Fishing Recap 2017
We started fishing in March and ended late September this year. Next year we plan to start fishing April 1 and end again in late September.
March and April and were medium good, meaning we had good days (limits of salmon) and slow days (1-3 salmon). There were a few halibut in close to shore like normal, though getting one could mean sitting on anchor all day and not fishing salmon or lingcod. As usual, there were lots of lingcod around when salmon fishing was slow. March and April can have good and bad weather days and if coming then, it is always best to book a few days, especially if you are hoping to go back with your limit of salmon and lingcod.
May and June were much better than normal for a chance at a Chinook over 20lbs and we even had a few over 30lbs. Fishing for salmon was medium good for this time of year, meaning we still had to work for salmon and halibut to get limits. We had some really good days where the fish were jumping on the line and slower days when the fish started biting after 10 am—in fact we had quite a few days where the fish started biting later in the day. The fishing started picking up at Big Bank near the end of June, and that is where many of the days were spent over the next 2 months. The trend has been that fishing has been pretty good in the early season and we expect next May/June to be good based on the high numbers of grilse in Barkley Sound this year.
July and August were pretty normal for both Chinook and Halibut. July was very good for halibut and on most of the days we went to Big Bank we got both our Chinook and Halibut. During August we spent the first half on Big Bank and the 2nd half in close to shore fishing the larger returning Chinook. Halibut fishing slowed down the 2nd half of August, though most days we were able to get our halibut limit—it just took longer than July. There was decent Chinook fishing all of July and August in close to shore and we had about a week where we caught them on live squid from about July 19-25. After the squid started spreading out, we mostly caught the Chinook by trolling. If you are looking for bigger fish in more protected water, July is a better time to come.
The Coho were in one area at Big Bank and we didn’t target them much simply because we are only allowed to keep Coho with their adipose fin clipped. Most of the Coho did not have the adipose fin clipped on Big Bank. It is fun when you get into them and you can’t keep your line down because they are very aggressive. But we don’t like catching and releasing, as many of the fish don’t make it.
September fishing was pretty good for Chinook up to the 15th before it started dropping off, which is pretty normal. The halibut fishing was closed Sept 5., which is not normal. The Coho did not come in close to shore in big numbers, though we did have some days with pockets of Coho. The Lingcod fishing starts to get even better late in the season, so this provides a good source of white meat. Lingcod is my favorite white meat to eat if they are under about 12lbs when caught.
If you are booking for 2018, I would suggest booking as soon as possible to make sure you get accommodation and a spot for fishing. Accommodation was very tough to get starting 4 months before the summer season and we turned away many people during the summer. You can check out accommodation for Ucluelet and Tofino at http://www.tofino-info.com/resorts-hotels-tofino-ucluelet/ and our fishing packages at http://www.salmoneye.net/site/fishing-packages.html to get your trip booked. Most people end up booking our fishing packages.
Sam Vandervalk
Salmon Eye Charters
Fishing Reports Archive:
http://www.salmoneye.net/site/fishing-reports/archive.html
Below are a couple pics from the 2017 season. Tight lines!
Cameron Mckieken on a tripped booked by his mom Kate with Chinook from 8-17 lbs March 22, 2017.
Guide Dave with a Chinook salmon on April 3, 2017.
Brian Rex with his prized Chinook caught on April 3, 2017.
Murray Hanstead with an early season Chinook on April 3, 2017.
Joe Martin holding his lingcod April 24, 2017.
The Sadlick family April 29, 2017 (Grandpa's trip).
May 17, 2017 - Catch of salmon, lingcod, rockcod.
May 19, 2017 - Catch of salmon, lingcod, rockcod, yelloweye.
May 20, 2017 - Halibut caught offshore Ucluelet.
May 20, 2017 - guide Dave with two happy onlookers. Murray Nestick hauled in this 29lb Chinook.
May 22, 2017 - Catch of Salmon, Lingcod, Yelloweye.
May 22, 2017 - Chris Baker holding a 16lb Chinook.
Claudio Teri with a monster ling cod on May 29, 2017.
Guide Dave holding a prize catch--another high twenties fish.
Doug holding a Chinook salmon June 2, 2017.
Andre holding up a halibut from June 2, 2017.
Brian with a halibut caught offshore June 3, 2017.
Kari with a 25lb Chinook caught June 3, 2017.
Leanne is not sure if getting fish slime on you is worth it, June 3, 2017.
Jeff Davy and Morris Monita with their catch June 7, 2017.
Glenn Williams on stormy day proving every day is a good day June 8, 2017.
Jeff Davy and Morris Monita with a nice westcoast seafood basket June 9, 2017.
June 16, 2017, Guide Andrew holding up a nice Chinook from Long Beach Bank.
Mark Sacco with wife Rebeccca holding up a nice Chinook caught just outside the harbour July 18, 2017. 
Poliquin group holding a few of their fish June 19, 2017 .
Doug Kingston with son Mathew with a catch of Lingcod, Chinook and Yellow Eye June 21, 2017.
Chris Craig holding up one of their Chinook caught June 22, 2017.
Tosh Tabata with daughter Jenna June 22, 2017 with Chinook and Coho caught in Barkley Sound.
Jim and Chris Craig part 1 June 23 with some Chinook caught in the first hour of their trip. 
Jim and Chris Craig with some Lingcod and Yelloweye caught in the second part of the trip June 23, 2017. 
The Statham group with an early Canada celebration June 23, 2017. This was part of their catch. 
Caleb Kwok with a 33lb 5 oz Chinook caught June 24, 2017.
Kwok family with a nice catch of Chinook, 2 of which were Tyees! (over 30 lbs).
The Cox Crew on June 26th with a boat full for the day!
The Cox crew with some great halibut on June 28, 2017.
A perfect Canada Day's catch on July 1, 2017.
Another great Canada Day catch - that's quite the halibut!
Jordan with a beautiful evening's catch on July 2, 2017.
Ken Krupka and Dale Ludwig with some nice salmon on July 3, 2017.
The Downie Crew with a day's catch on July 5, 2017.
If the sun's coming up, you should already be on the water! A beautiful sunrise on July 5th, 2017.
The Downie Crew with another day's catch on July 6, 2017.
Greg Smith and Ann Stirling with their bounty on July 6, 2017.
Mike Kitchell and Wes, Joe and Rod Anderson on July 7th with a hearty catch of Ling Cod, Rock Cod and Salmon.
Mark and Rick Detwiller with Cory Wrolstad and Peter Klemin holding up their catches on July 7, 2017.
Greg Smith and Ann Stirling after another solid day on July 7, 2017.
Doug and Gordon Copland with Mitchell and Wolfgang Rusch after a great day on July 8, 2017.
The Daley crew after their first day on July 8, 2017.
Connor Daley with his excellent catch on July 9, 2017.
A couple of the Copland crew with some halibut on July 9, 2017.
The Daley's with their catches on July 9, 2017.
Part of the Heier Crew with their catches on July 12, 2017
A massive catch for the Heier crew on July 12, 2017.
The Bussenius Family with a splendid family fish photo on July 13, 2017.
Greg, Chipper, Tate, Reggie and Rich Benoit with some great Halibut on July 14, 2017.
Captain Sam Vandervalk with a 75lbs Halibut on July 15, 2017.
The Miller crew with a boat-full on July 16, 2017.
One of the Cole Crew with his prized Halibut on July 17, 2017.
The Hanson group with their catches on July 17, 2017.
The Yamamotos with some solid halis and salmon on July 17, 2017.
Jim Morello with a beautiful catch on July 17, 2017.
Lorne Yamamoto and sons with their first day's catch on July 18th, 2017.
Martin Pederson with a catch during a 4hr afternoon on July 19, 2017.
Lisa Moshuk and Martin Pederson with their afternoon's catch July 19, 2017.
Jaco Hoffman with a great catch July 26, 2017.
The Harlos crew and their boat-full on July 26, 2017.
Captain Scott with a mean-looking Ling Cod on July 28, 2017.
The Carivau's with their catch on July 28, 2017.
A great halibut for the Marston crew on July 30, 2017.
One of the Halibut for Duane Nail and Co. on July 30, 2017.
Scott Tucker's crew with their catch for the afternoon on July 31, 2017.
A couple of great fish for the Asarch's on August 1, 2017.
A couple of the Britt crew on August 1st with their catches of the day.
Captain Andrew and Kevin Fairbairn on August 1st with a hefty chinook!
The George's with a couple of salmon to take home to the UK on Aug. 1, 2017.
Day 2 for the Hendrickson's on August 2, 2017.
Day 2 for the Asarch crew on August 2, 2017.
The Hendrickson crew with another great day of fishing on August 3, 2017
A big Halibut for the Britt crew to take home on August 2, 2017.
Greg Sheriff with a beautiful salmon on August 2, 2017.
The Sheriff Crew on August 3 with some awesome fish.
A couple of the Hendrickson crew after another great day on August 3, 2017.
Hal, Richard and Barry Smith on August 5, 2017.
James Cole with a nice catch the afternoon of August 5, 2017.
Everett Monroe and James Farmer with a nice halibut and salmon on August 6, 2017.
Everett Monroe and James Farmer with a perfect last day of fishing August 7th - that is one well-stocked freezer!
The Darlington Crew with an amazing first day of fishing August 8, 2017.
The Burgess Crew with a great first day August 8, 2017.
Joan Miller after a solid first day August 9th, 2017.
Jim Schoudel with his first day's catch, August 9, 2017.
Joan Miller and Jim Schoudel with a boatful on August 9, 2017.
The Darlingtons after a fantastic halibut day August 9, 2017.
Captain Sam with a monster halibut August 9, 2017.
The Darlington's with their final day's catch on August 10, 2017.
Part of the Chambers crew with some good looking salmon for the freezer August 11, 2017.
A monster Halibut caught by the Kincaid crew on August 12, 2017.
Kimberly, Riley, Robert and Shelby with their prize catch on August 12, 2017.
Captain Sam with a beautiful catch on August 13, 2017.
Al Miller and Co. Happy with their limit on day 1, August 14, 2017.
The Erhardt Crew on August 14, 2017.
Rob Batterbee with a successful afternoon on August 14, 2017.
The Charron's with some great salmon on August 15, 2017.
Jim Wilke Jr., Jim Wilke Sr. Kyle Wilke and Carly Wilke with a perfect last day on August 15, 2017.
The Miller Crew with some amazing salmon this morning, August 16, 2017.
A couple of the Schmidt boys with their prime catches on August 16, 2017.
Karen Schmidt and Co. with their catches on August 16, 2017.
One of the Miller crew with his prized catch August 18, 2017.
Another of the Miller crew with a great catch August 18, 2017.
James Doyle and Co. with their afternoon's catch on August 19, 2017.
Ross Dessert and his crew with their catch on August 19, 2017.
One of the Dessert crew with a nice catch on August 20, 2017. 
Another of the Dessert crew with his catch on August 20, 2017.
Another great catch for the Dessert crew August 20, 2017.
Cheryl and Owen Kannegeiter with Lynn and Zack Pedde and their catches August 21, 2017.
Some of the Bruders crew and their catch August 21, 2017.
Boat 2 of the Bruders crew with their catch in August 21, 2017.
One of the Bruders crew with his catch August 22, 2017.
Boat 2 of the Bruders crew with their second day of fishing on August 22, 2017.
John Hund with a great catch on August 25, 2017.
One of the Bell crew with her catch of the day on August 27, 2017.
Part of the Stickland crew with a great halibut on August 28, 2017.
Cory Reynolds and his son with a great catch on August 28, 2017.
A young mister Reynolds with a catch almost the size of him on August 28, 2017.
A great day on the water with the Reynolds' on August 29, 2017.
Pete, Joanna, Cris and Laurissa happy with their boatload of Chinook on August 31, 2017.
Joanna and Laurissa competing for biggest fish of the day on August 31, 2017.
The Read Crew with a successful second day on September 3, 2017.
Gene Questad with a nice catch on Sept. 3, 2017.
Another boat-full for the Read Crew on their final day of fishing Sept. 4, 2017.
Patrick and Nancy Lumb with their day's catch on Sept. 4, 2017.
Patrick Lumb with a nice catch Sept. 4, 2017.
Nancy Lumb after a great day at sea on Sept. 4, 2017.
The Rowsick's with a great first day on Sept. 8, 2017.
Day two for the Rowsick Crew on Sept. 9, 2017.
Captain Sam Vandervalk with a boat of bottom feeders and chinook on Sept. 9, 2017.
Mike and Timothy Zachman after a limit's worth of fish on day 1, September 12, 2017.
Day two for Mike and Timothy Zachman with some great looking salmon on September 13, 2017.
Mike Zachman with his prized catch on September 13, 2017.
All in a day's work on September 15, 2017.
