FISHING REPORT: PORT ALBERNI INLET BARKLEY SOUND

         UCLUELET (WEST COAST) SOMASS-STAMP RIVER

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon

      Sport Fishing

June 11^th,2007

CURRENT FISHING

     The sport fishing in Barkley Sound and in the Ucluelet area inside waters and offshore is very good.  Most guides and sport anglers are picking up limits of chinook and halibut.  Coho are now showing up in good numbers.  The Season has gotten off to a very good start.

PORT ALBERNI INLET

     As mentioned in the last report the Port Alberni Inlet which includes the waters from Nahmint and Franklin into the Port Alberni Harbor will not be fishable for sockeye during the month of June.  Fisheries has predicted a low preseason estimate for the Somass sockeye this year.  The fisheries

forecast is a mere 210,000.  This number is just enough for conservation purposes.  This forecast is thought to be very low.  Currently the return of sockeye seems to be good.  There is a feeling that July will see opportunity for the sport fisherman.  Possible dates for a sockeye opening for an extended period of time are July 1^st or July 7^th.  Catch limits to begin will be lower than normal.  Limits will likely be 2 per day and a two-day possession limit of 4. 

      If the sockeye fishing does get underway then anglers that are local or who are coming for the first time should have their sockeye gear ready.  Most guides are using Yamashita Mini Plankton  MP 15s which are bubble gum in color or the red colored MP16 or MP2.  Slivers Charters guide Doug often uses what is called a Hippie Hootchie which is blue and pink in color.  Leader lengths from 18 to 30 inches depending on boat speed behind a green or red hot spot flasher are very effective.

BARKLEY SOUND

     The fishing has been absolutely fantastic for the last several days especially out towards the surfline of the Sound.  The area of water between Swale Rock and Austin has produced some great chinook fishing.  There is vast amounts of bait in these waters and the salmon, which are on their migratory route down the outside of Vancouver Islands West Coast are coming in to feed on the rich sources of bait fish.  Guides Sean and Mike have been fishing off of Meares daily and have limits of chinook from 12 to 25 pounds.  The fish are located between 80 to 100 feet and are hitting anchovy spoons and hootchies.  Anchovy in a Rhys Davis Chrome Teaser Head or Purple Haze Teaser head has been very good.   Leader lengths from 5 to 6 feet are best. Guide Wayne has been using a Tiger Prawn Teaser head (orange and black) that has been producing some nice fish.  A few guides have switched over to Hootchies and spoons and have found a clear with a yellow strip and the purple haze hootchie are producing some nice catches.  Watermelon, MT Special, and glow-green Coyote spoons are also producing.  We are anticipating some good coho fishing to get underway during this month.  Seven Mile Bank has had recordings of large numbers of coho.  Guide Al had 2 hatchery coho at Swale on the weekend.  Both of these 10 pound chrome beauties hit an AORL 12 hootchie which is white with a blue tinge.  The largest coho catch of the past weekend was two 16 pound coho by guide Jon for his Oregon guests.  Both salmon were also picked up on the AORL12 hootchie.   Coho fishing in Barkley Sound, Port Alberni Inlet, and offshore should be very good this year.  Coho returns up and down the coastline returning to various spawning grounds are forecast to be strong.  Robertson Creek Hatchery located in Port Alberni is forecasting strong returns also.  Over the next couple of weeks the coho should thicken in some Barkley Sound locations.  The coho come in and gain a pound a week as they fatten up on the herring and needlefish.  Edward King, Folger, Beale and Whittlestone will be areas of strong coho and chinook concentration.  June and early July should continue with very good fishing.

UCLUELET

     June has brought in warmer weather and calmer seas and some great fishing.  Salmon and halibut have been abundant.  Guides have been leaving a little earlier in the morning and have been fishing the 18 mile area for halibut, which have been averaging 20 to 25 pounds then picking up after limits and fishing the rock piles just outside of the Ucluelet Harbor.  The bait fish are abundant inside.  There are great numbers of pilchards, herring, and needlefish.  The chinook in the area are averaging 10 to 25 pounds and are getting bigger by the day as they gobble vast amounts of bait fish.  The coho fishing is also picking up as there is a long stream of coho at 7 mile.  Guide Wayne with his 4 guests had a terrific day with limits in halibut, chinook and 4 hatchery coho.  Wayne left the Ucluelet Harbor at 5:30 am and fished out at the 18 mile spot and within an hour and a half had the halibut limit.  Jigging halibut bellies and other halibut parts it took no time to attract the numerous halibut in the area.  (People coming to fish of course can just use drift jigs with some form of fresh bait or use some scent which will create an added attraction of smell.)  Wayne fished Great Bear and Mara Rock for salmon.  Using Anchovy in a chrome Rhys Davis Teaser Head and a 4 inch  nasty boy coyote spoon, limits in chinook and four hatchery coho were in the boat within another two hours.  Waynes’ guests from Vancouver B.C. had a wonderful day and experienced the warmth and calmness of the Pacific.  Of course one must remember the waters and weather offshore can be challenging.

     There is also an abundance of chinook at South Bank and La Perouse.  The South Bank fish are from 20 to 70 feet off the bottom.  Anchovy, hootchies and Tomic Plugs in the 500 and 700 series have been producing.

La Perouse in the gullies and shallow spot have also been good for halibut and chinook.  The best fishing out there is trolling for both halibut and salmon.  Guides are bouncing their cannon ball of the bottom from 170 to 200 feet and then come up 10 feet to fish halibut.  The salmon are usually found in the mid water from 110 to 125 feet.  Coho and pink salmon are often shallower.

     Fishing out of Ucluelet has really been sensational.  Of course this area is not for everyone.  Weather and ocean conditions can be a struggle for some individuals.  People fishing the area in July and August sometimes complain about the motion of the boat and the fog.  Afternoon fishing amongst the rock piles might be a good idea.  Fishing the Pristine and calm waters of  Barkley Sound or the Port Alberni Inlet might be a good idea.  Fishing has been very good and will get even better as bigger fish make their way down the coastline in the latter part of June and into July, August and September.

SOMASS-STAMP RIVER

      Sockeye are entering the system daily. There is however no sockeye sport fishery in the Somass.  Some experienced trout fly fishermen are fishing the upper river and have had some success.  The fall will see the return of some wonderful coho and fall steelhead fishing.

       Remember the Labor Day Weekend Port Alberni Salmon Derby.  Festivities begin on the Friday evening and continue until 3 pm on Labor Day Monday.  The Port Alberni Salmon Derby should be very exciting.  The forecast return of chinook and coho to Robertson Creek Hatchery is quite high.  Chinook returns are predominately 4, 5, and 6 year old fish.  The largest chinook could be of very good size.

For more information

Contact:

Doug Lindores

Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing

www.catchsalmon-ca.com

250 724 2502  (home)

dlindy@shaw.ca