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Vancouver Salmon Fishing Report: February 11, 2022

Vancouver salmon fishing

Vancouver Salmon Fishing Report: February 11th, 2022 

Not much new to report on the Vancouver saltwater front.  Fishing continues to be good, especially compared to seasons past.  Pressure has picked up this past week, as we have had some nice calm days and warmer weather.  With record boat sales the last few years and the chinook fishery being closed all summer, busier winter fishing should not be any surprise.  In fact, it is the new normal until we get some more opportunity in the summer months.  I wouldn’t hold my breath there, but more on that in future reports and what you can do to help make it happen. 

Gulf_Island_salmon_fishing_winter_chinook)Feb'22

Jason with a nice Gulf Island chinook from last weekend 

Prawning has been good, but just like the chinook fishing, the pressure will increase substantially in the coming weeks as more boaters start to venture out as the days get warmer and longer. 

A note on the regs.  Make sure you are ready to get checked.  DFO has been out in force, which is great to see.  I was talking with them on the water the other day and they were mentioning there were several anglers who got tickets for their barbs not being pinched.  The ticket is now $575, and it is per barb.  So, if you forget to pinch your barbs on a treble hook, well you can do the math.  Make sure when pinching your barbs that it doesn’t snap the barb and leave a micro barb.  This will not pass the test.  This can be avoided by rolling your pliers back and forth as you slowly pinch the barb.  This will result in a smooth pinched barb.   

Keep in mind, when we don’t follow the regs, this info is used against our user group in meetings.  I see it all the time.  Those organizations opposing openings or openings with specific regulations point to the level of non-compliance with current regulations.  So do us all a favour, pinch the barbs, make sure you license is printed out, make sure you record your catch, and stay out of the RCA and Sponge Reef Refuges.  If you need some help figuring out these areas, come by the shop and we can show you on the chart plotters at the store or on the Navionics app. 

The herring are starting to spawn in False Creek now.  This is usually about the time fishing can pick up in Vancouver Harbour as well. Chinook will get hooked at the Cap Mouth, the Freighters, and around the Bell Buoy.  This fishery can go right through March.  So, if Howe Sound has been slow for you, don’t pass up on the spots a little closer to home.  

See you in the shop or on the water, 

Jason Tonelli