This Fishery Notice provides the interim recreational fishery management measures to provide protection to at-risk Fraser River Chinook stocks in Areas 11 to 28, 121 to 127 and Subareas 29-1 to 29-5 and 29-8. West Coast Vancouver Island offshore including Switftsure BankД¬ategory(s): RECREATIONAL вЂ“ SALMON Current as of April 1st 2020.ДЇishery Notice вЂ“ Fisheries and Oceans CanadaВ Subject: FN0322-RECREATIONAL вЂ“ Salmon вЂ“ Chinook вЂ“ Areas 11 to 28, 111, 121 to 127 and Subareas 29-1 to 29-5 and 29-8 вЂ“ Chinook Management Measures вЂ“ Effective April 1, 2020В To address conservation concerns for at-risk Fraser River Chinook stocks, DFO is continuing precautionary reductions in commercial, recreational and First NationвЂ™s fisheries to support conservation of these stocks. Vancouver, Bowen Island, Indian Arm, Squamish Tofino, Flores Island, Meares Island, Vargas Island Saanich, Saltspring Island, Mayne Island, Pender Island, Saturna Island Jervis Inlet, Sechelt Inlet, Texada Island Finally, shrimping is marginal (nothing compared to Hood Canal), although it was fairly easy work dropping the pots at the beginning of the week and checking them once a day all week long.Campbell River, Cortes Island, Quadra Island, Sonora IslandД¬omox, Denman Island, Hornby Island, Parksville The regulars called the fish we caught babies compared to those in the open ocean, but compared to the Puget Sound they were monsters. We never went outside for bottom fish because we could grab 3 limits in an hour minutes from our camp. Bottom fishing inside and outside the Sound is amazing. Most are in the 20 to 30 lb range and there were several over 40 caught while we were in camp. Travel time was 10 hours including border crossing, 2.5 hour ferry crossing and the run from Gold River to Tuta. We towed my boat from Seattle, launched in Gold River (leaving trailer) and drove the truck in to Tuta Marina. On the whole, the people we met were first rate and made the trip worthwhile with or without fish.ДЄ couple of other things worth mentioning.we did this trip as a do it yourself venture and saved a lot of money compared to something like Critter Cove. One guy we met took me out on his boat a couple of times and another sat down with me to go through the techniquest that work in the area. The good news for newbies like me is that other people went out of their way to help me out, point me in the right direction and try to get me into fish.

As with anything, experience counts and the guys who fish Nootka a lot did well. Some days it would be the Light House, the next Strange Island. There are also about 10 different locations to fish within a 10 mile area. Even though it was slow, Nootka slow is nothing like Elliot Bay slow and the accomplished fisherman almost always brought fish back.

Our time coincided with a lull in the fishing, but fishing was hot the week before our arrival and picking up when we left. The hardest part of fishing Nootka is picking your spot and timing your trip for when a fresh group of fish are in the Sound. Other lures work as well, but 90% if the people are using this technique. Every half hour or so we would change out the color of the hood or check our offering. The most popular technique in Nootka is trolling an anchovie in a green/chartruese hood behind a green/chartruese flasher. After compensating for these problems we starting catching. Also, after a few days of not catching fish we came to the conclusion my boat was running hot and basically scaring the fish away (I just ordered the Cabela's black box). The first day fishing my sounder just quit working so had to go without for the entire trip. A pretty good trip despite the obstacles. Got back from a week long trip to Nootka Sound at 2:30 Monday morning so didn't have enough energy to post a report yesterday.

Nootka sound fishing report