Please see the bottom of page (if using a cell phone) or right hand column (on tablet or desktop) to read about our “recent” 2017 fishing reports in Nanaimo.
The 2016 season started early for us this year (mid-February). To date, we’ve been out on 20 charters and have managed to put 28 fish in the box.
Where have we been fishing: With the fish being a little scarce this Winter and Spring, we have been all over. In February, most of our fish were being caught just north of Neck Point in the 130 to 160 foot range fishing near the bottom. In March, the story was the much the same with the exception of a few fish caught in the gap at the Winchelseas. During the first few weeks of April, the fish had disappeared from the waters of Nanaimo. With a film crew booked for 4 days, the situation looked desperate. We spent 2 days at Pollier Pass just outside of Ladysmith which produced a few fish. We also spent some time at the top end of Lasqueti Island where we finally hooked into our first mid-teener of the year. However, our best fishing during the 4 days was right out in front of Harmac Mill in the 130 foot range near the bottom. The final day with the film crew produced 4 nice fish, one 16lber (the story of this year has been smaller fish, most in the 6-8lb range). Unfortunately, the party in front of Harmac came to an end fairly quickly causing us to go looking once again. This time, April 11 and 15, we found fish out in Nanoose, trolling between Gerald Island and Dorcas Rock.
How deep: When fishing the shallows, we have been fishing anywhere from 20 feet above the bottom to the very bottom without dragging. At the Winchelsea’s, Pollier Pass and by Gerald Island and Dorcas Rock, we have been fishing at about 130-140 feet down (160 on the Scotty downrigger with a 15lb ball).
Our bait: White seems to be the color, white glow 3 inch spoons and white hootchies (the wonder-bread or 602 glo hootchie). If we couldn’t get them to bite on these two baits, we turned to anchovies which often proved successful as well.
Other areas: During the month of February, we also tried our luck around Entrance Island. Though we marked fish in the gap and between Entrance and Snake, we haven’t been able to catch anything large enough for the box. Fishing out by the Five Fingers and from the Fingers towards Winchelsea in the deeper water has been slow to nonexistent as well.
Our next report: Well, that is it for now. We’ll be out there again soon and posting a report by the end of April. If you wish to speak to us before then either about our success or yours, call us (250 667 6950) or email us at reeltimefishingcharters@gmail.com In the meantime, be safe, fish legally (we’ve been pulled over by the DFO twice now in the last little while) and tight lines J
Captain Turk
Owner and operator of Reel Time Fishing Charters
