Vancouver Saltwater Fishing Report
We’re now a week into October and the saltwater scene has been interesting. October is when we transition away from the migratory salmon and switch gears for winter chinook. We have been planning for trips into the Sound, but those plans have been put on a brief hold with the local action continuing at the Fraser mouth as well as within the harbour.
At Sandheads, fishing has continued to be relatively steady, with plenty of chinook and coho still being found. While the chinook are showing a bit more color as the season progresses, their size has been impressive. The top of the flood over the high slack has been the most productive according to the guide team, and a mix of bait and hoochies has been working well. When the bite slows down, bait seems to still be the clear winner. That said, hoochies are performing just as well when the fish are active, which can help you preserve some bait. The fish have been scattered across the water column, so if things slow down, experiment with your depths. We’ve found fish as deep as 130 feet on the downrigger and as shallow as 30 feet, so don’t hesitate to adjust throughout the tides. We’ve also been seeing more chum salmon around at Sandheads and T-10, just in time for the October 5th opening.
Nothing like calm waters and late season action!
Closer to home, the Capilano River mouth has seen a decent uptick in activity. After an inconsistent September, the fish have finally arrived, and our guide boats have had success this past week with both chinook and coho. The dry forecast and low river levels mean these fish are likely to stick around for a while. Like the Fraser, bait is usually more effective here, but after some productive mornings, our guides have had success using spoons and hoochies as well, so don’t hesitate to switch things up if your bait supply is running low.
A bright chinook from the Cap mouth earlier this week
A quick reminder for those fishing the Capilano mouth: it’s a tight spot, and boats need to work together to keep things running smoothly. The etiquette to remember is “Right rod to the rocks”, or the beach in this case. Boats heading west, or away from the Lions Gate Bridge, get the inside tack, meaning they should be closer to shore with their right (starboard) rod along the beach. Boats heading east, or towards the bridge, should take the outside tack and turn at the green marker, bringing their right rod inside. Don’t forget to keep an eye on commercial traffic and give freighters plenty of room as they enter and leave the harbour.
As mentioned, October is the month when we start shifting focus to winter chinook in Howe Sound and around Bowen Island. Reports have been light so far, but we’ll keep you updated as we gather more intel. In the meantime, make sure your downriggers are topped up with cable and the drag is set appropriately for the deep trolling required during the winter months.
The chum fishery is now open in local waters for 4 a day, see the details below:
Subject: FN1053-RECREATIONAL Salmon – Chum – Areas 11 to 20, 28, 111, 121 to 127 and Subareas 29-1 to 29-5, 29-8 – Opening – Effective October 12, 2024 Effective 00:01 hours October 12, 2024, until 23:59 hours March 31, 2025, the daily limit of Chum Salmon is four (4) in the following waters: Areas 11 to 21, 28, 111, 121 to 127, and Subareas 29-1 to 29-5 and 29-8.
Tight Lines,
Jake Comrie