The feeder Chinook in the early spring and late winter range from 8 to 15 lbs and are mostly hatchery clipped fish. The Chinook numbers should remain stable, with some of our area streams and rivers improving in returns. Once the calendar changes into the prominent month of June, things change dramatically. Early season fishing in late April, May, June and July often will rely on returns of Chinook and Coho to the very large watersheds to the south such as the Columbia, the Kalama, Willamette, and Sacramento. SEA RUN DOLLY VARDEN ON THE UPPER PITT RIVER: ... FRASER RIVER SOCKEYE NOT AVAILABLE FOR 2020: We remember when Fraser River Sockeye Salmon returned every year in massive numbers(10 – 20 million) back in the 90’s. We also will see needlefish and small herring in huge, dense schools because of the recent spawn. The fish are in 20 to 50 ft of water and are usually most aggressive in the early morning and on tide changes. The boat traffic is much lighter than in July and August, which makes for an even better sport fishing opportunity. The derby will have the same prize structure as past years, but there will be no festivities on the derby headquarter grounds. Once again for the 2020 saltwater season Sockeye sport angling in the Alberni Inlet opened on the first of July. Sail Rock, Great Bear, Mara Rock, right back to Mayne Bay and over to Swale Rock can also provide some great winter Chinook opportunities. Harriers Pioneer 8K - January 12. September is a wonderful contrast to August, and many say it has no fog, no wind, and less boat traffic. Sport anglers fishing in the Alberni Inlet and Harbour have the best success using Octopus Pink and Red hootchies. Tomic spoons and plugs in the six and seven inch size with no flasher also produce some great results. Sockeye Fishing got underway for sport fisher people on the 1st of July 2020. Alberni Custom Edges Exterior Cleaning & Landscaping has a proven track record of providing creative, high quality landscaping services. Pill Point, Diplock, Assets Island, and Swale Rock are wonderful Barkley Sound hotspots where, in the first half of September, the salmon will hold if there are large quantities of rich resources of baitfish. Port Alberni: elders will be served 9am-12pm, other citizens 1-3pm at Dry Creek Park. O’Connell is responsible for management area 23, Alberni Inlet-Barkley Sound. The days of course are shorter, but the afternoons are warm and the salmon that are swimming along the Vancouver Island coastline and in the many Barkley Sound locations are feeding frantically before making their final destination to their natal streams and rivers. Chartreuse, Cop Car, Army Truck, and Green Haze are often good anchovy teaser head colours. It wasn’t an easy task. There are also many migratory Chinook in the mix as the early summer run of salmon headed to the big watersheds to the south begin to show in relatively good numbers, ranging in weight from fifteen to twenty-five pounds. Anchovy, six- and seven-inch road runner spoons, and Tomic plugs are by far the best gear for great results. Port Alberni has a total population of 17,678, and a census agglomeration area of 25,112. Wind forecast for Port Alberni provided by windfinder.com. This is great news for the many anglers who enjoy coming to the Alberni area and fishing the pristine waters of the Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound, hoping to land the largest salmon during the derby, which will take place Saturday, September 5 through Monday September 7. ... Sockeye Salmon: 123: Barbless Hook & Line: 0/0/-Non-retention (See Restrictions) 2021-01-04 19:16:32. Areas 23 and 123 (Bamfield, Port Alberni) Area map Area maps. The late mornings and afternoons are often very warm. The West Vancouver Chinook and coho will begin to show in early August and begin to peak later in the month and into September. Chinook are often in 20 to 60 feet of water. But the 2020 sport- fishing season likely will not see any boat traffic in the Alberni Inlet, as the numbers of sockeye migrating back to the Somass River system are very low. Many sport fishers will run up to eight flashers 10 feet behind the boat at various depths. The Big Bank, South Bank, and Long Beach can have some spectacular action for both Chinook and coho. Hotspots include Lone Tree, Coulson’s, China Creek Wall, Dunsmuir, Underwood, and the Narrows. There is not only a continuous display of rugged coastlines, but there are also wonderful exquisite and secluded beaches with pristine, calm waters in Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet. The return of west coast Vancouver Island Chinook to the various hatcheries is expected to be better than average, with the predominant age class forecast at three-, four-, and five-year olds. During the day, coho often are in 25′ to 30′ of water, while you can often find Chinook between 20′ and 60′. Popular Alberni Inlet areas in June are Cous Creek, all of the China Creek area, the narrows, and Nahmint. September is a wonderful month. Pill Point, Swale Rock, Gilbraltor, Assets, Wittlestone, and the Bamfield Wall are all hotspots during the first half of September in Barkley Sound. Leader lengths can vary from sixteen to twenty-four inches. Sockeye fishing in the Alberni Inlet is not quite as prolific as it was looking just a few short months ago. May is the month that most sport fishermen prepare their boats and gear for the anticipated sport fishing season. The best June salmon fishing often can be found along the many surfline areas. Both migratory and hatchery Chinook numbers are forecast to be above average. The Somass Sockeye run size was confirmed at 250,000 at this run size fisheries will open this week for First Nations, recreational, and Area D Gillnet. Port Alberni, BC V9Y 8J9. One was the increase of returning sockeye to the Somass River system, which brought the opportunity for sockeye sportfishing in July. Areas just outside the Ucluelet Harbor such as Beg Island, Mara Rock, Great Bear, and even Toquort and Mayne Bay are favorite fishing areas for many local guides and sport fishermen. Having a larger sport fishing boat is a good idea, as many will take up to five hundred pounds of ice or more. (888) 214-7206 toll free The AORL 12, Dark Green Spatter Back, Clown, Purple Haze, and Army Truck hoochies are fantastic standbys. The Inlet often begins to see Chinook salmon showing up in good numbers between the tenth and fifteenth of the month. Sometimes, the salmon will rest and gorge themselves for days before continuing the journey to their natal rivers and streams. The baitfish vary from sardines to small herring to needlefish. Social distancing protocols will be in place and we ask that riders do not gather in groups larger than 50 people. navKey: 'Navionics_webapi_03302' Trout fishing on the lakes has been slow. March, April, and the first half of May can provide excellent fishing for avid anglers outside the Ucluelet Harbor. This is the time of year that some of the larger halibut are landed. The salmon and bait are usually in water ranging from 80′ to 130′. [email protected]. Hub City Fisheries has parked a vessel for loading the fresh sockeye at the Clutesi Haven Marina dock. The feeder Chinook fishing should improve dramatically if the herring spawn is as fantastic as it has been over the last few years. The Alberni Inlet usually fills with migrating salmon by mid-August and peaks right around the Labour Day weekend, which coincides with this year’s salmon derby. 2020 Bulldogs Summer Identification Camp: August 14th-16th -Port Alberni, BC. The China Creek Wall and Underwood Cove located on the south side of China Creek will also hold a good number of returning Chinook. Barkley Sound is full of baitfish, including needlefish, herring, and anchovy. Be prepared for fog and also check all of the local regulations that can often change on Aug. 1. Cedar 12K - March 3. The salmon are usually in 20′ to 50′ feet of water and are most aggressive in the early morning and on tide changes. September 16, 2020 0 Not even COVID-19 could stop the 49 th edition of the Port Alberni Salmon Derby held over the Labour Day weekend, but it was a closer call than most participants might have realized. The 2012, 2013 and 2014 runs that went to sea have had a few years with a La Nina weather system in place. Chinook and coho numbers in 2018 returning to West Coast Vancouver Island rivers and streams should resemble the fantastic returns that we witnessed in 2017. Coho are frequently on the water’s surface in the early morning and late evening, and Chinook in 20 to 60 feet of water. 4″ and 3″ spoons in Irish cream and cookies and cream, gold and silver gold star spoons, and needlefish, especially the b-149, are all excellent choices on the troll. These winter Chinook are really feisty and very hard fighting. Tomic spoons and plugs in the 6- and 7-in size with no flasher also produce some great results. All Sockeye fisheries are closed at this run size. Forecasts are calling for better-than-average returns of these two salmon species. With Chinook and coho also migrating to the south, the sportfishing will be fabulous. Harriers Pioneer 8K - January 14. It is also the month that most get out on the water and enjoy their first sport fishing opportunities in saltwater locations. September is a fabulous month for anglers seeking large Chinook and coho. The best teaser heads are Green Glow, Glow Army Truck, Green Haze, and Cop Car. More information will be available after several test fisheries in June. With this forecast the salmon fishing in Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet will be world-class throughout September. www.catchsalmon-ca.com The 2018 festival should have some fantastic results, as the returning Chinook run to West Coast Vancouver Island includes a mix of three-, four-, and five-year-olds. Early Season fishing in late April, May, June and July often will rely on returns of Chinook and coho to the very large watersheds to the south. What drives … During first half of July, coho and pink salmon will definitely be the target of choice for anglers in offshore water. The average size is 8 lbs to 14 lbs, but they can be much larger in May if schools of salmon migrating to the big watersheds to the south come into the sound and feed on the large quantities of baitfish. The best fishing is often where the bait fish are located. The Chinook fishing in the Alberni Inlet often begins in early August. The number of returning sockeye are very low. Many theories abound, but one thing is clear—the run did not materialize as many had hoped. The J-79, Purple Haze, Jack Smith, and Army Truck Glow are also very good choices. // example disable DistanceControl With all of this in mind August predictably is just a terrific month for sport anglers on Vancouver Island’s West Coast. Escapements are in light gray and catches in dark gray. 324 were here. Once again for the 2020 saltwater season Sockeye sport angling in the Alberni Inlet opened on the first of July. Large schools of Chinook followed by coho move into some of the most accessible areas of Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet. // You can disable the control by options or with explicit function. Three-and-a-half-inch spoons in Irish Cream, Cookies and Cream, cop car, and a four-inch Gibbs green glow are great choices. Over the last few weeks Stamp River conditions have been very poor due to very high water. They also come for some first-class sport fishing. The recreational halibut fishery is closed as of midnight December 31 2020. The key to sockeye fishing is creating lots of color close to the boat. tagId: '.navionics_map', This program collects escapement, test fishing, catch and environmental information on a weekly basis. A key indicator in August is baitfish. This Derby is hosted out of Poett Nook located at the bottom end of the Bamfield Wall in Sarita Bay. Tidal water fishing for Chinook and coho should be very good this year. The salmon are anxious to hit the river and if any rain occurs will hit the river mouth very quickly. Salmon Festival Society President Dan Washington announced the cancellation two months ago due to coronavirus concerns, but according to Al Ehrenberg, while the salmon festival remains cancelled the Labour Day derby will still go ahead. . Early season fishing in the Pacific Rim areas often relies on returns of salmon to the big watersheds to the south as well as the amount of bait fish that move into the area. The key is the water in the Somass River and the Inlet warming up to 18 C. May 27, 2015. The early summer run of Chinook are migrating to the big watersheds to the south and swim down the coastline outside of Ucluelet and the surf line areas of Barkley Sound. Chartreuse, Cop Car, green or blue nickel, and green haze are often good anchovy teaser head colors. Most of the salmon retained in June and July have been migrating to the big watersheds of the Pacific Northwest. Some will use a spreader bar with large spoons or a Mudraker. West coast Vancouver Island Chinook and coho have had a high survival rate, which means returns beginning in August to many of the streams, creeks, and rivers should be like the returns in 2017. These hootchies are either O-15 or O-16. The winter weather on the West Coast and inland Vancouver Island has been “stormy”. In late July and all of August, the west coast Chinook and coho should be in full swing and in abundance. September usually presents a good mix of coho and Chinook making their way to the Somass River. March provides the first of many salmon fishing derbies in this area. Hootchies in purple haze, green spatter back and glow whites should also be an excellent choice of lures. This prediction should provide for fabulous world-class salmon fishing in Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet in September. The Alberni Pacific Tourist Railway originally started with a group of model railroaders who restored the famous Two-Spot to run along the Port Alberni Waterfront in 1984. ... See what’s new in the Port Alberni business community Impaired Island driver flees road check twice on the same night. In June, the salmon are feeding heavily, and anchovy in a variety of teaser heads work well. Figure C. Daily Naknek-Kvichak and Nushagak District C+E: Observed daily catch and escapement by district for years 2016-2020 as stacked bars. Fly fishers usually are casting or trolling a crystal hair black leach or a variety of artificial lures that resemble small fry as the trout are often feeding on small sockeye fry. September also is a wonderful time of year for anglers as weather patterns create fabulous settings for many memorable sport fishing days. The Bamfield Wall, Swale Rock, and even the Pill Point area can present fantastic fishing opportunities for Chinook and coho averaging 6 to 8 lbs. The 2020 forecast for that area is 690,000 salmon. Barkley Sound locations such as Meares, Cree Island, Kirby Point, Swale Rock, Beale, and Edward King are fantastic areas when the baitfish are holding. The salmon usually school from Cous Creek out to Nahmint and Franklin River. Many will troll right alongside Beg Island and to the Red Can. This has provided for relatively excellent salmon survival which should provide for good returns to West Coast Vancouver Island rivers, streams, and creeks. Victoria: 1-3pm Friendship Centre (231 Regina Avenue Victoria). Once again for the 2020 saltwater season Sockeye sport angling in the Alberni Inlet opened on the first of July. The Sockeye sport angling season in the Alberni Inlet in 2018 and 2019 was limited and hindered by poorer than expected returns. Chinook are often in 20 to 60 feet of water. Coho follow the Chinook migration and during September both species will be in a good mix as they migrate to the Somass River system. May 22, 2020 7:39 AM More bad news for the Alberni Valley economy with the cancellation of this year’s sockeye salmon fishery. Not only does the west coast of British Columbia have these unbelievable landscapes, but the salmon fishing in many areas is nothing short of world class. Doug Lindores The sport fishery in August and into September is expected to be very good in 2018. There have also been a few feeders landed around Scotch Bay and up at the whistle buoy. It is not uncommon for coho in the early morning and late evening to be on the water’s surface. PREVIOUS POST. Jump to. The summer is fast approaching. Until 2018, The railway operated with multiple locomotives, including the #7, along the waterfront and up to McLean Mill National Historic Park. Discussion in '2020 Saltwater Fishing Reports' started by SFBC, Jan 1, 2020. The return of West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook to the various hatcheries is expected to be better than average with the predominant age class forecast at four and five year olds. A variety of hootchies in green, blue, and white also work very well. The front side of Fleming Island and Sandford across from Bamfield has also provided some nice salmon up to 10 and 11 pounds. The fish are in the top thirty to fifty feet of water and are hitting black-pink, blue-pink, bubble gum mp hootchies and black hooks. Halibut fishing in June can become much more productive. For anglers the fishing for Chinook up to thirty pounds can be first class sport fishing. Sockeye Fishing got underway for sport fisher people on the 1st of July 2020. This program collects escapement, test fishing, catch and environmental information on a weekly basis. Salmon also stretch along the opposite Barkley Sound coastline from Gibraltar Island to the fish marker in Rainy Bay. At the same time there continues to be a large migration of salmon headed to the big watersheds to the far south in the mix. Hotspots in the inlet are Lone Tree Point and Coulson Mill. Chinook fishing in the Inlet will begin by the middle of the month. Purple Haze, Green Spatter Back, and the mp2 and mp16 are also fantastic behind a Hotspot flasher. The Sproat Lake winter Chinook Derby has been attracting well over four hundred entrants over the last few years. The first week­end of March often triggers the begin­ning of the sport fishing saltwater season with the Sproat Loggers Derby, which is hosted out of Poett Nook at the far end of the Bamfield Wall and Sarita Bay. (250) 731-7389 mobile 2020 will be a great sport fishing year in the Pacific Rim areas. The derby dates are Sept. 2, 3 and 4. We can expect weather conditions to change in late March and April and allow opportunity for some warmer air temperatures which should allow for some productive fishing days out on the water of Barkley Sound and the various islands outside the Ucluelet Harbor mouth. Anchovy using a Glow Army Truck, Purple Haze, Cop Car, or Green Haze Teaser Head behind a Green Glow or Green Gold Hot Spot flasher creates some of the best results. With the current environmental conditions, sockeye fishing for sport should get underway by Father’s Day weekend. Barkley Sound areas such as Pill Point, Diplock, Assets Island, Gilbraltar, Swale Rock, and the Bamfield Wall are wonderful hotspots in the early part of the month. In September, hoochies in the O-15 (Bubble Gum), O-16, O-2, MP 2, MP 15 and 16, and the regular standard AORL12, Spatter Back, Purple Haze, and Army Truck all are excellent lure choices. 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