge lighthouse area and nearby Hump, the Green Can drop-off on up to Fransisco Point and the reef off the bottom end of Cortes Island are all consistently productive places to fish.

Further away, good late spring Chinook fishing can be had around Sentry Shoal and Grants Reef, in Lewis Channel, lower Ramsay Arm, and numerous places all the way up Bute Inlet. Wonderful places to explore only limited by time and gas budgets.

The Tomic “uvbiirt” style plugs continue to be excellent producers, and my new favorite is the #645 a.k.a. “Herring Aid”. I’ve used 4” Tubbies, and 4”, 5” and 6” Classics and they all work when size matched to the bait around or that which you expect the Chinooks to encounter. I like to troll fairly fast and cover ground, actively searching for fish.

If the bait is on the small size, then a smaller spoon would be a good choice, either fished behind a flasher or on its own just behind a dummy flasher clipped to the cannonball. If dogfish aren’t around, then the use of bait is possible. Anchovies in a teaser head are always popular and can be fished at speed in combination with lures on other lines.

Lingcod open up on May 1, and there seems to be more of them every year. While not quite like the open coast there’s enough halibut showing up in Area 13 that some anglers fish for them specifically, and some are caught incidentally when trolling for salmon. At the time of writing, the maximum size regulations for the recreational halibut fishery from April onwards are unknown but will almost certainly have been lowered from past recent seasons, so make sure your fish is legal to retain before sticking a gaff or a harpoon into it.

Good luck to everyone fishing in Area 13!

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Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

April 2018

At this time of year, saltwater fishing in the northern Strait of Georgia and nearby islands is primarily restricted to a pursuit of Chinooks and prawns, with the chance of crabs or a halibut less common choices. That said, fishing can be productive, especially for those willing to travel over to the mainland shore or close to it.

The factor dominating local Chinook abundance is to what degree they follow the herring to their mid-east coast Vancouver Island spawning grounds, and after which event how fast both the herring and Chinook disperse more widely around the inner coast. In some years springtime Chinook fishing can be really productive close to Campbell River, just southeast of town along the Vancouver Island shoreline. In other years local waters seem bereft of fish and, weather permitting, anglers have to travel some distance to find Chinook salmon.

Close to town, all the usual locations around the south end of Quadra Island and along the Vancouver Island shoreline from Willow Point down to the Oyster Bay RCA are always worth a try. There’s Chinook present somewhere in this area twelve months of the year, the only question is how many and where? Given these are feeder Chinook and may be widely scattered trolling at a reasonably fast clip to cover territory is a good approach. Plugs and spoons fish well at speed, enhanced by using dummy flashers attached to the downrigger cannonball. Of course, flasher and hootchy rigs can work well and, with the usual absence of dogfish at this time of year, bait in a teaser head can be used with confidence also.

If reports close to town are less positive then traveling over towards the mainland shore is a good idea. Intermediate spots like Viner Point at the bottom end of Read Island or around the dropoff adjacent to the Cortes Reef bell buoy or nearby Twin Islands are always worth a try. Further over, Lewis Channel on the east side of Cortes Island and Frances Bay at the entrance to Ramsay Arm produce fish every year. The bait here is frequently smaller herring or hake so size your lures or bait accordingly. One upside to traveling to these parts is the prawn fishing is generally more productive than closer to town, an added bonus to offset the higher gas costs!

The closest consistent halibut opportunity to Campbell River at this time of year occurs in lower Johnstone Strait near Kelsey Bay. It shouldn’t take more than an hour to trailer your boat to the ramp, and on the slower tides of the cycle, some productive halibut fishing is enjoyed there every year.


Sept/Dec 2017

September in Area 13 is a month of change in salmon fishing opportunities. The first half is very much a continuation of the August fishery focused on Chinook, but by mid-month and on throughout the fall until the November southeasters bring an end to the extended summer season the target fish are chums and, to a lesser extent, coho.

The first two weeks of September will offer the best chance for large Chinook holding along the Campbell River waterfront, from the estuary through Tyee Pool and to the south side of downtown. Pick your style—trolling from a rowboat or powerboat or casting from Discovery Pier, which enjoyed a record season in 2016. Visiting anglers should become familiar with the seasonal special regulations that govern this fishery.

Participants in the Tyee Club rowboat fishery will be out in full force, trying to get one of these prized fish before the season closes on the 15th—last year the biggest fish for the club was taken on September 12th. Other than in the prescribed no power zone in the heart of Tyee Pool powerboat anglers will be trying their luck also, slow trolling large plugs and spoons. Based on the age breakdown from last year’s return, indications are that 2017 could be an especially good year for large Chinooks with a higher than usual return of age five fish.

Elsewhere Chinook fishing in the lower straits above Seymour Narrows and over to Stuart Island will offer good opportunities for large fish; some of the largest ever in recent decades have been caught in early September as they travel to their home rivers from outside waters.

Come mid-month the migratory Chinook numbers dwindle quickly and early runs of silver bright chum salmon start working their way through the straits. It would be hard to top the 2016 season but the outlook for 2017 is similar; much depends on the marine survival of these open ocean travelers. The chum run typically peaks around mid-October and the very popular Browns Bay Chum Derby will be hoping to take advantage of this, with the 2017 event scheduled for Oct. 14/15. Call the marina at (250) 286-3135 for full details.

For those who haven’t experienced it, chum fishing is like sockeye fishing on steroids, multiple hook-ups as the schools roll through. Just make sure your tackle is sound as chums are tough scrappers when hooked and any weakness will be quickly exposed. Although there’s the occasional highly coloured fish, most of the chums will be in prime condition.

Regrettably coho have become something of a by-catch in both the Chinook and chum directed fisheries, especially in this era of continued non-retention of wild fish. A few anglers work the shallows around the south end of Quadra, more for the fun than in the expectation of a big landed catch, as the rapidly maturing coho feed on small herring schooling along the kelp beds. Likewise, dedicated casters will be fishing from beaches adjacent to estuaries as coho school up prior to the fall rains arriving.


August 2017

As always, August in Area 13 is big fish season and the hunt for large Chinook salmon will be the focus of most anglers. The fishery in the lower straits above Seymour Narrows and over towards the mainland near Stuart Island is well underway. August proved to be surprisingly productive in 2016 and with the 2017 forecast for South Thompson River Chinook one of the largest on record hopes are high that there will be a repeat.

Consistently productive places to fish are Ripple and Chatham Points in lower Johnstone Strait, across at Greensea Bay below Howe Island and the entire Sonora Island northwestern shoreline between Davis and Hall Points. Nearby on the mainland shore Denham Bay is a place to spend time. In the direction of Campbell River the shoreline above Browns Bay and across at Deepwater Bay both produce plenty of action each year.

Every guide and experienced angler has their favourite lures, but in the lower straits I tend to fish a flasher/anchovy set-up on one side and a hootchy on the other. My favourites for this fishery are the Speedo (SG177R), Jack Smith (SMW72R), and the original Blue Meany (B56W or SMW84R), but there are plenty of other hootchy patterns that work–a recent producer is the Disco (J55). A local trick is to secure a half fillet of anchovy inside the hootchy, adding a little extra taste to an artificial lure.

As the month progresses, the tyee fishery will get better and better all along the Campbell River waterfront from the mouth of the river right past downtown. 2017 will be the 93rd season for the Tyee Club, the unique institution for which membership is only obtained by following club rules: landing a chinook salmon over 30 pounds using an artificial lure with a single hook, club prescribed tackle restrictions and no power when fishing. Anglers in powerboats should be aware of special seasonal tackle restrictions, which are printed on every tidal waters license. 2016 saw a record season for large chinook caught off the Discovery Pier, close to a hundred including 15 tyees. Hopes are high for a repeat this year.

The fishery in the north Strait of Georgia for feeder Chinook will continue throughout August, especially if the herring stick around. Visiting anglers should be aware of the seasonal finfish closure at the Cape Mudge lighthouse area. Coho will likely be part of the mix throughout Area 13 but once again retention is restricted to hatchery origin fish identified by a missing adipose fin.

Being an odd numbered year, 2017 will see pink salmon returning to the Fraser River so these favourites should offer strong fishing in August. There will be good light tackle opportunities along the beaches and around estuaries and in the Campbell River itself for pinks. Once again the prospects for sockeye don’t look great but there could be a shortterm opportunity early in the month. Stay tuned for any opening announcements.

The lingcod fishing in Area 13 is productive so be prepared to catch these tasty fish.


February 2017

In this time of high variability of salmon survival, any comments about future fishing success should be read with a fair degree of caution–even with the best of inputs the salmon forecasting track record in recent decades is less than ideal. That said, looking ahead is always a worthwhile exercise if only to get excited about the season to come!

As in the rest of the inner south coast the marine recreational fishery in Area 13 for the first half of the year depends largely on Chinook salmon. Many of the contributing stocks during this time are fairly local fish originating from rivers on the east coast of Vancouver Island, the lower Fraser and Puget Sound. One encouraging development is the continuous rebuilding of the Cowichan River stock and the large return of jacks (age 2 fish) in the fall of 2016, is a sign that there should be plenty of adult fish present in the fishery this coming summer.

Contributing hatchery programs from around the Georgia Basin continue at full production and in some cases have seen small increases based on information derived from the Avid Anglers Program that has been underway for five years now. Recreational fishery volunteers take tissue samples from caught fish to be DNA analyzed for stock origin and, based on the results showing some stocks (e.g., Puntledge River), are particularly consistent contributors to the Strait of Georgia recreational fishery. DFO has increased their production.

As always, success with Chinook will largely depend on where the adult herring settle in after spawning season, but if recent past years are anything to go by there should be plenty of good Chinook fishing in the north Strait of Georgia in the spring through mid-summer period. One event to look forward to this year is the second annual Royal LePage Salmon Derby, scheduled for June 10. The inaugural event in 2016 was a big success, both in terms of the fish caught–the top ten fish all weighed in excess of 20 pounds–and the $45,000 raised for two local charities.

Jeremy Maynard
(250)-203-1602
www.theardentangler.com

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