February Fishing Ucluelet

Pacific Herring from Barkley Sound

Herring in a bucket

Winter Spring Fishing

Dungeness Crab in Trap

Red Tail Surf Perch Fishing

Oysters and Clams in Barkley Sound

Fun Early Fishing

Fishing around Ucluelet in February can be all-time! Fishing the Pacific this time of year can be epic and this year has been excellent! I have been fishing for crab, surf perch, salmon, and have been collecting shellfish. I am an adversary for lowering your food cost but more importantly eating real food and feeding my kids good sustainable protein.

Dungeness Crab: Excellent fishing for the last 2-3 months. The best crab bait is fresh or fresh frozen carcass and offal of salmon, tuna, rockfish, lingcod, clams and even halibut. Word on the water is "Chicken always kills it" if you are willing to throw good food in your traps.

Red Tail Surf Perch: Enjoyable fishing in the surf at the Pacific Rim National Park. Absolutely love fishing perch, but it can also be hit and miss depending on swell. I find swell less than 5ft has the best results. Small 1-1/2" grubs or worms on a Carolina rig with a 3/4 oz. slider weight will get you fish. We will either wear a full winter surf wetsuit or waders to get in the water.

Winter Chinook Salmon: Good fishing if wind is down. Good fishing in Barkley Sound during big swell and fish are at the lighthouse if you can weather the swell. Word that a 17 lb was caught around the corner. Lots of fish and some big winters out here. Guide Series Flashers and a small herring aid spoon or needlefish hoochie will get you hooked up.

Shellfish: The Pacific Oysters and Manilla Clams are often open in February with clean cold water. I fish the low tides of Tofino's inside waters and Barkley Sound. Keep an eye on the Shellfish harvesting map for openings.

Herring: The herring are here and waiting to spawn. This is the best time of the year to experience the ocean exploding with life. The birds and sealions are as excited as I am. We will start to see more Whales as the Grays come up the coast. Many Humpbacks have been spotted from shore.

Reach out to me, Bonzai Dave, with any questions (250-574-9325). Would love to share my knowledge with you to promote your own hunting and gathering. Let's get outside and enjoy the fruit and meat of your labour. Book a charter and feed your family. GET OUT HERE AND FISH!