June 2026 Esperanza Fishing Report Update

By: JOHN FALAVOLITO – Westview Marina & Lodge - June 2026 Esperanza Fishing Report
Esperanza Inlet and its surrounding area offer some of the most abundant fishing waters on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It’s not overcrowded and has no slot size or needlessly reduced limits. Retention limits of Chinook, coho, halibut, lingcod, and more are the norm when fishing this area.

Esperanza Inlet is also known for its many early-season successful fishing/catching outings. The early days of June to the early July are on fire with hundreds of schools of Chinook/kings/spring passing in and around the mouth of the inlet.

The vast majority of these bright, strong fish, 12 to 30 lbs, are American hatchery-clipped salmon. They are here in the Esperanza area to feed on the abundant schools of sand lance, anchovies, and herring as well as spawning squid.It is very exciting—the action almost never stops. As one school of feeding frenzy salmon moves out, another fresh, hungry school moves in behind them. These June fish are moving south to lots of small rivers off the Oregon and Washington coasts, the Columbia River system, and Puget Sound. The fish vary greatly in size, but generally the schools are massive in numbers. Fun, fun!

To fill your fish box with hungry Chinook, start with a good quality fluorocarbon leader, 25 to 50 lbs and 36″ to 48″ long. Use a lure that simulates an anchovy or a sand lance. Colours vary a lot, but always “Go with the Glows!” White, chartreuse, blues, and purples are a solid bet. Never forget what you’re trying to copy—an anchovy. Rig one side of the boat with a properly rolling anchovy and the other” “with your favourite look-alike lure, and let the fish decide. I usually bet on the rolling anchovy.

Westview Marina & Lodge is equally distant to both the hot spots in Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet. Stop by our tackle/fuel dock, and our experienced staff will point you in the right direction to the fish.

A happy fisher is a fisher that catches FISH! We want you and your crew happy!!

Words by JOHN FALAVOLITO
Westview Marina & Lodge, Tahsis BC
250-934-7672 | westviewmarina.com