PORT ALBERNI INLET, BARKLEY SOUND, WEST COAST (UCLUELET) SOMASS-STAMP RIVER SYSTEM) |
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SALMON/HALIBUT Fishing Slivers Charters Salmon sport Fishing Doug Lindores
March 27th, 2007
The summer of 2007 is coming closer and all sport saltwater fishermen are becoming increasingly excited about the prospects of summer salmon fishing opportunities. Vancouver Island British Columbia is known world wide for the fabulous salmon sport fishing it offers. The scenic west coast of Vancouver Island from Victoria to Winter Harbor has many bays and inlets waiting in anticipation of salmon that are either returning to a nearby river or creek or migrating to another area but have stopped to rest and feed on some of the rich bait stocks before continuing on their final journey.
There are five species of salmon (chinook, coho, sockeye, pink, chum) all available to sport fish on Vancouver Island. The number ONE and TWO sport fish are coho and chinook and are available in most west coast fishing destinations. Sockeye the number one commercial salmon is found in the Port Alberni Inlet from mid June to early August and along the beaches of the Ucluelet and Tofino fishing areas in late July and August. Chum also known as Dog Salmon, weigh up to 20 pounds, have become a popular sport fishery in Barkley Sound (Sarita Bay) and Browns Bay in Campbell River from late September through October. 2007 will have large numbers of pink salmon off of the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
Halibut fishing has become a very popular sport fish for many individuals. Halibut are prominent in areas such as Sooke, Port Renfrew, Kyoquot, and the offshore areas off of Barkley Sound and Ucluelet. Halibut like to lie in sandy bottom areas in 200 feet of water and have been very abundant in past years. This year regulations on halibut have not changed from 2006 (two per day and three in possession).
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing based out of Port Alberni and Ucluelet is gearing up for what is expected to be a great summer of fishing on Vancouver Island.
The Port Alberni Inlet will be busy from mid June through September. Sockeye arrive in June and continue into August. Coho and chinook enter the system before mid August. Usually chinook arrive in the Inlet by August 10th followed by coho in late August.
For years Port Alberni has been called THE SALMON CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
Port Alberni has a nearby river, (Somass Stamp) which has been often described as one of the healthiest river systems in British Columbia. Robertson Creek Fish Hatchery is located in the upper portion of the river and releases a large number of chinook and coho smelt. This years (2007) return of the areas two popular sport salmon is expected to be very high. In the forecast is 100,000 Robertson Creek chinook and 75,000 to 85,000 coho. With these figures in mind and a good return of wild (non-hatchery) chinook and coho returning to their natural streams, creeks, and rivers the 2007 summer sport fishing season from Barkley Sound to the Port Alberni Inlet and Harbor should be very good.
Port Alberni, Ucluelet, and areas of Barkley Sound have fantastic accommodation facilities and marinas. People bringing their own craft for angling or those using a charter guide should be aware of some of the fabulous accommodations and marinas. Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing would be glad to help. Slivers Charters will also be happy to help all individuals make their fishing vacation as pleasant and pleasurable as possible. Port Alberni is also home to the Labor Day Salmon Fishing Festival. The festival goes for four days with three remarkable days of fishing. With 5 and 6 year old chinook forecast in this years return there should be some big trophy chinook caught during the derby.
CURRENT FISHING
Barkley Sound Port Alberni Inlet
The winter chinook fishing in Barkley Sound has been good. The fish are not big but there are good numbers.
There is not any fishing occurring in the Port Alberni Inlet. The Forecast for Chinook and Coho is very good. 100,000 chinook and 75,000 to 85,000 coho are scheduled to come into Barkley Sound and will make their way into the Port Alberni Inlet beginning in early August. The Port Alberni Salmon Derby during the Labor Day Weekend should be excellent with some big fish caught in 2007. The festival begins Friday and ends on Monday (Labor Day) Join in on the fun. Call Doug at 250 724 2502 or e mail dlindy@shaw.ca for more information.
Ucluelet
Fishing out of Ucluelet has been difficult due to winds. On the odd day Mike has been able to fish
We are geared up to start our SEAFOOD SAFARI. We are taking people, beginning March 31st, out for prawns, crab, clams, bottom fish, and salmon. What a delightful day our Safari is and what a feast after it is over. Take advantage of a beautiful spring day on the open Pacific and take in our SEAFOOD SAFARI. There are a lot of Ling Cod in the area. The Ling Cod season will open April 15th. DFO has announced that halibut regulations which include 2 per day and 3 in possession will be in order again this year.
Ucluelet once again will have some fantastic salmon and halibut fishing during the 2007 summer. Please remember to renew your saltwater licenses as a new year is beginning. Your 2006 license expires on the last day of March.
Somass-Stamp River
Steelhead fishing once again is fantastic. Guides are hooking up to 14 fish per day for clients. Both the upper and lower river are good. Those wanting to walk the river should enter at the gun club. Jet boat fishing is still considered to be the best method to sport fish as it is easier to find the fish. The steelhead season will be extended into April as fresh fish are still entering the system. Remember there is still a bait ban above the bucket. All superficials seem to be working. The river use during the week is very moderate as are the weekends. There is boat availability for those wanting a guided trip. Remember to have in possession a valid freshwater license and steelhead tag. Limit per day is 2 hatchery fish. For more information
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Jim of 
Last Year guides and local anglers were fishing 7 miles off Cape Beale and were doing very well on chinook and Halibut in April. Some of the biggest Halibut of the year came in early April at 7 miles off. We are looking at this fishery very soon. Of course it always depends on the weather. Look for some fantastic early spring late mornings and afternoons. This will give us some remarkable fishing memories and get us closer to the summer. 
Begg and Mara Rock. We have sent some people up into Barkley Sound where they have fished with some success at Mayne Bay. We have fished SouthBank and have picked up the seasons first two halibut at 15 pounds. The feeder chinook have been small but there are some big ones, we just need some decent weather.