Tuna Fishing on Vancouver Island

Tuna fishing, this intense, adrenalin-stimulating fishery, is become popular among both commercial fishers and recreational fishers lately. Before 1960, nearly no person targeted Albacore; however, now they have got emerged as very famous amongst anglers and now become the most popular species for offshore fishing in BC.
Vancouver Island offers incredible fishing opportunities from fly-fishing crystal-clear rivers for steelhead to chasing fat chrome tuna hundreds of kilometres offshore in amazing waters of the west coast.
  Albacore tuna fishing does require to challenge as much as forty miles offshore to discover the schools of tuna; thousands of them pass along the island each summer.as much as forty miles offshore to discover the schools of tuna, thousands of them pass along the island each summer. Vancouver Island's West Coast is usually mentioned in the same breath as fantastic Tuna fishing, Chinook salmon and halibut fishing.

Tuna Fishing is an off-shore fishery, so you can enjoy boating while you are catching these tasty fish. Vancouver Island is full of areas with opportunities for catching tuna; Port McNeil and Port Hardy, Kyuquot Sound and Tofino offer some of the best spots for tuna fishing. Generally, the west coast of Vancouver Island has great fishing destinations due to the location near the pacific ocean.

The coastal rivers of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, have healthy runs of tuna from August At the same time as with migration of wild salmon, and it will be continued into October. Normally, spring and summer are the best seasons for tuna fishing on Vancouver Island.

Trolling action-oriented lures such as large crankbait type diving plugs like X Rap Magnum Rapalas and topwater lures like Zukers, Jet Heads, and Tuna Feathers are commonly used to catch tuna and halibut. Lures that move like live bait are sure to catch the attention of Albacore tuna. Trolling at 6 to 8 mph with at least two topwater and two subsurface lures is one of the efficient ways of tuna fishing.

The albacore is also known as the longfin tuna; as the name shows, they can identify by their fins; it is a tuna species of the order Perciformes and is the smallest bluefin tuna species. Every August, the Albacore tuna run occurs in a six-week period when thousands of fish pass along offshore Vancouver Island waters. Albacore tuna is one of the extremely migratory fish found in the waters of the Pacific Ocean with 13 °C (55.4°F) - 18° C (64.4°F) temperature. They travel in big and huge schools that can be wide for kilometers. They are highly fast-moving, and can swim up over 80 km/hr; however, tuna swim so fast, they might be unapproachable one day and the next day they have only a few miles from shore. They are unique among most tuna in that their main food source is cephalopods, with small fish that provide a much smaller portion of their diet and growing up to 70 Ibs. 〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜
✅ Average length: reach up to 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) ✅ Mouth: conical snout and large mouth ✅ Tail: 
✅ Fresh Water Signs: large eyes ✅ Other Features: dark and deep blue dorsally with some silvery-white shades ventrally

Generally, the difference between the type of fishing is not really obvious, and they differ in small details. Depending on where you choose to fish and what fishing gadgets and types of equipment you use, there are some fishing divisions like tuna fishing from the shore(inshore) or offshore fishing and rock fishing on Vancouver Island. Also, you can choose to fish tuna on a kayak, canoe, or boat.

Trolling for tuna is a great method to fill the fishbowl, but charter clients and a substantial portion of the private fleet leave the inlet every day to do so. A mixed spread was mentioned in part one of our series, and this surely catches tuna. Anglers may enhance their chances of landing tuna on the pier at the end of the day with a little work and modification.

The best results of jigging fishing are obtained with a reel that can retrieve lines at a fast rate of speed and a lightweight rod that does not exhaust the arms. The key to catching tuna is to work the jig through depths where they are suspended. Drop the jig below the fish and move it up through the water column as soon as they appear on the radar. The procedure is repeated until the connection has been established.

You don't need a bit stick to catch huge tuna, contrary to popular belief among new fishermen. Fibreglass rods are excellent in terms of durability. However, there are now more effective alternatives to hefty, solid fibreglass rods. Tuna fishing poles are becoming more lightweight, owing to the reducing diameter of braided lines and smaller reels.

Effective fishing regulations can be a key factor component of healthful fisheries. It contains information about open seasons, recreational fishing licences, fishing methods and, catch limits, as well as up-to-date fishing regulations for diverse fishing areas.
• Using a fishing line to which more than one artificial fly is attached (i.e., to use “dropper flies”) is forbbiden. • Using light in any way to attract fish except the light is submerged and attached to the fishing line within 1 m of the hook is unlawful. • It is forbidden to fish with nets, including minnow nets, dip nets, cast nets, or gill nets. • Using barbed hooks or any hook with more than one point in all rivers, streams, creeks, or sloughs in B.C is prohibited. (Although the use of barbed hooks in lakes is allowed except the one noted in the Regional Water-Specific Regulations Tables).

• Keep boat launch areas clear to give all boaters equal access. Prepare your boat for launching away from the ramp to avoid creating unnecessary delays. • Don’t try boating and alcohol. You will need your complete reflexes to keep you, your boat, and other stream users safe. It’s unlawful to operate a boat while impaired. • Limit your speed (particularly when getting into corners) to keep away from collisions with other boaters, anglers, swimmers, and hidden obstacles. Respect the Universal Shoreline Speed Restriction of 10 k.ph within 30 metres of the shore. • Be careful when boating at dawn and dusk and in other conditions of limited light or visibility. • Refrain from running your boat through water being fished by way of others. Go slowly or drift by anglers along the shoreline. Be considerate of others. • Avoid sensitive habitats such as spawning areas, shallow water, and wildlife nesting or foraging areas. • Give animals crossing the river the space and time to do so. It’s unlawful to harass wildlife with a boat. • Pack out your garbage. Old fishing lines, litter, fuel, and oil damage fish habitat, endanger aquatic life and reduce water quality.