Tofino B.C. Fishing Season Recap for 2009
Though we are still fishing daily with great saltwater and freshwater action, we wanted tp provide a quick and eventful account of the 2009 Fishing season in the Tofino area, as well as a general forecast for the great looking year ahead in 2010. Tofino area anglers have had it very good once again this season, with excellent Coho fishing still happening to date.
The Tofino area's coastline, as well as the protected inshore waters of Clayoquot Sound played host to some of British Columbia's strongest and diverse runs of transient Salmon en-route to their natal streams, most specifically the prized sport fishing species, Chinook and Coho. The 2009 season's fishing action has been nothing short of excellent for the Tofino B.C. area, with mixed transient stocks of Chinook and Coho providing the best action in many years for Gear and Fly anglers alike. Creel surveys show that recreational fishing pressure on the more fragile local Chinook stocks remained extremely minimal, in efforts to allow local stocks of mature Chinook salmon safe passage to their home rivers of Clayoquot Sound. With a somewhat delayed timing for the diverse transient Salmon runs that typically travel past Tofino during the peak month of August, early to mid September provided the same great action. Late September and early October look to continue the season's trend, with great fishing for Coho, Bottom fish and Feeder Chinook.
Chinook Salmon fishing offshore from Tofino's coastline provided the season's strongest opportunities for large 4-5 year old Chinook. With a return of abundant late summer Chinook Salmon to the lower Fraser and Columbia Rivers, the chance of catching your first Tyee, or even one over 40 lbs could not get any better than fishing the Tofino area this season. This same area also provided great action for the season's largest Coho salmon, with many of the acrobatic fighters in the 15 to 20 lb. range. All "wild" Coho Salmon must be released in offshore areas, unlike the adipose fin clipped Coho that can be retained offshore. Many anglers trolled 40 - 80 feet deep with large spoons or plugs to catch both Chinook and Coho, as well as numerous incidental Halibut when the gear was trolled near the bottom.
Inshore Coho fishing is favoured by many during the later part of the season, with the retention limit increased to 4 Coho per person per day, with only 2 of the 4 being non-adipose fin clipped. With bait-fish stocks extremely strong, and many Coho salmon feeding hard inside Clayoquot Sound, many anglers with smaller vessels appreciate this prime opportunity. Fly anglers are focused on casting and Buck-tailing areas like Tibbs Island down to Catface and Coombs bank for hard hitting and hard fighting Coho salmon on 7-9 weight Fly rods. The 2009 season has been nothing short of excellent for huge numbers of Coho, providing a serious resurgence for Tofino's popular saltwater fly-fishery. The 2010 forecast looks to be very similar to the accurate abundance of Coho in 2009. Anglers fishing in the inshore areas were also encouraged to avoid fishing with traditional baits such as Anchovies or Herring in efforts to avoid mature Chinook Salmon.
Halibut and Bottom fishing action is also a great late season fishing option for the Tofino area. Species such as Ling Cod, Yellow-Eye and Cabezon all live within a short distance offshore, and are a great compliment to the great Halibut fishing that has continued through the spring and summer. Artificial jigs with a little fresh bait for scent will often reward your efforts for these varied species.
On the Freshwater side of angling interests, September and October is when things really start to light up for Salmon in the various streams of the region, along with the Trout that are often close by to pick up stray eggs from the spawning salmon. Most rivers provide good opportunities for catch and release fishing for Salmon and Trout, using single barbless hooks, while respecting the bait ban that is common for most streams on Vancouver Island.
All indications are for a great season again in 2010, so we look forward to seeing you at our new location at 561 Campbell street, directly across from our location for the past 13 years.We will have the same contact numbers and web address here at www.tofinofishing.com, but we are proud to welcome our guests and patrons to our newly renovated Campbell street location with better parking, more and brighter retail space and an even better view over the inner harbour where the Clayoquot Ventures fleet is moored at the 4th street dock. Watch for us on the left as you arrive in to Tofino, directly across from our old location. We welcome any questions and date inquires for the great looking season ahead in 2010.
|
Clayoquot Ventures