Ucluelet Salmon and Halibut Fishing Report
April 17 2019
West Coast Vancouver Island 2019 Fishing Outlook / Regulations (link):
Overview:
Reports from Barkley Sound this week have been good with Chinook in the teens showing up in the surfline area and inshore islands of Barkley Sound. Great Bear and the Can Bouy on the Bamfield side.
While there are some big changes to Chinook fishing in most of Southern BC, we are very fortunate due to local abundances of non Fraser River origin, that the inside and nearshore waters of Areas 23-27 and 1NM into that portion of 123-127 remain Chinook retention at normal limits . Ucluelet and Kyuquot will be a bright light on the BC coast this year.
Our daily plan will vary depending on the weather, but heading offshore to get Halibut, then back nearshore and inshore to target Chinook Salmon. There is some large returns expected in many Chinook runs this year, but the needle in the haystack is the Fraser River Chinook that comes by during the season.
We have more good news on the Halibut limits this year as well! A larger halibut can be retained up to 60 pounds. See the details below.
2019 Limits by Species WCVI Ucluelet Area
(stat area 23/123)
| 2018 Daily limit | Trip Limit | Comments |
| HALIBUT: | ||
| 1 per day | 1 in possession if | up to maximum of 126 cm (aprx 60 pounds) (Tubby Turkey) |
| OR | OR | |
| 1 per day | 2 in possession | 2 up to up to 90 cm (aprox 20 pounds ea) (Chunky Chickens) |
| Must Record length on license Immediately | ||
| CHINOOK SALMON: | ||
| 2 per day | 4 in possession | Must record on license immediately. |
| Inshore: Area 23, Ucluelet, Bamfield, Port Alberni. 2 per day inshore all season Nearshore: Area 123 < 1nm, 2 per day all season Offshore: Area 123> 1nm non retention until July 14th Offshore: Area 123 > 1Nm retention 2 per day resumes July 15-Dec 31 |
||
| COHO SALMON | ||
| 2 per day | 4 in possession | Offshore in area 123 Hatchery Only |
| Inshore in area 23 Hatchery or Wild | ||
| LINGCOD | ||
| 2 per day | 4 in possession | Not required to write on licence on WCVI |
| ROCKFISH |
Learn More About Rockfish Recompression | |
| 3 per day (aggregate of all sub species) | 6 in possession TOTAL | In aggregate - see individual species limits |
| Sub Species in Kyuquot area: | ||
| Canary Rockfish 3 per day | 6 in possession | As part of the overall limit |
| Vermilion Rockfish 3 per day | 6 in possession | As part of the overall limit |
| Black Rockfish (Sea Bass) 3 per day | 6 in possession | As part of the overall limit |
| Quillback Rockfish 1 per day | 2 in possession | As part of the overall limit - try to avoid |
| China Rockfish 1 per day | 2 in possession | As part of the overall limit - try to avoid |
| Tiger Rockfish 1 per day | 2 in possession | As part of the overall limit - try to avoid |
| Yellow Eye Rockfish- ZERO | ZERO | must be live release and avoided |
| Boccaccio Rockfish - ZERO | ZERO | must be live release and avoided |
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Ucluelet Spring Guided Fishing Options
Vancouver Islands best early season fishery for April and May. Salmon and Halibut aggressively feeding on the coastal banks and inshore waters of Barkley Sound. Book by the day means you can set your own agenda! Trip Details »Call anytime for the latest conditions and reports
250-723-8022
murphy@island.net
Professional Contributor to:
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