Just back into cell range after a week (thurs - weds) in Rivers staying on the boat at Duncanby. Heading out of range again tomorrow till the end of the long weekend, so quick report for the guys heading up...
As
@shell waster said, was slow at the beginning, but definitely was picking up the last few days for both numbers and size. Also heard that the commercial gillnet opening was the reason - basically blocked Hackai Pass and Fitzhough Sound. For the lodge group that left Tuesday, about 1/4 - 1/3 were limited out when they left.
We didn’t fish too hard, splitting our time between fishing and exploring and could have had our salmon limits (for two) pretty easily. Released quite a few small (<10 lb) springs, and kept four up to 18 lbs. Kept seven coho 7 - 11 lbs and lost just as many. Wall, Dome and Cranstown were all producing the last few days and heard Calvert was kicking out coho as well.
Fished the head of the inlet one day for 3 hours without a sniff in our boat or the other three up there, but heard a 63 was released a few days later and couple over 50 and several over 40 were caught while we were there.
Brought home three halibut, and hooked into another ~15 trying to find another over including a double Hali header. Had a sea lion take two off our line. Tried for lings a few times, but only found 3.
@Chuck - chatted with some guys on the dock who rolled in from Spider Island the night before we left. They said it was very slow up there. Lots of pinks and they only landed one “good” fish. But also heard from someone else that fishing was very good around Shearwater.
Highlight of the trip was going out for an evening troll at the Dome and having the place to ourselves. Within 5 minutes hooked in to a beauty that measured out at 28 lbs after a great fight and which we released as the sun was going down. Will never forget that moment!