Cold Weather; Hot Fishing!
Over the past few weeks, Chinook salmon fishing in Nanaimo has been the best I’ve seen in my years as a fishing guide. The quantity of fish has been amazing. And the quality is getting better by the day. Today, in just under 2 hours, we had our limit of Chinook, one topping the scales at 12 lbs (that’s good for a winter spring!).
What really stands out about this year is that these fish seem to be everywhere. In the past two weeks, we have fished the south end of Gabriola Island all the way south to the Brick Yard and have hooked fish at every location. Today, just to test fate, I fished as close as I legally could to the Harbor mouth (the Green Can) and still managed to find fish. They just seem to be everywhere.
Another encouraging sign this season is that most of these fish are clipped or hatchery fish. This is good news for anglers. It shows that the hatchery programs across the Pacific Northwest are really working. It also means that soon, there may be a limited opening for these fish during the months of May and June.
For a reel good time, book your next fishing adventure with us in Nanaimo. Retention is 2 per angler until the end of March. After April 1st, there is a very good chance this fishery will close until July 15, 2023. Also, keep in mind that with Reel Time Fishing Charters, 5% of every trip goes back into salmon restoration through the Pacific Salmon Foundation. As we like to say at Reel Time…, “Experience the Wonder, Invest in its Future.”
Captain Turk (Andrew Turkstra)
Owner and operator of Reel Time Fishing Charters & Marine Tours