Vancouver Saltwater Coho Salmon Fishing Report
The second week of July is shaping up much like the first – steady action across the board from both clients and guides. The South Bowen fishery has continued to produce plenty of hatchery coho, and the bite has been solid further east up the Strait toward the Sunshine Coast. Anytime I hear the fishing is good in that direction, I get excited knowing those fish are headed our way.
Some chunky coho for some lucky anglers!
On the gear front, the flashy stuff continues to lead the charge. Flashers with lots of reflective tape have been producing well in the upper part of the water column where they catch the light. Glow gear can still work, but when fishing shallower it doesn’t seem to make a huge difference since there’s still lots of visibility. The 30-to-60-foot range has been the go-to.
We’re also getting to that point in the season where the harbour is starting to come into play. There have been some early reports of coho showing up off Point Atkinson and along the West Van shoreline for those who’ve given it a go. This fishery will only get better as we move through July and into August, and it’s a great option for anyone looking to stay closer to home or sneak out for a quick morning or afternoon trip. The program is the same — troll fast and fish your gear shallow. Don’t be afraid to slide up into the shallows toward the Capilano mouth. When I’m up there, I like to run my gear a bit further from the boat. It seems to help when the fish are spooky in the skinny water.
One of the biggest surprises so far has been the size of the coho. The hatchery fish have been impressive, especially for this early in the season. The weight these fish are packing on in such a short time is wild, and it looks like we’ll be seeing some 10+ pounders before long.
More July tanks!
Not a ton of chatter yet about large schools of wild fish, but they’re definitely in the mix. Do your best to spot the adipose fin early so we can keep those wild fish in the water. I know it’s not always easy, but if you’ve already had a good morning and aren’t grinding to put a fish in the box, consider leaving the net on standby and getting a closer look before bagging one.
Lastly, there have been quite a few reports of mis-clipped coho showing up. Just a heads-up – even if there’s only a tiny bit of the adipose fin left, it still counts as a wild fish and needs to be released. If DFO checks your catch, they’ll treat it as wild, no matter how slight the clip. Do the right thing, toss it back, and keep fishing for the next one.
Tight lines,
Jake Comrie