2008 Fishing Forecast for Salmon & Halibut - Ucluelet & Tofino, Vancouver Island

Fishing for early season Chinook salmon has been fair to excellent for the months of March and April 2008. These beautiful bright fat fish are averaging 5 to 15 pounds and have been feeding on herring, pilchards and needlefish. Though the weather has been typically unsettled for this time of the year, it has been a good start to the season for Chinook salmon, bottom fish such as halibut, lingcod and a variety of rockfish. Another real bonus has been the excellent crabbing and prawning this spring.

I am hoping the 2008 season in the Ucluelet and Tofino areas will be somewhat similar to the 2007 fishing season as it was an excellent for both chinook / coho salmon and halibut/lingcod. There will be some changes in the halibut regulations for the entire British Columbia coast for the 2008 season. The reduction is not based on conservation concerns, but is due to the allocation process of Halibut catch within different sectors on the B.C. coast.

Further to Fishery Notice FN0044:

In order to manage within domestic halibut allocations, the following changes will be implemented in the 2008 recreational fishery:

Coastwide

• March 1 to 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 3.
• April 1 to May 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 2.
• June 1 to Dec 31: Daily limit of two. Possession limit of 2.

Areas 121, 23 and 123

April 1 to Dec 31:

No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in that portion of Area 121 seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.000 minutes north latitude and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes west longitude and continues southeasterly at a bearing of 116 degrees true to a point at 48 degrees 28.327 minutes north latitude and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes west longitude. [12 nautical mile limit]

April 1/08 to March 31/09:

Electronic licence conditions will be expanded as follows: "no person who is not a Canadian resident may fish for or retain halibut under this licence in Areas 121, 23 and 123."

For the many anglers interested in Pacific Halibut, the halibut biomass is considered strong and stable, so we anticipate another great season for these powerful and tasty flatfish in the inshore and offshore waters from Ucluelet to Tofino. Last season was the best and most consistent halibut and lingcod fishing we have experienced in years. Fantastic halibut and lingcod fishing on Ucluelet and TofinoÕs near shore banks and out as far as 25 miles provided our guests with fast and furious action. Triple and quadruple headers of halibut were very common throughout the season.

Generally speaking most of the halibut offshore are considered "chicken halibut" and average between 15 and 25 pounds, while the inshore areas seem to give way to a larger average of 25 to 100 pounds plus barn doors. This season should provide a very similar halibut fishery in these same bait fish rich inshore and offshore areas. Artificial baits such as Berkley Power Baits, jigs (butt slammers), trolled spoons and hootchies all work very well especially when dogfish are present. Bait such as herring, pilchards, mackerel, octopus, salmon and halibut all work very well, minus the doggies.

Our salmon fishing season looks consistent and promising with our regular runs of Chinook and coho salmon moving through our area from early spring through the summer and into the fall season. Early season runs of Chinook salmon, halibut and lingcod will carry through to the peak months of June, July, august and September where intermingled runs of mature Chinook and coho will provide plenty of action for the fisherman in the Ucluelet and Tofino areas.

I would like to thank the many guests we had fish with us in the 2007 season, and look forward to fishing again with the many repeat and new guests for the 2008 season. It is my repeat guests who fish with us every year, who I owe the most thanks to for there continued business, loyalty and friendship.
Although, there are great fishing opportunities in the Ucluelet/Tofino areas in the early spring, it is the high season of June, July, august and September where it is wise to book early and reserve your fishing time. If you have any questions regarding fishing or making reservations, please drop me a line at matt@westcoastfish.com or call anytime at 1-877-333-8221 toll free.

Tight lines,

Matt Olcen owner/head guide

www.westcoastfish.com or call anytime at 1-877-333-8221 toll free