2024 OFFISHALL Vancouver-Howe Sound-Sechelt Reports Thread

[Old Deckhand]

Easy limit of two for us. Nonstop action for us in the north west of the lighthouse and between 200-250 fow. Hooked a couple of chinooks in 55’ and then it slowed down for half hour or so. Dropped the gear deeper in 85 and 110’ and we got action right away. Finished with 3 minty mid-teen marbles and a 20 lb white - all males.

Gee, that dropping when it slows sounds familiar. Good job, sir. The name of my boat is Willow-Bee a home built. . Say hi sometime out there, Ringo. It would be nice to meet some of the regulars around here and say hello on the water.

 

[JKOZAK]

Great day out at SH and that was unexpected looking at the forecast. 7:15am arrival. We were out with two boats and one stuck beside the can. We were out the pack in deeper water and did much better. 7 whites all 15+ lbs up to 25, and a nice hatchery coho. 55-65 all day long. Bite died down after around 10:30am so we headed back with the fish box full.

 

[Rain City]

Great day out at SH and that was unexpected looking at the forecast. 7:15am arrival. We were out with two boats and one stuck beside the can. We were out the pack in deeper water and did much better. 7 whites all 15+ lbs up to 25, and a nice hatchery coho. 55-65 all day long. Bite died down after around 10:30am so we headed back with the fish box full.

Hey we're fellow Merry Fisher owners now!

 

[JKOZAK]

Atta boy! Nice when you can close that cabin on a cold day.

 

[fishin_magician]

Congrats to Ned on this 44

 

[FishDoc]

Headed out this morning with a couple colleagues from work to Sand Heads. Launched at 7am and got out around 730. As soon as one rod was down FISH ON. I handed the rod to the greenest man on board. I don't think he's been on boat on the ocean or ever held a fishing rod. Was a decent fish and got it close to the boat. I tried a reaching net but fish saw it coming and took off. He held onto the knuckle buster like his life depended on it... as the rod flattened out the mainline snapped.... and I watched my flasher rapidly vanish into the cloudy water.

So it was time for some education, haha.

Then got the rods down again. It was another instant hook up. A beauty Thompson Red. Can't believe they're still out there. Then got the lines back down and doubled up on a big wild coho and another white Chinook that my buddy managed a bit better and we got in the boat.

Then we missed a couple and It went dead at 10:30. Like someone turned off the switch. Bunch of boats with guys twiddling their thumbs.

Then out from the pack around 1 pm we hooked another at 40 feet. Then another bite right after at 80 feet.

Trolled till around 3 pm without seeing any nets or even getting a sniff. Crazy how it shut down after a hot morning bite.
Maybe I can convince one of my buddies to head out again tomorrow. Weather looks great!

 

[Gham]

Heading over tomorrow tomorrow from Sidney. Any intel appreciated! Is bait necessary or spoons and whole hootchies still producing?

 

[fishin_magician]

Bait. Run out of bait first- then put the junk down. You’ll understand after. Trust me.

 

[FishDoc]

Heading over tomorrow tomorrow from Sidney. Any intel appreciated! Is bait necessary or spoons and whole hootchies still producing?

I tried spoons today.... nothing. Only got action on herring.

 

[Alex_c]

Heading over tomorrow tomorrow from Sidney. Any intel appreciated! Is bait necessary or spoons and whole hootchies still producing?

I have run bait on one side and hardware on the other, and bait out fishes hardware 5:1, if not more.

 

[fishin_magician]

I have run bait on one side and hardware on the other, and bait out fishes hardware 5:1, if not more.

Late in the season- 100%.

 

[Ringo]

Heading over tomorrow tomorrow from Sidney. Any intel appreciated! Is bait necessary or spoons and whole hootchies still producing?

For a detailed technical, social and financial analysis of bait vs hardware, read posts #1386-1394 from Sep 9. Good luck tomorrow and please report back!

 

[JKOZAK]

Hey we're fellow Merry Fisher owners now!

Heading over tomorrow tomorrow from Sidney. Any intel appreciated! Is bait necessary or spoons and whole hootchies still producing?

I tried the white glow hootchie about 3 days ago and it was a no go. Spoon did produce but the most hits were definitely bait.

 

[Alex_c]

Late in the season- 100%.

Yes indeed, specifically late summer/fall. Wouldn’t catch me fishing an anchovy in 180 FOW in the middle of December.

 

[Rain City]

Yes indeed, specifically late summer/fall. Wouldn’t catch me fishing an anchovy in 180 FOW in the middle of December.

You'd be surprised

 

[Alex_c]

You'd be surprised

I don’t doubt it catches, but fishing bait that deep without HP downriggers can be annoying.

 

[wildthing]

Last kick of the can for Vancouver for me and buddie heading to Sandheads this morning
be in the DE with a grey top and green noodle ..........with two old farts .....lol
see you out there .......

 

[jim morrow]

I have noticed some people can tell white from red by looking at the fish. What are the clues?

Once landed, look inside the gill plate to find a small piece of flesh showing. if not red, you can tell.

 

[jim morrow]

Sandheads today from 8:30-12:30
Fishing out deeper 300-450 feet so much action but mostly coho big wild coho no sign of hatchery managed to scrape out a couple of chinooks around 10 lbs one red one marble all and all a great day man there were lots of fish being caught …. Man those coho where nice looking fresh fish biggest one must of been around 15lbs big hooked nose hit like a freight train
Lots of boats hitting fish around us but didn’t see a lot of fish being released pretty sure and by our catch ratio that some of those must of been wild coho would have been great day day to have a fisheries boat be checking

I was shocked to see a man land a hatchery Coho yesterday morning, bonked it, then after 5 minutes, threw it back into the river! Identification remains a problem...

 

[ChinookChaser]

Some big boys from the last week. Largest 38lbs many in the mid to high 20s