Winter marks the start of one of the most exciting and unsuspecting salmon fisheries in local Vancouver waters!! Chinook salmon up to 20 pounds (sometimes even larger) start showing up in Vancouver Harbour and Howe Sound in late October and November. These feeder chinook salmon are typically two and three year old fish drawn to the area due to the abundant overwintering supply of herring and other small baitfish. The baitfish draws and holds feeding chinook into the spring months. This translates into a consistent winter salmon fishery. The months of December, January, February, and March are typically the most productive.
Winter chinook salmon are known to be some of the most aggressive fish of the year. The question is not whether or not they will bite, it is more the prevelance of baitfish and locating fish that dictates success. If bait is found, the fish are usually not too far away. Coyote spoons, gypsy spoons, hootchies, anchovies and herring all take their share of winter chinook. Vancouver Harbour can be fished the most effectively if attention is paid to the tides. Quite often on a falling tide the middle of the harbour fishes well and on a rising tide areas like the inner harbour and West Vancouver shoreline produce well. We have consistently taken our biggest fish in the winter months within a 10 minute boat ride from our dock location at the Westin Bayshore in downtown Vancouver.
The winter months often provide calmer water conditions than the spring, summer, and fall. The predominent wind in the winter months comes from the southeast. This translates into some beautiful calm crisp winter days in inner Vancouver Harbour. There are days where a big Northwesterly will roll through or a pacific front will bring southeast gales making fishing impossible. This is just part of Vancouver’s climate. If you pick your days there is some great fishing to be had. The winter fishing is complimented by great dungeness crabbing and prawning.
Our boats are in the water all winter to enjoy some great fishing. Just because it is a little chilly doesn’t mean fishing has to stop. Dress for the weather and chances are you won’t be dissapointed!
Winter chinook salmon should be around in good numbers during the 2010 VANCOUVER OLYMPIC GAMES. If you are looking for a great Vancouver activity salmon fishing is a great option. The views from the water are unbeatable on a clear winter day. Salmon fishing is a great Vancouver corporate activity!!! We can handle corporate groups of 50 or more from our downtown dock location at the Westin Bayshore!!
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