I've been noticing the same thing. They get hammered now that they are the only thing open, and there's so many closed areas, the same areas get hit by everybody. The first few weeks of the season are ok then it gets slim pickings I find.
2023 Gulf Island Reports
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dstalheim
Active Member
In the past couple of years, I’ve learned the key to lingcod fishing is fishing the current and using big jigs to attract bigger fish. I rarely catch undersized lingcod with the 11” worms and 16 oz lead heads I use. The smaller ones grab the tail but the big ones open up and take the whole worm and hook. There is more bait around this year than I’ve experienced in the past.
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Aces
Well-Known Member
Yes, now we are getting somewhere
Grace underfire
Active Member
That's been my experience as well, so I've always fished bigger lures. Just the last year or 2 (particularly this year) I've been getting almost all my fish on the herring side, and mostly bites that don't stick on the side with the big lures. I finally decided to accept that low-mid teen fish are now the exception rather than the norm this weekend, put on some slightly smaller lures and had more success.
cby
Well-Known Member
(Not sure if this should be Gulf Islands or Sidney Reports as it covers both) Never fished Area 18-7, 19-7, 19-8 for Chinook. Looks like its open June 1 - July 31 for 1 Hatchery over 62 cm. Has anyone had any success in these regions and if so where is a good starting spot. example Wain Rock? and Depth are fish higher or deeper?
A-a-Ron
Well-Known Member
The ling fishing has definitely been a bit slower the past few seasons and there have been more boats around fishing them for sure, definitely the areas I go for sure. I’ve shifted to mostly May as well just to make sure I get my handful of them to fill the freezer for the year.
Yes they move around a bit… but really what they should do is rotate the RCA areas in 3-5 year cycles, so some areas can rebound while others can be fished.
Or, you know, be smart and realize that one fishery affects the other and let us keep 1 hatch Apr-Jul in all areas. But those are common sense ideas so not holding my breath.
Yes they move around a bit… but really what they should do is rotate the RCA areas in 3-5 year cycles, so some areas can rebound while others can be fished.
Or, you know, be smart and realize that one fishery affects the other and let us keep 1 hatch Apr-Jul in all areas. But those are common sense ideas so not holding my breath.
cohochinook
Well-Known Member
Has anyone tried any of the MSF open areas recently for Chinook?
billygoat812
Member
Yup,sorry posted to Sydney site,week old now.narrows is holding bait ,lost two beauties to downriggers,mine and the one neighbour boat
was out Tuesday afternoon thunder sent me home.no hits at the bluff no hits on three good drifts at tent.
was out Tuesday afternoon thunder sent me home.no hits at the bluff no hits on three good drifts at tent.
Grace underfire
Active Member
Anybody finding Coho in the Porlier area?
billygoat812
Member
It’s been 4 days,at porlier I had one day outside right. 350ft water 60 ft rigger ,bloody nose and chovy,a few coho only 1hatch.the next day quiet for us ,3 wild coho ,no springs no bait showed.but boat in shallower said he had steady bites as we went home …..oops.guy at ramp said they released two wilds near the bluff.
kaelc
Crew Member
I'm heading to the lamb BBQ at saturna, don't figure it's worth bringing the down riggers? but maybe a couple of deep-sixes for coho? I'll stop to jig on the way for Ling. If anyone wants to raft up, we'll be travelling with a 3 and a 6-year-old. https://www.saturnalambbarbeque.ca/tickets/
sasqman
Crew Member
Grace underfire
Active Member
Do we have to use barbless hooks if we're fishing for those?
A-a-Ron
Well-Known Member
Crossed over today and fished a few areas. Targeting coho… Porlier 6-7:30am couple misses and a small spring released. Salamanca 8-10am nothing. Switched to bottom fishing 11-5 and got a couple lings and a kelp greenling, tasty little buggers. My old man calls it a sea bass. Anyways, then trolled Miners Bay in the evening 6-8pm and managed a nice sized hatchery coho on the only hit. (Edit: was on the surface bucktail rod with a blue flash fly) Saw a Humpback going thru Active Pass as well! Just a beautiful day… am I old enough to retire here yet?
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A-a-Ron
Well-Known Member
That sucks. That’s why I don’t prawn the Vancouver area, haven’t lost one over in the SGI, really unfortunate if that’s happening over there now.
Gham
Crew Member
I saw a Scotsman down near the end of south Pender when going to the lamb bbq around 1pm.
Last_Call
Well-Known Member
Tried for some coho around Salamanca yesterday for an hour or so. Down 40-50 on riggers in 300-400 fy of water with white hootchies and had non stop action … for springs! Lost one coho boatside before I could tell if it was hatch or not and released around 10 springs including a few in early teens. Certainly lots of fish around. Will try again for coho later today or tomo if weather cooperates. Anyone else finding an ho’s in the gulf islands?
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