Haven't fished McNeill for years. Started there in a 14' tin boat with a 25hp and 7.5 kicker. Was introduced to the area by Mike Roberts (RIP), the designer of the Lucky Jig that GIbbs ripped off with the MudRaker. Anyway, we only fished the Neap tides during the slack current times and wacked the Halibut. We jigged out from Malcom Bay on the 300' ledges, behind Stubbs from 250' to 400', but our favorite was across the face of the Parsons Bay closure area where the drift went from the Red Point side toward the beacon on the little island off Parsons. It was about 250' if I remember right. If you have the Navionics app on your phone, our waypoint from years past is still there. It's called Parson'S Bay Closure Line. Many honest double digit Halibut tides there for just my wife and I bouncing a Lucky Jig with a slice of Octopus. The middle bench seat in that little boat was a fish box and many times we returned to the dock with 4 50# fish that more than filled it with the tails sticking out. Made for a funny picture. We loved that place until the Halibut limits were changed basically to 1. Just too far to go up Island. We had 2 per day, 3 in possession during those times. Made the long drive more than worthwhile. The real secret there is to fish those Quarter Moon Neap Tides during the 2-3 hours of slack current when you can basically bang the bottom straight up and down with a 1# jig. Once the current starts to run again, the bite stops and you are done. About 4 days every two weeks are prime. We learned very early on when that tide changes, the wind starts to blow and Johnston Straight gets really ugly, really fast. A day we fished a little too long that lead to trying to get back to Alder Bay across 4' to 6' wind chop in 20+ knot winds was a quick and lasting lesson. Go home early and wait 6 hours until the next slack current series. Flat and no wind returns too.
There were a couple of other places there we loved too. The wall you ran into on Craycroft as you ran down Blackfish Sound toward Baronet was one. (I just noticed our old mark is there in the app too, as is our Ling mark off Craycroft Point) In August, through the low slack currents, if we were done with Halibut, we would fish the Northern's there. Most in the 20's easily. They hit so hard they would pin the rod where it was literally difficult to get it out of the rod holder. Beautiful fish that looked like white mouthed Springs.
Lastly, the kelp beds off the Donegal Head end of Malcom. Lots of Springs on MacDeeps right in the middle of that kelp that made us crazy. I miss that place. Definitely one of the favorites. jc Tuna Maru