Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
As we pass the mid-way mark of June it’s all about the coho. As per the last few years they showed up in force around June 15th and I am very happy to report the fishing has been quite good. Current regulations are 2 hatchery (missing the adipose fin) coho a day over 30 cm and there are plenty of them. A reminder that chinook are closed to fishing and if encountered should be released at the side of the boat if possible. Wild coho (they have an adipose fin) are closed for retention and should also be released boat side.
There have been plenty of hatchery coho around!
We have been doing well for coho off South Bowen and reports further up the Sunshine Coast and up to Campbell River are excellent. This means there are a lot more headed our way and fishing should remain excellent for the rest of June and well into July!
Right now, the fish are shallow, in the top 50 feet of the water column, so keep those downrigger depths from 15 to 45 feet. You can also catch these fish casting a fly, bucktailing, casting spoons, and jigging. No downrigger no problem, a simple weight and spoon setup will catch these aggressive coho. To get setup, come by the shop as we have a variety of productive coho gear to offer. Check out previous reports for our top choices.
Over on the other side in Area 17 we are also having a lot of fun catching coho, chinook (they are open for C&R in Area 17) rockfish and lingcod. This is a great full day adventure with amazing scenery and multiple species. A reminder that chinook are scheduled to open for retention in Area 17 on July 15.
A great harvest from Area 17 waters and some crab as well!
It’s definitely go time in our local saltwater, so I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy the amazing Vancouver salmon fishing only minutes from downtown.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli
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Beach Fishing Report
Fishing from the North Shore beaches has improved this week. Some good catches were reported, and we see more coho closer to shore. Gear anglers have done the best, but a well-presented fly will still take fish. I expect the fishing to only get better as we have little rain forecasted and the river water levels trending down. Some morning tide changes to end the week might be worth checking out.
We have seen a number of new anglers in the shop asking about beach fishing, so if you’re curious about getting started I have some pointers for you.
- Get up early. Morning tide changes and the cover from first light are very important for coho fishing. This can be especially important on pressured fish.
- Learn tide movements for the area. Starting out, it can be hard to understand why one spot might out fish another. As you spend time on the water you will start to notice the deeper areas and traveling lanes that hold fish more frequently.
- Keep your tackle simple. Luckily casting for coho doesn’t have to be complicated. A selection of spinners, spoons, and buzz bombs will do the trick. Silver, brass, copper, blue, green, red, and chartreuse are all popular colours for coho. Think about having a small, medium, and a large presentation. This will let you fish the shallow stuff close to shore and huck a heavy buzz bomb a mile.
- A medium/fast action rod somewhere in the 8-12lb range is the best with most anglers choosing 8’6” or longer. Reels around the 3000 size will do with a preference for something saltwater sealed. For the fly angler a 6wt-8wt will do with most anglers starting out with a floating line. You can also use a clear intermediate sink line to reduce the wave action and maintain a direct connection.
- Stripping basket for fly anglers. Especially if you fish sink lines. One miss step on the barnacles and your line is toast.
- Clean your gear. Saltwater environments are hard on your gear. Make sure to rinse out all your reels, waders, boots, flies, and lures after a day out. This is especially important if you have beginner gear as it’s more susceptible to saltwater damage.
The beach is a great way to spend a few hours fishing without leaving the city. Being so urban, the Capilano mouth does tend to get busy. It’s not crowded now, but I expect it to get a little crazy once pinks arrive later in the season. Please do your part in keeping the beach clean and be respectful to your fellow anglers.
Cheers
Eric Peake