2025 Nootka Sound/Esperanza Inlet Reports

[RiverBoy]

Generally the run up is not bad. Muchalat will get a chop but have never seen much more than that. 2’ chop at best.
Inside fishing lots of places to fish and get out of the wind.
The ride from gold river up will be good in the morning but with strong winds and high temp afternoon rides are a bit sporty for the the first 10 miles

respectfully i’d call it more than sporty. the weather caused by the thermal outflows mid day can be downright brutal in muchalat depending on boat size. i’m in a DE 185

 

[chille51]

respectfully i’d call it more than sporty. the weather caused by the thermal outflows mid day can be downright brutal in muchalat depending on boat size. i’m in a DE 185

Have heard that warning many times and therefore have always planned the run early morning to minimize the chances of finding out for myself. Just fine by me on the way in, but it hurts a little to cut the morning fishing short on the way out. This upcoming trip for instance, looks like the best weather window we will get to fish the outside is the day we leave. Is what it is I guess. I have always figured be through Muchalat before 11am. I imagine what the tide is doing when those outflows start up plays a role too.

 

[Saltwater Cowboy]

Forecast Thursday through Sunday has dramatically improved.. get out early and get er done! Will be up Wednesday night to Sunday am. Grady White named Ohana is the boat.. say hi.

 

[RiverBoy]

Have heard that warning many times and therefore have always planned the run early morning to minimize the chances of finding out for myself. Just fine by me on the way in, but it hurts a little to cut the morning fishing short on the way out. This upcoming trip for instance, looks like the best weather window we will get to fish the outside is the day we leave. Is what it is I guess. I have always figured be through Muchalat before 11am. I imagine what the tide is doing when those outflows start up plays a role too.

you’ll be fine by 11 but then it starts to lump up really good until it cools off in the evening. what size boat do you have? if you have a capable boat around 20’ you’ll be fine, it’s just very uncomfortable. the first time i got caught i was in a 17’ center console and i was wringing out my underwear when i got to the dock.

 

[Wondermur]

you’ll be fine by 11 but then it starts to lump up really good until it cools off in the evening. what size boat do you have? if you have a capable boat around 20’ you’ll be fine, it’s just very uncomfortable. the first time i got caught i was in a 17’ center console and i was wringing out my underwear when i got to the dock.

…Wringing them out is better than scraping them out?

 

[chille51]

you’ll be fine by 11 but then it starts to lump up really good until it cools off in the evening. what size boat do you have? if you have a capable boat around 20’ you’ll be fine, it’s just very uncomfortable. the first time i got caught i was in a 17’ center console and i was wringing out my underwear when i got to the dock.

Its a 17' Arima - stable fishing platform but not exactly renowned for their big water handling I have added trim tabs and splash rails which are the two biggest upgrades you can to improve an Arima's tendency to slap in chop - but I still do my best not to beat the crap out of the boat or the crew. Anyway, sorry for the side track - here's hoping for some good fishing and weather reports for all in the week coming up. We're there Thurs - Saturday at Critter Cove. If anyone see's an Arima with an aluminum skip top on it, that's probably us.

 

[Trophy 2000]

respectfully i’d call it more than sporty. the weather caused by the thermal outflows mid day can be downright brutal in muchalat depending on boat size. i’m in a DE 185

Launched 3pm last year in Aug and Muchalat was really stacked up in my 18 ft Trophy . Always once you past the first point always good after that. Previous 3 years doing afternoon run no winds luck of the draw . We have the same dates at Critter every year and talking about staying in Gold River night before and launch early morning and decent tide to launch

 

[dennisb]

Have the fish started to show up on the inside. Heading out in a few weeks.

 

[salmonkiller01]

They will be showing up inside. We are there around the 27th every year and fish are around.

 

[Chasin' Dreams]

Has anyone gotten through trying to contact Port Eliza Lodge lately?

I've emailed multiple times and called multiple times and left messages.

I know it's changed owners and the contact info on the site has changed from Roger to Jim but having no luck trying to find out if they have any rooms available.

 

[chille51]

Has anyone gotten through trying to contact Port Eliza Lodge lately?

I've emailed multiple times and called multiple times and left messages.

I know it's changed owners and the contact info on the site has changed from Roger to Jim but having no luck trying to find out if they have any rooms available.

I've booked via Jim the last two seasons. Number on the website is right as far as I know, but I haven't had a reason to call lately. Hope everything is OK, we're there first week of August. He occasionally shows up on here too.

 

[Chasin' Dreams]

I've booked via Jim the last two seasons. Number on the website is right as far as I know, but I haven't had a reason to call lately. Hope everything is OK, we're there first week of August. He occasionally shows up on here too.

Ya I don't know. Have called a dozen times in a week and emailed multiple times.

 

[robbiemc]

I’ve had some success texting him when I can’t get through over the phone

 

[cohochinook]

Ya I don't know. Have called a dozen times in a week and emailed multiple times.

I was just at the lodge and everything was running great. Jim was there. Here is his email in case you have the wrong one jim@portelizalodge.com

 

[Chasin' Dreams]

I’ve had some success texting him when I can’t get through over the phone

Thanks I'll try texting.

I was just at the lodge and everything was running great. Jim was there. Here is his email in case you have the wrong one jim@portelizalodge.com

Thanks ya that's the one I've been using.

 

[Chasin' Dreams]

Just got a hold of Jim. Thanks guys.

Hoping to stay Thursday to Monday. He's gonna check if he's got a room. He's pretty sure he does.

Give me a shout (Chasin' Dreams) on channel 16 then go to another channel if you're out there fishing on those days and wanna swap reports.

 

[robbiemc]

Just got a hold of Jim. Thanks guys.

Hoping to stay Thursday to Monday. He's gonna check if he's got a room. He's pretty sure he does.

Give me a shout (Chasin' Dreams) on channel 16 then go to another channel if you're out there fishing on those days and wanna swap reports.

Let us know how the trip goes. I'll be at Port Eliza starting middle of next week

 

[Chasin' Dreams]

Let us know how the trip goes. I'll be at Port Eliza starting middle of next week

Will do. Winds should calm down Fri, Sat, and Sunday by the looks of the forecast.

 

[adbk]

Super excited ...not first trip out to nootka for me but first time staying at critter cove. Will be with my dad and good friend from July 28 to the 1st, then if we can't get it done in that window maybe they will have a place open up or we can zip over and camp in cougar for a night or two. We'll be in a white silver streak renfrew staying in a cabin then suite for a few nights. Hopefully they'll be some fish inside by then! The people at critter are so friendly over the phone, looking forward to meeting the gang there.

 

[TheHurtLocker]

They will be showing up inside. We are there around the 27th every year and fish are around.

Same here, horrible tides out of GR for launching on the 27th.