We finally are getting a big herring spawn in Nanaimo! It started yesterday around Pipers Lagoon and Neck Point, and it's a big one! My predictions of an early spawn were wrong, so better late than never. If you want bait head down today. This is great news for our local salmon fishery, as the baby herring will keep fish in our area for the summer. This also mean there should be salmon in close to Rocky Point for the shore fishermen right now, and in the future when the eggs hatch. This means casting small jigs like 1oz Half Jigs and Clarkspoon Pogie will work for Chinook that will be in close feeding on these little herring.
Out away from the spawn I'm hearing decent Chinook fishing around Entrance Island and down along Gabriola. Bigger spoons like Northern King BC Chovy are still taking the most fish. Although we should start seeing the big white springs starting to show up on the "salmon highway" out in the deep water. I've had a couple reports of bigger fish starting to be caught, so it's probably time for somebody to head out and check it out. These fish are usually found travelling along the 800-1000ft contour lines at 150ft down. Glow Irish Cream and Hit'n Run flashers are my go to set ups for these fish.
Five Finger island has a lot of undersized Chinook and loads of Coho right now. So if you are looking to keep a fish try Entrance Instead. It's great to see the Coho show up already. They are around 14-16" now, so come June we should have a great time.
Also a heads up we got a restock of the Super Hero spoons including The Hulk today. The first shipment sold out fast, so if you want them come on down, or click the link to buy online.
Tips up! steve@harbourchandler