Word on the Dock
Fishing Reports

Winter Chinook fishing is really heating up at Pedder Bay RV Resort & Marina.

Over the weekend, a good number of fish in the 8 to 15 lb range were brought in from Whirl Bay, Church Rock and Pedder Bay.

Most boats ended up with a least a couple of fish and several brought in limits for three or four anglers of fish  in the 10 - 12 lb range. Not bad for mid-December!

Pedder Bay legend and Marina manager Gilles Gagnon proved the power of purple by nailing a nice10 lber on his tried and true Pruple Haze squirt & flasher combo on Friday while playing hookey from work. 125 feet was the magic depth for Gilles.

John and friends having been consistently catching good numbers of fish from Whirl Bay using a variety of gear at depths from 135 to 160 feet. Nice fish!!!

The next week is looking to have some great afternoon tides. Give us a call at 250-478-1771 for a wind report and if its nice, come on down and catch a few spring salmon for the smoker. Your friends will love the gift of fresh smoked chinook, and you'll have a ball catching them.

We call that a win \ win!

Tight lines & Happy Holidays!

Martin\Dave\Gilles\Debbie\Floyd

Your friendly Pedder Bay winter crew.

Lots of anglers are braving the cooler weather and heading out on Juan de Fuca Strait now that word word is out that "the fish are in the bay!"

"Winter Springs", "Feeders", "Blackmouth", or whatever you like to call them are chinook salmon in their 2nd or 3rd year of life at sea. Ranging from small, 2 year old "shakers" of a couple of pounds up to fish in the high teens, they are eagerly sought after and much anticipated by local anglers in the know.

Why?

Because they are considered perhaps the best eating fish of the year, and are also pound for pound some of the hardest fighting.

Add to that the chance to get out on the water for some much needed "outdoor time" at this time of year, and you can see why so many Victorians get excited about this fishery.

"Winters", as we'll call them, tend to move around a bit, but for the next month or two you can pretty much guarantee there'll be some somewhere within a 10 minute boat ride from Pedder Bay, and often right at the Can Buoy or William Head. A couple of nice fish in the 12 to 15 lb range came in off William Head on Tuesday.

More agressive than summer chinook, winters can be caught on a range of gear with "squirts" and small spoons like Coyote or Coho Killers amongst the favorites, typically trolled 3 to 6 feet behind a glow-in-the-dark flasher. Favorite colours for squirts are Purple Haze, J-79, Army Truck and Glow White. Spoons in glow\green, chartreuse\green and chrome\green colours are also a good place to start but if you have a favorite - try it, these fish usually aren't that fussy as long as you remembere the bait is smaller right now..

If the bite is really on, you can have a blast by fishing a "dummy flasher" attached directly to your downrigger ball and then run a spoon 10 to 15 feet above it without a flasher. Great sport on light tackle - some guys (like me!) even use 9 or 10 wt fly rods when doing this - what a hoot! Remember to be careful when getting the line out of the clip with the light rods though...

Always try to fish close to the bottom in 75 to 180 feet of water, and if you find a shcool of bait try to stay on top of it and fish just below it. You can speed up a bit when fishing for these guys (1.5 - 2.5 kn) as they are fairly agressive.

Today is the perfect example of a great winter chinook day. Clear skies, light winds and about 5C. Already a few nice ones have hit the dock...

Oh yeah, crabbing is pretty good right now as well. A great way to get the taste of summer back in to your meal plan!

We've got the coffe pot on in the coffee house, hot soup and toasted foccacia ready to go along with lots of other speciality coffee drinks, breakfast snacks and baked treats.

Bundle up, break out the salmon gear and crab traps and come on down for some of the nicest fish of the year. We do have rental boats available and the Marina Office and Coffee House are open 8:00 to 4:00 daily.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Tight lines...

Martin, Dave, Gilles, Debbie & Floyd

Your friendly Pedder Bay Winter Crew.

Seasons Greetings from the crew at Oak Bay Marine Group

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season but struggling for ideas?  Purchase a gift certificate from Oak Bay Marine Group and give the gift of fishing and outdoor adventures and holiday relaxation.

Call 1-800-663-7090 to purchase your gift certificate.

We'd like to say a special congratulations to Mr. Bob Wright, the founder and owner of Oak Bay Marine Group. Bob was just selected to enter the Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame.

Congratulations Bob!

To read Bob's article, visit http://bit.ly/rH5zYK

The bite just keeps going on at Pedder Bay as one of the best Coho fisheries in years is unfolding right now on Juan De Fuca Straight.

Tons of Coho in the 7 to 18lb range have been hitting the docks every day for the past couple of weeks, and the action shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. To add to the excitement, more than anyone can remember, Chum salmon are being hooked by anglers on a variety of lures as the season progresses. These hard fighing fish will run well in to November so with any luck, they'll provide a seamless transition in to our traditionally excellent November\December feeder Chinook fishery. We'll just have to wait and see!

Coho are being picked up in all tidelines ranging from 1\2 mile to 5 miles plus out in the straight. Most anglers from Pedder Bay are fishing from Beechey Head to Christopher Point as a shoreline reference but again, well out in the straight and typically asociated with tidelines.

Depths range from the surface early in the morning down to about 100 feet. It pays to run multiple rods and fish a few different depths as the fish do move up and down in the water column.

Small spoons like 3.5 inch Coyote's and Coho Killers in glow or watermelon colours have been hot, as have Army Truck, Purple Haze or Glow Below hoochies and squirts trolled fast behind brighyly coloured or glow flashers. Some of the larger fish have been coming in on anchovies though.

Bag limits are currently 4 Coho per day over 30 cm with only one wild fish allowed per day. Check those adipose fins before netting, and release the wild ones unharmed please! They represent our fishery potential in three years. Also, remember to submit the heads from your hatchery fish - they provide valuable information to fishery managers.

The photo shows David McConnel with a couple of beauties he managed to catch before work. Not bad for a quick early morning session!

Come on out and enjoy some great fall weather along with some of the best fishing of the year. The RV resort is open until the end of the month. Why not combine that last camping trip of the year with some great late season fishing? We'll keep the coffee on for you....

Your friendly Pedder Bay Crew.

Greetings From Pedder Bay RV Resort & Marina:

After an awesome summer of Chinook, Sockeye and Pink Salmon fishing we're now starting to get in to what many of our long term guests consider to be their favorite time of the year.

The beautiful, stable, late summer\early fall weather pattern has settled in providing calm, fog free, sunny days  - perfect for fishing and camping. Blackberries are at their ripest and sweetest (the RV resort is surrounded by them) and the leaves along the galloping goose trail are starting to turn. Its a truly magical time here in Metchosin.

As if on cue, the Coho and Chum Salmon that fill our creels during the autumn months are arriving in Juan De Fuca Strait in larger and larger numbers every day.

Acrobatic, great tasting, hard fighters and eager biters, mature Coho range from 6 to over 20 lbs. They are usually caught on an assortment of gear with small spoons like Coho Killers or 3.5 inch Coyote Spoons, and larger Army Truck or Glow Below hootchies trolled fast (2-3mph) about 40 inches behind a flasher being a good polace to start. Bait like anchovies or 6 - 7 in herring will also work - try using these with a tight, fast roll about 8 feet above a dummy flasher for a truly awesome fight.

Chum Salmon are pound for pound one perhaps the hardest fighters of all Pacific Salmon species. Not quite as acropbatic as Coho, they more than make up for it with strong fast runs and agressive head shakes that will make you think you've latched on to a late season Tyee.
Much fussier than Coho, we'd recommend that if you want to try targetting Chum rather than accept them as an incidental catch to Coho, that you  use either small pink hootchies or Purple Haze squirts rigged with black hooks about 24 inches behind a Purple Haze or Purple Onion Flasher. Try varying speeds and look for jumpers or finning fish. Fantastic smoked, try turning them in to salmon candy for a real treat.

The tidelines will produce the most consistent action at this time of year and it pays to vary your depth from near the surface down to as deep as 150 feet until you locate the fish. Once you hit some fish, figure eight over that spot until you either lose them or they move on.

One note of caution - there is also an abundance of very small, juvenile Chinook migrating through Juan De Fuca Strait for the next month or so. These fish represent our future and must be handled with the utmost of care. Please pay attention to your rods and if you think you had a small bite, assume you did and check your line immediately. By doing so you shoiuld be able to carefully release the "shaker" unharmed, and avoid wasting time trolling around a small salmon rather than something that will actually catch you larger salmon. Checking your gear at least every 10 minutes is a really good way to ensure you're always in a position to catch any fish you troll through.

Fall is here and the time is right for heading out and getting some great late season action on the best fish of the year. The RV resort is quieter, campfires feel that much better with a little evening chill in the air and the scenery just keeps getting prettier and prettier as autumn colours take hold.

Come down and soak it in, we'll be here to welcome you when you do...

Your Friendly Pedder Bay Crew

We thought the fishing couldn't get any better, but it has!

Pink salmon fishing remains nothing short of awesome with limits easy to come by out in the tide lines or even right in Pedder Bay. Pink squirts trolled anywhere from the surface to 90 feet have been consistently producing full fish tubs for all anglers.

The MVFD "Bite Me Derby" is under way this weekend and tons of big springs are hitting the scales. The current leader is Kevin Packford with an awesome hog of 42.7 lbs taken off Secretary Island and second place is held by David Purnell with 31.8lb Tyee taken from Otter Pt. Any fish over 52lbs can win $20,000.00 so we've got lots of anglers out there this weekend trying to beat that mark. Will it happen? Stay tuned!

Chinook are coming in from all the hot spots including Church Rock, Beechey Head, Trap Shack, and of course Pedder Bay itself. Anchovie in a teaser head about 7 feet behind a flasher have been really consistent, as have Coyote spoons in green\white and green\chrome. Depths range from 45 to 120 feet so hunt around and change depths until you find the fish.

And now for the bonus - as a real treat for salmon lovers, sockeye are now open for 2 fish per angler per day! These tasty, scrappy fish are caught on the same gear and in the same areas as pinks - look for "nervous water" near tide lines and try pink squirts about 24 inches behind a  red\silver flasher for your best presentation. Depths range from the surface to 90 feet. Bbq'd fresh sockeye. Mmmmm!

The warm weather has brought out the campers in full force. The RV is  resort getting rave reviews from happy RV'ers from all over North America. Make sure you call ahead for a reservation (1-877-478-1771) and as of today we are still OK for campfires so don't forget the S'mores fixings!

Everyone is having fun at Pedder this weekend so come on down and join in on the festivities. Remember, if you don't have a boat we can rent you one so you can take in the great action that's going on.

Tight lines and best fishes...

Your friendly Crew at Pedder Bay

It's a beautiful morning out here in Pedder Bay with clear blue skies and light south easterly winds. I woke up nice and early this morning to watch eager anglers take to the waters in hopes of catching some nice salmon and halibut.  With a coffee in hand from the Coffeehouse, I sat on the outside deck chatting with many RV guests and waiting for the boats to come in with their catches. Since 6:00 am this morning all 20 rental boats have been out fishing the Juan de Fuca Strait and many people have been waiting their turn. 

Robert Hinchcliffe, a local angler who has been fishing these waters for the past 15 years, was the first to come back with limit of salmon.  Amongst his nice sized pinks was a 23 pound beauty.  Not to be off the water for long, Robert is heading back out with friends so that they too can catch some fish for dinner.  I cannot wait to see what comes in next! 

The long weekend has seen the RV Resort pack full with guests from all around Canada and the USA. Kids have been riding their bikes, couples have been relaxing in their loungers in the sunshine, families have been swimming at Lake Matheson and dogs have been frolicking in the long grass along the Galloping Goose Trail.  

All in all it's been a great August long weekend. 

~ Jennifer 

Fishing at Pedder Bay can only be described as hot right now as a fantastic mix of salmon flood through Juan de Fuca Strait right in front of the resort.

Chinook catches in the teens to 30's have been consistent with notable catches includuing Mike Monk's 32 lb taken at Christopher Point, about 10 mins from the dock, and the Juan de Fuca Derby winner of 40.5 lbs caught at Church Rock by Brian Orr. Hot spots include Pedder Bay itself - especially if you're jigging  in the Cape Calver to George Point area - Church Rock, the Beford Islands and Whirl Bay.

All of the standard gear has been producing but anchovies in a bloody nose or purple haze teaser head trailed about 6 feet behind a Betsy or Purple Onion flasher seem to give anglers a bit of an edge. Depths have varied from 45 to 125 feet so it pays to experiment a bit and stagger your gear.

As of today, Chinook limits increase to 2 fish per person per day over 45 cm so get out there and get some slabs!

The first strong wave of what is already turning out to be a record setting pink salmon run are firmly established in the tidelines and are regularly getting swept in to Chinook holes especially in the Beechy Head and Church Rock areas. The stories of double and triple headers going on for several hours are already happening so its likely to be a real barn burner for good action over the next couple of months. These feisty, tasy fish in the 5 to 10 lb range are extremely easy to catch on pretty much anything pink, and tend to live in the top layers of the water column - 20 to 60 feet.

A reel favorite with our rental boat customers, pink salmon don't require the use of downriggers (6oz or 8 oz slip sinkers work just as well) and are perfect for newer anglers and children. If you're not sure how to catch them or have never tried before fear not, our experienced dock and office crew will provide all of the tackle and tips you need to end up at the cleaning table looking like a pro!

Halibut catches have also been consistent as long as tides and wind allow good access to the best spots. As the spring westerlies subside and we get in to a more stable summer pattern, this access will become easier. Good tides are happening July 21 - 25, Aug 5 & 6,  & Aug 17 - 22.

The bite's on and based on what we're seeing now we should be in for an incredible summer of fishing, boating and camping.  No boat? No problem! Grab the gang, come on down and use one of our rental boats to catch some of the action.

Tight lines...

Pedder Bay Crew

It's Game On!

The excitement is running at a fever pitch at Pedder Bay  this weekend as 600 of BC's top salmon fishermen battle it out for the $30,000.00 top prize and ultimate bragging rights at the 25th annual Juan de Fuca Salmon Derby. Perhaps the most prestigious salmon tournament in BC, the "Juan de Fuca" attracts anglers, guides and visitors from all over the province.

In spite of high winds and rain, good numbers of fish were caught and weighed in at Pedder Bay yesterday - for 25 years in a row the only official weigh in station for the derby.

Current leaders are:

John Olsen - 30.5 lbs

Greg Walters - 30.4 lbs

Andrew Dawson - 28.8 lbs

With the full contingent of boats on the water as we report, expectations are high that larger fish will be weighed in this morning before the scales close at noon today.

Stay tuned for further reports!!!

Tight lines...

Your friendly crew at Pedder Bay RV Resort & Marina