2009 Sportfishing Outlook Ucluelet – Tofino Areas

The 2009 fishing outlook looks very promising and even better than the 2008 season along Vancouver Islands west coast. We are expecting a very strong abundance of both Chinook and Coho salmon off the westcoast of Vancouver Island for the 2009 summer season.

2009 will be the first year that we will see increased returns of adult Chinook and Coho, from a productive cold ocean, that started in the spring of 2006. We are still in this cold productive phase, which will yield good survival rates for this year's smolts (baby salmon heading to sea). This cold productive phase goes hand in hand with the weather that we have been having the past two winters, with some of the coldest temperatures on record and very little precipitation.

The Columbia River and Fraser River Chinook are expecting some very good returns this year. The Columbia River is predicting close to 1 million Chinook to return from now to late fall, this is 300,000 more Chinook than last year. Columbia Coho are also up with a predicted runs as high as 1.2 million, which is a 100% increase from last year. Fraser River has a couple of very large Chinook components returning this year. This means that the overall abundance of Chinook offshore of Ucluelet/Tofino will be very high this summer.

To add to the mix of great opportunities along WCVI waters this year, the return of Fraser River Pink Salmon is considered to arrive approximately 2 million fish over the historic average, with likely numbers in around 14 million salmon. The 2009 Sockeye returns to Barkley Sound are forecasted to improve with a recreational fisheries anticipated. The 2008 Sockeye Salmon returns did not allow a recreational fishery in this area, so local anglers are happy to hear of the stronger forecast.

The Tofino and Ucluelet area Halibut fishing action is a very reliable option for anglers who are focused on these large Flounders, with the average 15-30 lb size making the best table fare while providing ample sport. 2009 recreational fisheries regulations are set at 1 Halibut per day with 2 in possession. B.C. recreational Halibut fishing is to be monitored as the season progresses, and if the recreational Halibut catch numbers look to stay within the 918,000 lb catch ceiling, DFO will then consider increasing the limit to 2 per day. The 2008 season, Halibut daily limit was changed to 2 Halibut per person with a possession of 2 halis……so lets hope the same change in regulations happens again in 2009.

Lingcod fishing has never been better of the WCVI, with the season opening on april 1st, 2 weeks earlier than normal. Lingcod fishing has been incredible both inshore and offshore the last few years, with the limits being 3 lingcod per day per person with a possession of 6 lings per person. Lingcod must be 65cm in length or approx. 26 inches.

Tight lines,

Matt Olcen owner/head guide

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