Combination boat build/fishing report.
First trip on the new boat to Esperanza last week. Trailered the beast to Gold River last Sunday. Truck pulled it remarkably well and could maintain speed limit up the Malahat. Launched Sunday afternoon with about 6' of water at the launch with no issues. Ran up to Esperanza and decided to take advantage of the light winds. Went offshore for some bottom fish and were rewarded with 3 lings and some bottom fish. Met up with the rest of our crew at Newton Cove.
Headed out early on Monday and the wind had come up significantly. Decided to head up north and brave the chop and swells. Big mistake as it was tough to fish even with the Seakeeper running. My boat mate was looking a little green so we ran back to protected waters and joined the fleet trolling Yellow Bluff. Ground it out for a few hours with only a 8 pound Coho to show for our efforts. Fished Rosa and Garden in the afternoon and nothing to show for our efforts except multiple weed hook ups. Our buddy boats (who were guided) did much better putting their limits of Springs on the deck from the early morning bite at Yellow Bluff.
Got some intel back at the lodge and the Yellow bluff bite was due to a big squid spawn in the bay. White and glow Turds fished right on the bottom (bouncing your balls like fishing for Winter Springs) was the ticket according to the fleet.
Greeted by pouring rain and rough weather on Tuesday. Tried Yellow Bluff again but no luck on smaller white hootchies. Headed offshore in the slop and did pick up a few hatchery Coho but fugly out there. Spent a few hours fishing Blind Reef in the slop as the wind laid down in the afternoon but no luck. Our buddy boats did better but was very scratchy for them too and Tuesday was just not a day when the fish were biting.
So, after 2 days on the fancy boat, only 3 Coho to show along with some bottom fish. Pretty humbling start. I guess fish don't care how big your boat is
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Back at it on Wednesday as the weather improved immensely. Started with a double header and boated 3 nice Springs (biggest was 23) and lost another 2 at Yellow Bluff before 8 am. Headed offshore and trolled for bottom fish. Were rewarded with some nice Vermillion and Ling while slow trolling in on the bottom. The real excitement happened when I got a strong hit and after about a 30 minute fight on my tuna rod, I pulled up a massive halibut. Was about a foot too long so had to cut the line to release as there was no way I could get the swim bait out of his mouth. Probably about a 90 -100 pound fish.
Moved over to the green can and picked up another Spring for our daily limit and released a few others while looking for Coho. All the Springs caught on small white/green AP needlefish spoons.
First boat to Yellow bluff on Thursday morning and we had 3 good Springs (largest was 21) in the boat by 7:30. Both of us were limited out so a quick breakfast beer and back to the lodge to head home.
All in all a good trip but had to work hard for the fish and some challenging weather. Great break in trip for the new boat. Nice to have the big dance floor to fish from and much more comfortable fishing in big weather. Seakeeper definitely makes a difference but trying to fish in the slop isn't fun, regardless of the size of your boat. A few tweaks I need to make and am still getting comfortable with it.
As mentioned, trailering was easier than I thought it would be. No real issues at the launch and was careful to make sure their was enough water to launch/retrieve. 28L/100km was the gas mileage in the truck while towing. Hit a weigh scale on the way home and came in at 2300kg on front axle, 3000 on rear and 8650 on trailer axles. Goose neck with airbags so I can safely move some weight forward by moving the neck down.
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All and all a great trip, managed to get a few people into some salmon that had really never touched a nuckle buster!
