wolf
Well-Known Member
Now ya jinxed it!!! uuuuggggg
2025 Bamfield and Barkley Sound Reports
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SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Just got back last night from 3 night stay in Bam. Weather was great.
Salmon wise for us it was awesome. Full limits of chinook in in the 16 to 18 lb range feeding on squid and large herring.
No fish in 20 range.
Usually spots were good Kirby, Swale, Cree and Austin. Found some other spots away from crowds holding fish which was a bonus.
Bottomfishing wasn't epic this trip for us even moving offshore this time around.
On way back getting back in the inlet saw a lot of sockeye jumping, so it will be time to switch to those soon.
Be back up in few weeks of so and looking forward to it.
Salmon wise for us it was awesome. Full limits of chinook in in the 16 to 18 lb range feeding on squid and large herring.
No fish in 20 range.Usually spots were good Kirby, Swale, Cree and Austin. Found some other spots away from crowds holding fish which was a bonus.
Bottomfishing wasn't epic this trip for us even moving offshore this time around.
On way back getting back in the inlet saw a lot of sockeye jumping, so it will be time to switch to those soon.
Be back up in few weeks of so and looking forward to it.
We were second boat with Spring Velocity on this annual 3 day trip. Me and two 15 year olds for my crew.
Friday was crazy salmon fishing at Kirby. Around 20 fish in 3 hours. Too busy to count. Lots of of 6-12 lb released. Kept some around 15-18lb. Mostly needle fish there. Then off for a few inshore lings. Saturday was short fish at Kirby with same results. Then out front for epic ground fish day. Sunday morning took advantage of the flat water and back to the offshore ground fish but it was slower so back in to Cree and Austin for a few salmon as we were leaving that day. Bigger fish there feeding on squid and bigger bait. Kept a couple 16-20lb.
Nice dinner at the pub. Walked to Brady's Beach for sunset for first time.
Magical place. Thanks Bamfield. Hope to be back soon!!
Friday was crazy salmon fishing at Kirby. Around 20 fish in 3 hours. Too busy to count. Lots of of 6-12 lb released. Kept some around 15-18lb. Mostly needle fish there. Then off for a few inshore lings. Saturday was short fish at Kirby with same results. Then out front for epic ground fish day. Sunday morning took advantage of the flat water and back to the offshore ground fish but it was slower so back in to Cree and Austin for a few salmon as we were leaving that day. Bigger fish there feeding on squid and bigger bait. Kept a couple 16-20lb.
Nice dinner at the pub. Walked to Brady's Beach for sunset for first time.
Magical place. Thanks Bamfield. Hope to be back soon!!
Not to be that guy... but the long skinny Barkley baitfish are sand lances, not needlefish. Needlefish have swim bladder and fins but sand lances don't. May be important because needlefish will be anywhere in the water column while sand lances are at the bottom. 95% of our salmon so far have been within 30' of the bottom but that's probably about to change with the squid and herring moving in.
Thanks for the correction. I think us fisherman mistakingly refer to sand lance as needlefish regularly.
Did you mean Bamfield side?
kaelc
Crew Member
Yes, thank you!
RBL
Well-Known Member
You can get them right off the dock in Bamfield around this time of year. Check it out at night with a light.
trophywife
Crew Member
they seem to show up every 3-5 years, sometimes come and go, other years they can be loaded.. crab traps covered in eggs. salmon net to 2 scoop a limit.
hardest thing to do is stay up late enough to get them, then to get up for first light fishing.
wolf
Well-Known Member
Well just spent a week up there firt 3 days were lights out 5 fish over and near 20 lbs, then fish vanished..... very tough fishing did get out once for hali and got them close and bottom fish when we could as the waters were a bit nasty after a few hours of feeling like I went 10 rounds with mike tyson enough was enough LOL.
I tried almost everywhere the usual spots austin,cree,swale,kirby,beale etc etc
What surprised me most this year was bamfield was dead TONS of parking hardly any boats very weird??? one afternoon had kirby all to myself there was only 1 other boat. got fish from shallow to deep 47 to 90 feet AP spoons ,peetz spoon,asian stripper hootchie I threw almost everything at em.
I know more fish will show but wow super slow....
I tried almost everywhere the usual spots austin,cree,swale,kirby,beale etc etc
What surprised me most this year was bamfield was dead TONS of parking hardly any boats very weird??? one afternoon had kirby all to myself there was only 1 other boat. got fish from shallow to deep 47 to 90 feet AP spoons ,peetz spoon,asian stripper hootchie I threw almost everything at em.
I know more fish will show but wow super slow....
kaelc
Crew Member
Haha, I know the feeling. We camped and fished out of the Broken Group for a week last July and couldn’t find salmon for love or money. Eventually switched to white fish to fill the cooler.
The uncertainty makes the hot bites even better!
Aces
Well-Known Member
Everyday
trophywife
Crew Member
keep moving and finding bait. i have skipped the mid day grind and opted with no client fishing this week to get the friends out. nothing of size but finding limits for each of us daily. afternoon tide has been most productive. bottom 1/3 column. running the gear 125-150' in 120-180' deep water.
meares has been the most consistent as well as thiepval
i havent seen any squid in the stomachs from the fish inside. the ones coming from sail and cree area where loaded. white hootchie!!
west coast tackle sex-e series is matching the baitfish inside.
my favourite fishery besides tuna is to try and catch a few sand dabs, rig em and troll them over reefs. it paid off!!
meares has been the most consistent as well as thiepval
i havent seen any squid in the stomachs from the fish inside. the ones coming from sail and cree area where loaded. white hootchie!!
west coast tackle sex-e series is matching the baitfish inside.
my favourite fishery besides tuna is to try and catch a few sand dabs, rig em and troll them over reefs. it paid off!!
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Yep in agreement no bait I move.
Yeah we actually found all our chinooks very shallow few weeks ago. 45 ft to 51ft off the rigger close in tight to structure. Also way out they were very shallow as well.
That was consistant in all areas we fished. Didn't have to put gear off bottom.
Will be up end of month for a few days for Can Day in Bam and will have another report.
Yeah we actually found all our chinooks very shallow few weeks ago. 45 ft to 51ft off the rigger close in tight to structure. Also way out they were very shallow as well.
That was consistant in all areas we fished. Didn't have to put gear off bottom.
Will be up end of month for a few days for Can Day in Bam and will have another report.
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