Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
Looks like there is a mixed bag of NW and SE this weekend, so be on your toes if you are heading out. Fishing continues to be pretty solid in Howe Sound and around Bowen. Gabriola was the standout this past week though, with multiple reports of big fish and lots of them. In most cases about 70% of the fish were hatchery. It goes without saying it is extremely frustrating we can’t retain these fish!
Paul with a hog hatchery from Thrasher Rock caught on a chartreuse splatter back hootchies and Salty Dawg flasher.
With the Fraser in full on freshet mode, that dirty water is well throughout the Salish Sea. It made it over to Thrasher and that means the fish are shallow, 80-140 on the riggers. The hot depth there on Monday was 127 for our group. I would expect similar numbers to be working in and around Bowen with the dirtier water around.
Colin with a nice hatchery fish from Thrasher, taken on a Tomic plug.
On the political side of things, still no word from DFO on the SFAB Chinook Management Proposals. The latest is we may hear some announcements in the first or second week of June. Completely unacceptable in my opinion. Chinook fishing is excellent for stocks of non-concern and there are a lot of hatchery fish around. DFO should have it open for one hatchery a day right now at very least.
On the Covid front, a lot of marinas and marine based business are starting to gear up and are hoping or planning for a June 1 “opening.” We are waiting for some guidelines to come in for our sector, and we are hopeful we will get these early next week so we can start doing some guided trips. When we get more information, we will let you know, likely through a special mailout that we are open for charters.
Prawning has been so so, and crabbing has been good. So, when we can eventually do charters we will definitely be dropping crab traps.
See you in the shop or on the water.
Jason Tonelli