2025 Nanoose Bay/French Creek Reports

[Poppa Reelie]

Couple days late, but Tuesday was out for a few hours and picked up a couple hatch Coho and then a massive Pink. Worthy of a picture but didnt get one. Pushing 8-9 pounds. They are here, anyone else? Was caught off by the size.

 

[Arimayaya]

Out today 5am-9am. Definitely slower than last week. Got one nice 70cm and a couple hatch coho. Also had a green crew this outing and lost a few nice looking fish due to angler error. All said and done it was a great morning. One of my guest crew didn’t quite get the memo of letting it run when it pulls, heavy gauge hook bent right out. Probably something of size to straighten that hook out and would’ve gone back anyhow.

 

[Rad Gumbo]

Great afternoon/eve yesterday. Only a couple unclipped coho. Released 2 springs both over 80 , one was way over. More food for the dumbass whales that are nowhere to be seen. Big Plugs were the ticket. Little sloppy to start but layed down nicely after 6.

 

[Aces]

Out today 5am-9am. Definitely slower than last week. Got one nice 70cm and a couple hatch coho. Also had a green crew this outing and lost a few nice looking fish due to angler error. All said and done it was a great morning. One of my guest crew didn’t quite get the memo of letting it run when it pulls, heavy gauge hook bent right out. Probably something of size to straighten that hook out and would’ve gone back anyhow.

just a wee bit of too much pressure

 

[Arimayaya]

just a wee bit of too much pressure

Just a bit,haha. She fully panicked and held the reel tight, I looked back and the rod was bent over a full 180degrees then it was gone. She almost got a hard lesson on the knuckle busters

 

[Ryan A]

Got out by 5:30 this morning, lost a pin popper right away then managed a nice 72cm marble, lucked out and got a hatch ho down at 180’ on a 5” 602, the amount of people just blatantly not paying attention or not caring and just cutting others off is the worst I’ve seen out there in past years, I just don’t understand it. I give people the benefit of the doubt if they’re solo and have a fish on or take into account they’re new to boating but this morning was something else, and it wasn’t just me complaining. Might have to start putting pictures up of boats to stay clear of.

 

[Copper Moon]

Got out by 5:30 this morning, lost a pin popper right away then managed a nice 72cm marble, lucked out and got a hatch ho down at 180’ on a 5” 602, the amount of people just blatantly not paying attention or not caring and just cutting others off is the worst I’ve seen out there in past years, I just don’t understand it. I give people the benefit of the doubt if they’re solo and have a fish on or take into account they’re new to boating but this morning was something else, and it wasn’t just me complaining. Might have to start putting pictures up of boats to stay clear of.

No combat fishing down by Schooner Cove. Limits of springs and coho with relaxed fishing.

 

[Ryan A]

Hopefully two a day soon within the border line, I see in 2023 it was Aug 5, can’t remember when it changed last year, just checked the DFO site but nothing yet.

 

[Ryan A]

Every evening at FC as the bait pushes in towards shore

 

[RiverBoy]

went down to Nanaimo to do some shopping and i’m just wondering what all those cars are doing pulled over to the side of the road by the submarine base area? piles of people on the beach? im assuming collecting shellfish but not actually sure!

 

[baddogg]

went down to Nanaimo to do some shopping and i’m just wondering what all those cars are doing pulled over to the side of the road by the submarine base area? piles of people on the beach? im assuming collecting shellfish but not actually sure!

You are correct. Sunday there were more cars parked than I have ever seen. I would guess in the 150 range.Some were even double parked. How do the shellfish survive going extinct in that area? Every low tide one grey gmc p/u with a canopy is there. How many shellfish does a person really need?

 

[Rad Gumbo]

Any way you slice it , its nothing less than rape. But you can't say anything cause that might offend the ignorant.

 

[MRWood]

There is talk in Nanoose that the highways people are going to stop people from parking along the highway. It has already caused numerous accidents and is a real safety issue. Who knows how long that will take to enact.

 

[A-a-Ron]

Got out by 5:30 this morning, lost a pin popper right away then managed a nice 72cm marble, lucked out and got a hatch ho down at 180’ on a 5” 602, the amount of people just blatantly not paying attention or not caring and just cutting others off is the worst I’ve seen out there in past years, I just don’t understand it. I give people the benefit of the doubt if they’re solo and have a fish on or take into account they’re new to boating but this morning was something else, and it wasn’t just me complaining. Might have to start putting pictures up of boats to stay clear of.

Come check out Sandheads the first week of September. It’s a rookie gong show.

 

[Ryan A]

Was out both Friday and Saturday morning, Friday was really slow for me, released half a dozen wild Ho’s and one undersized spring, tried all the depths and gear, counted 40 boats at the humps, today was much better, bonked two springs 78 and 80 on the nose, both on plugs down in the mud, lost a screamer on a herring aid flasher and spoon, line snapped at my swivel, counted 20 boats out this morning and everyone was nicely spaced and courteous, couldn’t figure out why then I realized no Kingfishers were out

 

[Redfisher]

Was out yesterday. Bonked 2 springs on the humps fishing plugs then switched over to coho gear but only 2 hatcheries. Released a number of pinks and a number of little grilse coho. Nice morning but a fair number of boats.

 

[salmonkiller01]

Went out Saturday and fishing is great. Got 2 hatchery coho easily and played a few springs on plugs.
The pinks are arriving also. Hooked into 4 trolling for coho.
Coho 100’ on spoons, springs on bottom on plugs.

 

[MRWood]

My wife and I went out jigging on Friday. Got these 4 in about an hour and a half. The bigger chromer spring was a whitey. The other spring got harrassed by a seal. 78 & 70cm’s. Fishing off the rocks in about 50’ of water.

 

[MRWood]

News out is that they opened up sockeye starting on Aug 16 thru Aug 24, 4 each per day. What are peoples plans on where to intercept them around here. Years back we tried Sabine Channel but weren’t able to get on the fish.

 

[salmonkiller01]

Head to deep water bay above Seymour narrows . To early for any big populations south of Campbell. Was always the 3rd week of August north of the narrows

I have no intention to go up