Halibut is Hot, Hot, Hot!

 West Coast Halibut fishing is off the hook this season! In the last few days, I've read nothing but great reports from the entire West side of the Island. Right now is the time to head out there, or book a charter if you want to load up on some white meat. Thanks to O'Fishal Charters for the nice dockside picture above this post. 

Port Renfrew and the Big Bank off Ucluelet has been producing limits very quickly. Esperanza and Nootka in general is absolutely on fire. Fishermen are coming in with grand-slam limits of Salmon, Halibut, and Ling Cod. If you are new to Halibut fishing and don't know where a good Hali hole is, try trolling for them. We have some excellent trolling lures that let you cover ground until you find a hot spot. Then, send a chum bag down on your downrigger and jig a Power Bait grub or chunk of octopus in the chum slick.

With the hot weather and high pressure system rolling in Port Alberni Sockeye fishing will improve. This is your chance to get load up on some fresh red salmon. The key to catching Sockeye is using lots of flashers. I always run a daisy chain flasher off my cannonball, or at least dummy flashers. We are running low on Sockeye hoochies  so get them while you can.

And a reminder, Georgia Straight Chinook is opening for retention in a few weeks. Right now, the Straight is loaded with fish. Catching 25-30 legal sized fish is currently very common. So get your boat and gear ready.

Tips up,

Steve@harbourchandler.ca