Fingers were crossed as the summer of 2009 approached that there would not be a repeat of the sub-par fishing of 2008. That worry was eliminated very early on as the month of June did not disappoint. Big numbers of large Chinook arrived in early June and continued in big numbers right through the month and into early July. Those groups who booked our 3-day special and fished this past June went home fully loaded. Not only were the numbers good, many of these early chinook topped 30 pounds. The two largest June chinook went 38 and 36 pounds. Coho appeared in early July and their numbers made it apparent that the fall of 2009 would be a vastly better one for nice northern coho as well. We never targeted these growing fish in July, preferring to wait until the fall when they begin their spawning run as full grown adults.
We fished once again up in Nootka Sound for the latter half of July and enjoyed the best chinook and halibut fishing on the entire B.C. coast. On the day I arrived at the lodge in Nootka one of the guides came in with a 51 pound chinook! The next morning couldn't come fast enough. During my stay I've never seen so many large fish taken on a daily basis. Forty-pound chinook were coming to the dock routinely. Another 51 pound monster was caught 2 days after the first one. Most were coming from the outside waters at the Bajo Reef about 4 miles offshore. We fished out there twice and had fast and furious action with 37 pounds being our largest. On one of those days we had so much halibut, ling cod, snapper and salmon on board my fish storage was completely stuffed. I had to jump on the hatch to squish the fish down so it would lie flat. Reminded me of those "Deadliest Catch" episodes where the tanks are so full they have to jump on the crab to get the lid on. We even lost a 100 pound halibut on that same day as well. Not sure where I would have put it. The weather was also fantastic this summer with a long stretch in July where daily temperatures were in the 90's.
I returned to Sooke in early August and expected the usual great late summer fishing in home waters. This year for the first time in a real long time, August and early September were a disappointment. A few good days here and there but below average results most of the time. We did manage our season's largest Chinook salmon on August 13th, it went 40 pounds even. Bill Crab of San Diego caught the big fish at Muir Creek only a short time before the whales showed up that afternoon.
On the Labour Day weekend the 1st annual "Vancouver Island Salmon Classic" was held in Sooke. $175,000 was up for grabs for the 3 largest salmon. The 55-team, sold-out event went over extremely well, the weather and seas were awesome, the food and beverages plenty and some nice fish won the big money. The winning team not only walked away with $100,000 for the largest salmon over the 2 days of fishing (40.8 lbs), they also grabbed another $50,000 for the 2nd largest salmon as well (37.8 lbs). The 3rd place fish went 37.3 lbs and that team collected $25,000 for their effort. The event is already sitting on a wait list of 22 teams wanting to participate in the coming years. I hold a team (Team Spring Fever) as a captain in the event and will be looking for a couple of teammates to join me in 2010. E-mail me for details.
Coho fishing in September was very good with some very big fish around. Unfortunately most of the fish pushed through the Sooke area before the restriction on the retention of wild coho expired on October 1st. We had many 4-6 hour trips in the last half of September where we played 20 to 30 coho per outing, but could only retain hatchery marked fish. After October 1st there were fewer coho around but unbelievable numbers of smaller feeder chinook arrived and gave us none stop fish-on action. Seriously, I never had time to take a tea break—triple headers, doubles one after another. A good sign for the next few years to come!!!
This was also the first years in a few that large schools of herring returned to the straits. Herring balls could be sighted daily from early September to the present time. This is also a positive sign for the coming winter and the following years. A good salmon food supply only helps ocean survival and we'll see a positive result in catches in the short term.
Halibut fishing was also very good in 2009. The early spring fishery off of Victoria (March to May) was one of the best ever. The halibut bio-mass is on an upwards swing for the next 6 or 7 years, so it will get even better. I'll be targeting halibut in late March until mid-May in 2010. This is when they come up from deeper waters to feed after the winter spawning season.
Next year is the first of two seasons in a row predicted to be the best in some time for returning salmon. I'll be ready once again and look forward to some great trips with great people. I hope to see many of you again next summer. The boat will be warmed up, baits rigged and the coffee hot. Cheers till then! Rollie
Sooke & Nootka 2010 Season Forecast
The next two consecutive seasons are predicted to see the strongest chinook salmon returns in some time. DFO scientists have observed high numbers of
juvenile chinook salmon in the ocean from the 2006 and 2007 brood years. They contribute the higher numbers to a much better ocean survival rate as
the oceans have been considerably cooler and food sources more abundant. This is backed up by the numbers of juvenile chinook salmon being caught and
released by sport fishermen along Vancouver Island's west coast. The US has also ramped up their chinook hatchery program and many of these fish
migrate along our waters. The first adults from this ramped up program will return through our offshore waters on route back to their spawning
origins. Chinook returns for 2010 and 2011 will be strong. Great news!!!
Halibut stocks and quota will also be on the upswing for the next 6 or 7 years. Halibut fishing was unbelievably good in 2009 even though the sport
caught quota was reduced. These fish stocks are well managed by the IHC and year to year catches remain consistent. The overall bio mass will be
increasing for the next 6 or 7 years and so will the catch quotas. The result may be a return to a 2 fish daily limit and 3 in possession soon.
I’m looking forward to another great summer fishing season in 2010 and my annual trek up into Nootka Sound. I’m already thinking about the upcoming fun times fishing with all the regular groups, meeting and fishing with new clients and the comradeship between all the other guides and local fishermen we see along our travels. I hope you join us!
I’m taking bookings now for both Sooke and Nootka Sound. More info about Nootka Sound can be found on our brand new sister site at www.nootkafishingcharters.com.
Call or email me for available dates for the upcoming 2010 season. Tight lines and the best of the season to all!
...Rollie
