Overall the 2019 Fishing season was excellent in the Esperanza Inlet area. As everone knows it started out with some uncertainty with DFO waiting until well into April to announce Chinook restrictions around most of Vancouver Island and the Lower mainland. In Area 25 we were fortunate to escape the brunt of the restrictions, with 2 Chinook allowed up to 1NM offshore from the surf line. Fishing was superb from about the 2nd week of June fishing Pin Rock, Low Rock and off of Catella Island. The Low Rock to High Rock tack just kept producing consistent Chinook catches right in to early August, there was usually no need to fish salmon offshore! Halibut fishing was consistent all year on the many pinnacles off shore, anywhere from 3 to 12 miles out. The biggest of the year at the lodge was 66lbs, right at the 126cm max size. Ling fishing was not quite up to past standards, but there were many lings brought in from 15-30lbs, but you had to work for them. An unusual August saw a lot of rain, which seemed to bring the Chinook in, and through the inlets very quickly. The inlet spots, Rosa, Double Island, Garden Point, all the way to Steamer Point never consistently produced Chinook all summer. The beach and off shore areas were better. While coho fishing started off well, they became less common toward the end of August, and there were very few offshore unlike past years where there were so many they were a nuisance. There were no consistent catches in the usual areas like Center Island into September either. Despite a bit of a disappointing coho season, the Chinook fishing was generally very good, and we look forward to another excellent year in Esperanza Inlet in 2020! We are located only minutes from the fishing grounds, and offer fully guided or Bring Your Own Boat packages. Spend less time running and more time fishing at Port Eliza!
www.portelizalodge.com
949-456-3791
www.portelizalodge.com
949-456-3791