queensalmon
New Member
I thought Bajo is closed to all fin fish.
2025 Nootka Sound/Esperanza Inlet Reports
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salmonkiller01
Well-Known Member
Bajo as a general area. Stay out of closed areas. We were a few Miles away
Just wrapped up a 3 day trip at Port Eliza. Limits of chinook and coho for 4 guys and a couple of halibut. Great weather for getting off shore but plenty of action just out front. released a couple of halibut just over the new limit that would have been great fish last year.
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Chasin' Dreams
Well-Known Member
Bajo is a specific area as in Bajo Point. Bajo Reef is another Bajo but its a 6 mile off shore reef.
If you were a few miles away that's a huge distance when it comes to fishing locations and wouldn't be considered anywhere near Bajo.
Bajos closed..
A few miles away in fishing lingo is a whole different world
Chasin' Dreams
Well-Known Member
Catala Island. That beach is made up of very round smooth pebbles. It's nice but there's lots of nicer sandy ones in the general area of Nootka Sound. When you're bouncin' around fishing different spots keep your eyes out for them.
Do you have a way to get to shore from your boat?
Chasin' Dreams
Well-Known Member
Yup same here. It's ******. Fight the fish, bring it up from the depths, tire it out, messing around with getting an accurate measurement on it, just to end up releasing ones barely over. And if you actually want a proper measurement that's pretty crappy to have to do with marks on a pole over the side of a boat while trying to do with a perfectly still fish..it would take a fish in the boat laying still and flat to measure properly and accurately. Which we all know is worse for the fish having to mess around with so much. Having to put ones back a few cms too big is a **** off. Should have left it the way it was. A lot more Hali around in the old measurement size from what I've seen but that's gonna differ from spot to spot too.
Fishing for the smaller ones is a whole different method if you wanna target them and not the big ones... and when you're targeting smaller Halis along comes all the by catch with that that you don't get when targeting a lot bigger Halis. Not saying we wanna go target big females of course but you know what I mean..
If you do go on the beaches with a dog around there, be aware of wolves. They'll stalk, call, and snatch dogs.
Chasin' Dreams
Well-Known Member
Ya thanks I know there's quite a few of them on the North Island and they like to frequent the beaches. I'm on the lookout for them.
Dogbreath
Well-Known Member
Seen that at Duval Point/Port Hardy right in the middle of the day too.
CiscoCat
Active Member
Im always amazed at how many boats run without AIS or radar. Nice work on avoiding the collision.
definitely bringing the inflatable zodiac now!
Chasin' Dreams
Well-Known Member
I see you posted that you're staying at Moucha Bay. That's the complete opposite side/end of Nootka than Catala and the other beaches was gonna message you about but there's certainly other beaches around where you're fishing out of.
Use Google Earth and pan/zoom around the area. You're sure to find some.
Fishin
Well-Known Member
There’s a few fish around the usual spots inside but still lots holding out past the light house, offshore has been fishing well for us on both salmon and bottom fish when the weather permits. The bait has been small so small spoons are fishing well on the bottom but have seen some squid in our fish as well, had to come back to Victoria to drop our boat off at home unfortunately as our brand new main motor is having issues so will be back up in moutcha bay on Friday and renting one of their boats. Hopefully see you up there!
MRW
Active Member
We’ll be in the upper campground with a brown gmc in camp if you feel like having a beer or just tell some fish stories stop on by.
3 guys that will probably be up too late.
coastalmarinesafety
Active Member
Back from a quick 2 night trip to Nootka. Summer weather. Sunny and nice. Critter Cove solid as always. Fish are on the inside now. Can get 2-3 in a morning shift type of thing. We did very well at Hoiss to Coopte the last morning. 3 springs in an hour, 12-20lbs. Others we heard did well- if they stick and stay for the bites rest of the day. Crap shoot where the evening bite will pan out type of thing. We found springs at the usual spots around the outside too, lighthouse to Beano and preferred to fish out there during the day as it was calm out there. Small spoons and glow hootchies worked for us. 35’ in the morning, down to 75’ as day went on. Biggest fish 22, average spring seemed to be 12-15lbs, with smaller ~60-62cm ready to go males mixed in. Either 3 year fish scooting back to try their luck with the ladies or just small 4 year olds.
Gold River Ramp was great. Staff were quick. It was low low tides in morning lately. Most 20’-25’ boats need a minimum 5’ tide to avoid risking scraping bottom in the middle stretch before and leading seaward to float plane dock. It can be 10’ leaving ramp area on a “3’ tide”but it will be only 3’ deep in that mid section. Some big boats were impatient and reported hitting their props. We have a 21’ Striper, know the best channel out, so waited for a 4.5’ rising tide and had just enough water with motor trimmed up. I think the historic advice of nothing less than a 3’ tide should be 5’ now. Gravel has recruited in to that mid section more than it was even just 4 years ago. Happy fishing everyone yet to do their trips out there this summer!! Looking forward to your reports.
Gold River Ramp was great. Staff were quick. It was low low tides in morning lately. Most 20’-25’ boats need a minimum 5’ tide to avoid risking scraping bottom in the middle stretch before and leading seaward to float plane dock. It can be 10’ leaving ramp area on a “3’ tide”but it will be only 3’ deep in that mid section. Some big boats were impatient and reported hitting their props. We have a 21’ Striper, know the best channel out, so waited for a 4.5’ rising tide and had just enough water with motor trimmed up. I think the historic advice of nothing less than a 3’ tide should be 5’ now. Gravel has recruited in to that mid section more than it was even just 4 years ago. Happy fishing everyone yet to do their trips out there this summer!! Looking forward to your reports.
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jcon12
Well-Known Member
Nice! Three years ago the northern coho came down (early?) .. they average 10-12lbs and were beautiful fish.
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