2022 Nootka Sound/Esperanza Inlet Reports

[Trophy 2000]

Heading back to Nootka Aug 11 to 15th and will be camping at Moutcha Bay this trip . Stayed at Critter Cove last week of July with my son and has been 22 years when he was 10 years that we were there together last . It brought memories back then when we did annual trips back in the 90s . It was also good to reconnect with Cam and Catherine at Critter Cove after all these years

 

[Port Eliza Fishing]

Any recent reports from anyone up in Esperanza?

Chinook fishing has continued to be steady, but not spectacular. There was a good bite over at Rosa this morning. of course I went up to sandstone this AM where there had been good morning bites the last few days and only got one, and it was slow for our guide boats there this AM as well. On the inside there have been fish at Saltery bay, The log dump/garden, and Rosa. Outside pin rocks when its not full of weeds, and Sandstone have been the most consistent places. Not a lot of coho around at the moment inside, there are lots offshore, mostly wild. halibut fishing has held up pretty well lately, when the winds allow. Today is pretty good for wind so I expect we will have a bunch of bottom fish come in today.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Chinook fishing has continued to be steady, but not spectacular. There was a good bite over at Rosa this morning. of course I went up to sandstone this AM where there had been good morning bites the last few days and only got one, and it was slow for our guide boats there this AM as well. On the inside there have been fish at Saltery bay, The log dump/garden, and Rosa. Outside pin rocks when its not full of weeds, and Sandstone have been the most consistent places. Not a lot of coho around at the moment inside, there are lots offshore, mostly wild. halibut fishing has held up pretty well lately, when the winds allow. Today is pretty good for wind so I expect we will have a bunch of bottom fish come in today.

Thanks Robert will chat when when we get there.....

 

[jcon12]

How is everyone accessing decent weather forecasts? With no cell service I take the latest one I can get with me but find it to be less than accurate over a 4 day window.. also prefer more details than the lodge puts on the board.

Heading up to critter cove Aug 12-15 and staying in the bunkhouses.

Any other members up there over this period? Second time for us and fishing out of a 17' Arima named "Misery"

 

[Redfisher]

Just back from 7 days in Esperanza. Real mixed bag of fishing and weather. Overall there are less springs in my opinion this year but we did have a few red hot bites. Yesterday afternoon at Sandstone was outstanding. We were into 19 springs in 3 hours and many of them were acrobatic leapers who fought hard. Bigger fish on this bite. 2 days earlier we had a great afternoon at the rock north of Pin Rocks. Different gear seemed to be needed in different conditions but white hootchie, herring aide skinny g and cookies and cream skinny g were our main gear. A few coho around on the outside and 1 sockeye. Tough fishing for the guides some days. Hats off to a few of them from Nootka Marine and from Reel Obsession for their boat courtesies on the tack and for gear reports.

 

[sharrontime2]

Heading back to Nootka Aug 11 to 15th and will be camping at Moutcha Bay this trip . Stayed at Critter Cove last week of July with my son and has been 22 years when he was 10 years that we were there together last . It brought memories back then when we did annual trips back in the 90s . It was also good to reconnect with Cam and Catherine at Critter Cove after all these years

Hi Trophy,
Glad you had a great time fishing with your son. Nootka Sound, Esperanza and Critter Cove are a special place in deed. I fished up there in the 90's as well with my family. Great memories that are still talked about today at family gatherings. Occasionally, I will even pull out the old log book and reminisce about the size of fish we were catching and ice chests that could barely close. The Forbes family have done a wonderful job making Critter Cove a family destination. Congratulations on a successful return. Tight Lines.

 

[TipUp]

How is everyone accessing decent weather forecasts? With no cell service I take the latest one I can get with me but find it to be less than accurate over a 4 day window.. also prefer more details than the lodge puts on the board.

Heading up to critter cove Aug 12-15 and staying in the bunkhouses.

Any other members up there over this period? Second time for us and fishing out of a 17' Arima named "Misery"

Love the name of your boat haha

 

[sven]

Nootka report
Just got back
Best advice…
Go to ATM , take out 700.00 dollars, walk down to ocean and throw it in… go back to vehicle and drive home…

Hopefully fish show up soon!

 

[Pumper]

Just back from 7 days in Esperanza. Real mixed bag of fishing and weather. Overall there are less springs in my opinion this year but we did have a few red hot bites. Yesterday afternoon at Sandstone was outstanding. We were into 19 springs in 3 hours and many of them were acrobatic leapers who fought hard. Bigger fish on this bite. 2 days earlier we had a great afternoon at the rock north of Pin Rocks. Different gear seemed to be needed in different conditions but white hootchie, herring aide skinny g and cookies and cream skinny g were our main gear. A few coho around on the outside and 1 sockeye. Tough fishing for the guides some days. Hats off to a few of them from Nootka Marine and from Reel Obsession for their boat courtesies on the tack and for gear reports.

Where do you find cookies and cream skinny g

 

[N2013]

Where do you find cookies and cream skinny g

Probably means the cop car. White, black stripe.

 

[Crsalmon]

Chinook fishing has continued to be steady, but not spectacular. There was a good bite over at Rosa this morning. of course I went up to sandstone this AM where there had been good morning bites the last few days and only got one, and it was slow for our guide boats there this AM as well. On the inside there have been fish at Saltery bay, The log dump/garden, and Rosa. Outside pin rocks when its not full of weeds, and Sandstone have been the most consistent places. Not a lot of coho around at the moment inside, there are lots offshore, mostly wild. halibut fishing has held up pretty well lately, when the winds allow. Today is pretty good for wind so I expect we will have a bunch of bottom fish come in today.

Chinook fishing has continued to be steady, but not spectacular. There was a good bite over at Rosa this morning. of course I went up to sandstone this AM where there had been good morning bites the last few days and only got one, and it was slow for our guide boats there this AM as well. On the inside there have been fish at Saltery bay, The log dump/garden, and Rosa. Outside pin rocks when its not full of weeds, and Sandstone have been the most consistent places. Not a lot of coho around at the moment inside, there are lots offshore, mostly wild. halibut fishing has held up pretty well lately, when the winds allow. Today is pretty good for wind so I expect we will have a bunch of bottom fish come in today.

Hi r

Chinook fishing has continued to be steady, but not spectacular. There was a good bite over at Rosa this morning. of course I went up to sandstone this AM where there had been good morning bites the last few days and only got one, and it was slow for our guide boats there this AM as well. On the inside there have been fish at Saltery bay, The log dump/garden, and Rosa. Outside pin rocks when its not full of weeds, and Sandstone have been the most consistent places. Not a lot of coho around at the moment inside, there are lots offshore, mostly wild. halibut fishing has held up pretty well lately, when the winds allow. Today is pretty good for wind so I expect we will have a bunch of bottom fish come in today.

Hey port Eliza , you seemed to give the most honest and reliable reports . Got any reports from last cpl days . Want to get out tonight . Thinking this rain ProbAly moved some fish in .

 

[saanauk]

I started doing this recently. It's a great call. The sashimi texture is excellent and it lasts longer in the freezer. I'll rinse the whole fish prior to filleting and use paper towels to remove any scales/blood/slime from the meat prior to vacuum sealing. By FAR superior to rinsed fish.

I always cringe when I see people blasting the recently filleted meat side of fish with water. Your way is exactly how I do it and the final product is much better. Goes through a lot of paper towels but worth it. Another thing I do is wrap the meat in Saran Wrap then vacuum seal.

 

[pescador]

I always cringe when I see people blasting the recently filleted meat side of fish with water. Your way is exactly how I do it and the final product is much better. Goes through a lot of paper towels but worth it. Another thing I do is wrap the meat in Saran Wrap then vacuum seal.

So all the commercial trollers on the west coast are wrong and you guys are right. I've been washing my catch with salt or fresh for 45 years and never seen any negative impact to it. Great you believe in your process.

 

[Brett83]

Could somebody please post a good fishing report? One of the locals perhaps. I'm heading up Sunday. It's looking dismal. Everytime I look at the reports somebody is talking about how to wipe a fish down properly. Really?

 

[Aces]

Could somebody please post a good fishing report? One of the locals perhaps. I'm heading up Sunday. It's looking dismal. Everytime I look at the reports somebody is talking about how to wipe a fish down properly. Really?

Making your own reports is very satisfying

 

[salmonkiller01]

Could somebody please post a good fishing report? One of the locals perhaps. I'm heading up Sunday. It's looking dismal. Everytime I look at the reports somebody is talking about how to wipe a fish down properly. Really?

put the time in and you will get them. Important factor is first light for one hour there always seem to be a bite inside(hois, camel.....) Head to friendly cove for coho after the morning bite .

 

[Admin]

Time to get back to reports only here. If you want to discuss cleaning of your catch, start a thread specifically on the topic.

 

[chille51]

put the time in and you will get them. Important factor is first light for one hour there always seem to be a bite inside(hois, camel.....) Head to friendly cove for coho after the morning bite .

Thanks for the tips! Also going to be up next week, fishing Tues/Weds from a rental boat. Friendly Cove looks pretty close to the boundary of how far we're allowed to take the rental. Its an 18' aluminum centre console (Moutcha Bay). We're in bounds there so fair game but wondering how lumpy you'd expect it to be out there, and any cautions for that boat and a novice captain?

 

[Aces]

Thanks for the tips! Also going to be up next week, fishing Tues/Weds from a rental boat. Friendly Cove looks pretty close to the boundary of how far we're allowed to take the rental. Its an 18' aluminum centre console (Moutcha Bay). We're in bounds there so fair game but wondering how lumpy you'd expect it to be out there, and any cautions for that boat and a novice captain?

 

[chille51]

Looks Aces to me Aces! What's your favorite site for the forecast?