2023 OFFISHALL Vancouver-Howe Sound-Sechelt Reports Thread

[A-a-Ron]

Hammer time early at T10, 80’ rigger 200’water. 2/3 on high teens fiesty springs. One almost spooled us. Bite stopped for me but other nets are out. Chovy and herring.

 

[sweettjim]

8 - 4 shift at T10. Bite was sporatic for us, but put in our time and ended up with 4 springs (3 red and 1 marble) and 3 hatch hos in the box. Pulled our gear at 4 pm when the Orcas came through, heading south. Didn’t see DFO out there trying to shoo them back to “their zone”.

nice size fish

 

[Pineapple Express]

Been around the bell buoy for 2hrs now (10am-noon). Seems pretty dead here …no nets out

Anybody getting action at T10?

 

[Killeraye]

Been around the bell buoy for 2hrs now (10am-noon). Seems pretty dead here …no nets out

Anybody getting action at T10?

Just pinks so far for us

 

[Pineapple Express]

Just pinks so far for us

With a 6year old on board with me that would be pretty exciting!

 

[el.Pereh]

What’s the water like around T10? Have some potential no wave passengers

 

[A-a-Ron]

What’s the water like around T10? Have some potential no wave passengers

Flat calm all morning. Til I left at noon. T10 and Bell

Been around the bell buoy for 2hrs now (10am-noon). Seems pretty dead here …no nets out

Anybody getting action at T10?

When I moved to the Bell at 10am I got a nice 14lb red spring. East of the Bell off Spanish banks in 120’ rigger at 85’. I ended up 1/3 and my kid was 2 for 2, all spring were runners today. Makes a dad proud how he handled them perfectly. And yes he rubbed my failures in my face lol.

 

[Pineapple Express]

Bell buoy update…just got a beautiful 73cm red spring on an anchovy. Kiddo’s first salmon and he helped bring it in. So stoked!!

It’s been flat calm all morning but the breeze is freshening now

 

[sherrett]

Fished sandheads 8:30 - 11:30 through the low slack. Got into tons of pinks looking for some chinooks.

After feeding 10 anchovies to 7 pinks and 2 wild coho (kept the kids engaged and reeling them in, but really), switched to a size 5 big eye anchovy pattern spoon. Ran it deeper at 120’ and got this 89 cm fish.



Landing it my son discovered we have a hole in our net. The fish resting in the net beside the boat gives a kick and it’s out, through the net, wrapped in the rigger, still hooked. Grabbed the gaff, loosened the drag, found the leader and gaffed and lifted it in. Then untangled. Some kind of lucky!

Lost another high teens chinook beside the boat on the same spoon. No pinks on it so might change tactics to this big spoon.

 

[Salmonslayer1992]

I'm kinda new at this and abit lost.
What depth should you typically fish for chinook ?

It depends on how deep of water you are fishing in, usually 100-160ft. You can catch fish at 240ft as well though. I’d say most people fish in 100-180 in Howe sound. Look for bait balls on your sounder. Everyone fishes different or has their own technique, I like to tryn hug the bottom.

 

[Brett83]

Killer whales are surrounding sandheads. Should slow things down a bit.

 

[Salmonhunter71]

How long does that usually last? The whales and the demolition effect they have on a good spot?

 

[Blueback]

Did another solo mission at SH from 8-11 this morning. Got a mid teens white and a red. Released 8 wild coho and one pink. Switched from anchovy to herring and got another coho and then my last spring. 50 and 70 on the wire again.

 

[Bonefizz]

Killer whales are surrounding sandheads. Should slow things down a bit.

There was at least 10 right outside the north arm just now. They put on a wicked show

 

[Salmonslayer1992]

Doesn't matter who was right or wrong, its been discussed enough, lets let it die. BACK TO REPORTS

 

[el.Pereh]

Put in an hour with the kids 3:30-4:30. Two biiig wild coho at T10. 37’ on chovie. Very fun! Big group of whales a little offshore arrived so we split after the show

 

[Saltwedge]

Fished T10 area on my friend’s boat on Saturday from ~7am to ~1pm or so… caught a bunch of pinks but only kept 2; kept a beauty of a hatchery coho, and got our 4 chinook… including a 36-pound Jurassic Salmon!! Its head is a direct descendant of a T-Rex. My first Tyee… actually, *twice* as heavy as any salmon I’ve previously dealt with, which is why I HAD to keep this thing… I’ve been in awe ever since… inviting neighbours and strangers to see the fish…. 107 cms long, 68 cms girth, 33-cm-tall tail (paddle? rudder?)… male… white (Chilliwack Hatchery? We’ll find out, as my friend is in the “avid angler” program and took DNA sample). Head was monstrous. Adipose fin could make a decent key chain holder. Many crazy strong/fast/unstoppable runs… lots of line out… luckily it never ran at the boat, never jumped, never thrashed around (too much); just took big, deep runs… eventually arrived tired and was an easy scoop. Tiring for me too! Broke the teaser head in half… almost straightened one of the treble’s hooks. You’ve read this far, so: south of T-10… 140’ of water… 101’ on rigger… “medium” (biggish) herring (shout-out to the Pacific Angler dude who went to the back of the store to find me some bait that was not small!). All 4 nooks were deepish (100’). Can’t believe I skipped the 20s and low 30s and got one past 35 lbs. NUTS. I can now die a happy(er) man. My “village” of friends/family will eating these amazing fish for months. Thanks to my fishing buddy (!!), and thanks to all who contribute here… the FOMO is real and gets us out there despite back injuries, work, family, etc.

 

[Daveroo]

There was at least 10 right outside the north arm just now. They put on a wicked show

We were there too. Most spectacular orca show I've ever seen. They were everywhere. Just as one pod swam off in the distance another one showed up. I don't know which boat you were in Bonefizz, but the guys in the white pockiet cruiser had at least 2 pods swim right up to their boat surfacing within 50' feet of them. Lots of tale slapping and a few spy hops.

 

[Rain City]

We wereView attachment 97750 there too. Most spectacular orca show I've ever seen. They were everywhere. Just as one pod swam off in the distance another one showed up. I don't know which boat you were in Bonefizz, but the guys in the white pockiet cruiser had at least 2 pods swim right up to their boat surfacing within 50' feet of them. Lots of tale slapping and a few spy hops.

Lol, it sure does look like they are in the sanctuary from that view. Cool show either way. Never gets old.

 

[Aces]

Not sure if it’s appropriate but there’s a significant number of Bigg’s Orcas (mammal eater) in the Nanaimo - Parksville - Ladysmith area. Maybe it’s that pod? I saw lots of seals on opening day.