2023 Bamfield and Barkley Sound Reports

[slabcity]

Thank you!

Hopefully "on the water" not "in the water"

Thank you! We can trade intel, seems like we'll need it at this time of year. I'll start fishing tomorrow evening. Where will you start?

 

[Sea.P.P.]

How’s the fishing up there these days? Any springs left?

Couple of 8 pound springs today and some nice coho at Dixon cop car coho killer 42 feet

 

[Charleygirl]

We got into 5 Springs and 7 coho today at Whittlestone. Best bite was just before the high tide change.
30 feet on the rigger. Bait and glow white hooch's. Bait was more productive however...
Springs were on the small side 10 - 12 lbs.

 

[slabcity]

Mackerel Mania today at Swale and nearby. Nonstop action on… mackerel. Could not find a salmon to save our lives. Practically never saw a speck of bait or a single fish mark on the screen. All gone?

 

[dmurph]

Wonder if mackerel pushes out all the bait

 

[Rad Gumbo]

They EAT ALL the bait

 

[willydw]

They EAT ALL the bait

Yes they do. We had years of no fish when the mackerel were around.

 

[Aces]

They EAT ALL the bait

They also really like salmon smolts

 

[Rain City]

They also really like salmon smolts

We smoked some up last year. They're delicious

 

[Aces]

We smoked some up last year. They're delicious

They shut down salmon fishing in the 90's because they ate all the Chinook smolts. I hate those things!

 

[SpringFever2359]

They shut down salmon fishing in the 90's because they ate all the Chinook smolts. I hate those things!

Yup, catch and.kill.em.all,, they hired net guys to.do back then

 

[Rad Gumbo]

I'll do it for free & pretend I'm whacking a seal !!

 

[slabcity]

This morning was still mackerel mania, with multiple triples, BUT we did scratch out 2 springs and a coho. You are correct, the mackerel were choked with bait and the salmon had nothing inside.

 

[slabcity]

Back to mackerel mania this morning. Fished Effingham through Swale. Many doubles and triples of mackerel but could not find a salmon. Never saw another boat. That’s the end of my salmon season. ☹

And yes - confirmed - these things eat ridiculous amounts of bait.

 

[coriba]

I’ve had a disastrous summer due to work, family and injury. Missed most fishing opportunities and only spent a couple of nights on the hook. I’m gonna spend some very late season cruising out in the islands. Are there any bottom fish out there or prawning areas? I’ve never gone out this late before.

 

[trophywife]

I’ve had a disastrous summer due to work, family and injury. Missed most fishing opportunities and only spent a couple of nights on the hook. I’m gonna spend some very late season cruising out in the islands. Are there any bottom fish out there or prawning areas? I’ve never gone out this late before.

prawning has been decent, bottomfish are around of course, most of the ling hills have been picked off. the lings stay deep for another month.

 

[coastrunner]

Is the road work to bamfeild done now?

 

[the fog ducker]

Is the road work to bamfeild done now?

pretty close , just a few clicks left near port , open all the way for us on monday , minimal delays ,

 

[seabeyond]

Anyone found a few coho in Barkley the last couple days?

 

[slabcity]

Anyone found a few coho in Barkley the last couple days?

How do you fish Barkley for Coho? What do you do differently? Out in the middle of the Imperial Channel or still at the usual spots? Shallow, deep? What weeks are best for coho in Barkley Sound?