Many areas in Area 17 and Area 18 are now open for Coho and Chinook retention. Be sure to check the regulations for the specific area you plan to fish, as slot size restrictions, daily limits, and hatchery versus wild retention rules vary by location.

Sansum Narrows – Fish are moving through the narrows with the tides, with the best success coming around tide changes. Green, silver, and gold flashers paired with smaller-profile spoons that imitate needlefish have been producing well. White glow hoochies have also been excellent producers.

Sooke – Reports continue to show consistent fishing for both Chinook and Coho. The Skinny G Low Rider "Shimmer" Series has been one of the hottest lures on the water.

Port Renfrew – Chinook fishing has been spotty, but more Coho are showing up every day and the fishery should continue to improve. While you're out trolling, don't forget to stop and jig over bait schools. It's one of our favourite ways to catch salmon, and there's nothing quite like the excitement of fighting one on a jigging rod!

Fishing has been excellent around French Creek and the Five Fingers, with many anglers catching their limits of both Coho and Chinook. Small green spoons have been the top producers, particularly the Gold Star Irish Cream and Gold Star Kitchen Sink. The West Coast Fishing Tackle "Superman" has also been fishing well, while the standout producer has been the Luhr Jensen "Everglo Ghost" Flash Fly. In freshwater, the stocked lakes continue to produce consistent catches using bait and Simon Wobblers. Bass fishing has also been productive, with Ned rigs proving to be one of the most effective presentations.

Saltwater fishing has been excellent in Area 14 and Area 13. Coho have been around in abundance and are being caught shallow; from 75ft up to the surface. Most anglers are running flashers with a spoon or hoochie with all popular colour combos producing. Any flasher with a highly reflective surface or UV finish will be effective in getting some Coho action. The ratio of hatchery fish to wild is averaging about 1 to 5, so be ready with a fish friendly mesh net or better yet unhook them without bringing them aboard to reduce mortality on those wild fish. Chinook fishing has also been good with some average sized specimens schooling shallow with the coho, but the majority are staying deep requiring a lot of line on the downrigger. There is a slot limit in effect for Chinook 62cm to 80cm with a 1 fish per angler daily limit. Most anglers are using spoons and hoochies paired with a green or black flasher while some anglers are using larger plugs to target fish on the higher end of the slot limit. Bottom fishing has been below average. Pinks are beginning to arrive in our local estuaries and beaches, with some being caught north of Campbell River already. We are well stocked on beach flies so come by to fill your boxes before the season comes in full swing!

Sockeye fishing in the Alberni Inlet remains good for anglers. Best lures have been the Pink & Black/ Pink & Blue Hoochies. Leaders anywhere from 12”-20”. The Purple Haze, Big Shooter Betsy’s & Hotspot Chartreuse Plaid Flashers have been working the best! The sockeye are currently sitting in 80’-150’ of water. Troll between 1.5mph-2.0mph. Down in Barkley Sound the Chinook fishing has been spotty for the last week or so. The bigger Chinook remain on the surf line areas such as Austin/Cree, Edward King, Kirby pt., Cape Beale and Swale Rock. White Hoochies (OA12R), Anchovies, Skinny G Spoons in the (Herring Aid, No Bananas, Irish Cream) colours have been the top producers in the sound. Anglers have been trolling 2.7mph-3.2mph & fishing from 70’ to the bottom.