2010 Summer Fishing Report

The hotspots going into the summer months are Epsom Point, Trail Islands, Davis Bay, Trail Bay, Camp Bing, Narrows Inlet and Sechelt Inlet. These are favourites spots for locals to fish chinook. Look for the first signs of coho starting to show in Sechelt Inlet and the Georgia Strait which should excite the beach fishermen who like to throw buzz bombs, rooster tails and flies at them. Texada Island, Lasquetti Island, Seal Reef and Sangter Island should also turn on as these areas are known to hold large concentrations of fish during the summer months. Another hotspot is the mouth of Secret Cove. This area allows you to hide from the southeast wind and you can get into some pretty good fishing close by.

Fishing 2 hours before the low water slack with hootchies and coyote spoons have been working well in Army Truck, Blood/Bones, Green/White. It pays to mix up the colours and find the hot colour for the day. Of course you are not giving your all, if you are not trolling bait. With all the new head teaser colours you can mix colours with your bait as well. You may find that as the water gets murky, you will probably do better with dull or darker colours other than bright greens. Don't for get your flasher, line colour and leader length has a lot to do with your success as well. A lot of the fish hold from 60' -100', and you will find fish deeper but a good starting point is from 80' -120'. Then look for bait balls and move your lures to that level. Fish a little higher in the evenings between 40'- 80'. At this time of year fish can be holding or travelling in 30-50ft of water so when you check your line it's a good practice to pop it off the downrigger clip and let it float up to the surface. This will change the action of your lure and allow you to fish a variety of depth all the way to the surface. Vary the time you check your bait. It is also very important to clean the jelly fish off your line and flashers, and make sure that you give them wipe. It doesn't hurt once in awhile to give them a soak with warm soapy water.

The local marinas also have live bait and mooching can be very productive, use a minimum of 11 -12' leader with one #10 treble hook. When a fish bites don't set the hook until the reel is spinning off at a good rate. You may find jigging for chinooks a lot of fun, using mac deeps, buzz bombs and Jensen Perkins lures. Don't stay in one area too long, fish the shoreline points and move around a lot.
In Davis Bay, the salmon like to feed in the bay away from the heavy current flow. As of June 1st hatchery marked coho can be kept off Davis Bay and as of May 1st in Porpoise Bay.

Some hot spots will be:

Texada Island - (Sabine Channel, Pt. Upwood, Anderson Bay and the Pilings)

Pender Harbour Area - (Quarry Bay, Bargain Harbour, Bjerre Shoal, Agamemnon Channel, A-Frame)

Secret Cove- (Red House, Mouth of the Cove, Thormanby Island - Epsom Pt, Pirate Rock, Bertha Rock, Fraser Rock)

Sechelt - (Trail Islands, Davis Bay, Halfmoon Bay, Camp Bing)

Sechelt Inlet - (Snake Bay, Tillicum Bay, Carlson Pt, Highland Pt. to the Skookumchuck, Egmont)

Gibsons - (Twin Island, Bowen Island, Cape Roger Curtis, Worlcombe Island, Pt. Cowan, PoPham)

Jervis Inlet from Malibu to Deserted Bay will be holding spring salmon in the 30 pound range. If you are not able to venture that far then Delta Rock just south of Vancouver Bay should also be very productive.

Start to look for big spring salmon also at Sangster Island, Seal Reef and Lasquetti Island as these areas are well known to have large concentrations of spring salmon feeding.

Crabbing has picked uplook to 50-120ft off Davis Bay for some nice big keepers. Prawning will improve as the little guys grow fast, so look to the 270ft - 300ft as a starting point. Please check the areas you are prawning in, there have been closures in winters past and they may be in place now.

Clams - prior to harvesting clams always check to make sure you are not digging when there is a PSP Closure by checking out DFO's Fishery Notice on PSP levels at: DFO Red Tide Closures for area 16 or call (604) 666-2828.

To view DFO Management Area maps in order to ensure you know where the boundaries are for various areas or sub-areas that you are interested in fishing, check out their website at: Management Areas Pacific Region.

You won't get better fishing information for the Sunshine Coast.

We hope to see you soon!!!!

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