Barkley Sound Salmon Fishing Phenomenal

The West Coast of Vancouver Island has seen the migratory route of chinook and coho be slightly different this June and early July. The salmon have all been staying fairly close to the beach. This has developed a sport fishing paradise in the Barkley Sound Vancouver Island B.C. area. The salmon have been in fairly large schools particularly the coho in various popular surfline areas. Meares Bluff, Austin Island, Edward King, Kirby Point and various Bamfield areas have been spectacular. The chinook are averaging 10 to 20 pounds. There have been a few fish in the thirties and over the week a 42 pound beauty was picked up at Austin Island. As time goes on the fish will be bigger. It is expected that in August there will be many chinook in the 40 pound range. Coho are averaging 8 to 10 pounds with several 15 pounders in the mix. Coho generally put on a pound a week at this time of year.

The chinook salmon are in 65 to 90 feet of water and the coho have been in the 30 to 75 foot range. Anchovy in clear, pearl, and purple haze teaser heads behind a green hotspot flasher have

been producing very well. White glow hootchies and green nickel and glow green coyote spoons have also been doing well. We are expecting this trend to continue into September and October. In early August the large Robertson Creek Hatchery Chinook and Coho will begin to appear which will even further improve the quiet and pristine waters of Barkley Sound.