2025 Campbell River Reports
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Northfish
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Pretty quiet at shelter point but moving away from the fleet yielded results very quickly with a nice hatchery fish to the boat before jigging up a nice pacific cod and pollock on the way in.
Side note, meat cleavers work amazingly well for taking hatchery salmon heads clean off. Moderating the enthusiasm when swinging is essential, however, otherwise spinal fluid will squirt across the kitchen and the wife will NOT be pleased (ask me how I know).
Side note, meat cleavers work amazingly well for taking hatchery salmon heads clean off. Moderating the enthusiasm when swinging is essential, however, otherwise spinal fluid will squirt across the kitchen and the wife will NOT be pleased (ask me how I know).
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Northfish
Well-Known Member
Headed out yesterday for the afternoon, worked from francisco to the hump with plugs. Pretty slow and barely any bait showing, had a few to the boat that weren't worth stressing out to measure and lost a larger one near the end of the day.
I've heard theories that the clear skies overnight with the full moon means the fish are feeding overnight and as such not as willing to bite during the day. There may be some truth to that, however I feel that for area 13 there's a lull this time of year as we're in between cohorts of chinook moving through on their way out to the open ocean. The hot action further south is an indicator of this in my opinion, I would expect February and March to have larger numbers of fish coinciding with the herring run. Another interesting note is that the other wildlife in the area is also under stress from the lack of ocean productivity in the winter, as not only did the seagulls swarm the frozen carcasses I had from the last outing but the seals were also particularly interested in the boat as I came back to the ramp.
I've heard theories that the clear skies overnight with the full moon means the fish are feeding overnight and as such not as willing to bite during the day. There may be some truth to that, however I feel that for area 13 there's a lull this time of year as we're in between cohorts of chinook moving through on their way out to the open ocean. The hot action further south is an indicator of this in my opinion, I would expect February and March to have larger numbers of fish coinciding with the herring run. Another interesting note is that the other wildlife in the area is also under stress from the lack of ocean productivity in the winter, as not only did the seagulls swarm the frozen carcasses I had from the last outing but the seals were also particularly interested in the boat as I came back to the ramp.
Northfish
Well-Known Member
Yeah that makes sense. The fish I have caught and kept all had 7+ inch herring in them which tracks with that theory!
pacemaker
Well-Known Member
Headed over to the Cortez Island red can area today. Got together with Mr and Mrs @Coyote Spooner. Weather and water conditions were fantastic. Released a few undersized and kept a 69 cm hatchery spring along with a dandy 75 cm spring. All were caught on…. You guessed it…. Coyote spoons….!! Down deep. Tremendous day on the water with great friends….
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Northfish
Well-Known Member
Got out for the last day of retention before the license ticked over! Gorgeous day with lots of action, only got the little ones to the boat unfortunately! Went 5 for 6 on keeper size fish with one to the boat at 70 cm, lost a couple that were definitely bigger than that. About 8 or 9 undersized to the boat, mostly on plugs with a couple on jigs as well. 280' seemed to be the best action towards the end of the day at the south end of quadra however one of the biggest fish we lost at the boat hit a chrome plug at 150'.
Fingers crossed Toba will open up like last year but I'll be spending a lot of time hunting trophy cutties this spring regardless.
Fingers crossed Toba will open up like last year but I'll be spending a lot of time hunting trophy cutties this spring regardless.
Timecrunch
Member
Quick toba report, entrance to waddington channel was producing yesterday. 3-5 inch herring in the stomach. Found them at 150-180 deep on 6” WCFT plugs, dummy underneath
Gearbox Paul
Active Member
Hatchery coho retention open on June 1st. I realize not many guys are fishing these days but wondering if there are any coho out there?
Timecrunch
Member
Got into some hatch coho today out front by the red can. Lots of jumpers and lots of bait deep. All the fish we caught were shallow, less than 40’ on the riggers. Hatchery rate was 1/3. I expect it will pick up over the next week or two but we caught 15 fish in about 2.5 hours before lunch. Fishing slowed after lunch. 8” coyote cyclones with mother of pearl needlefish on a 30” leader trolled fast was the ticket. Bellies full of krill. All around that 4lb size. Feels like it’s going to be a good year!
Timecrunch
Member
Another crazy morning out there. Hit the red can at 6am and trolled very fast and very shallow (sub 50 on the riggers). Didnt seem to matter if we were going with or against the current, once we were on top of the school both rods were going off, same gear as Thursday. They seem to be holding consistently 100 yards west of the red can. Constant speed changes and direction changes triggered the frenzy. Limits for 3 in under two hours. 6 hatch 12 wild. Beauty weather this weekend to boot! Back at the big rock by 8.
Northfish
Well-Known Member
Absolutely unbelievable fishing out there for coho right now, getting a double header in the first two minutes of getting lines in the water was a good first sign! Ended up with two more double headers in the next 10 minutes before switching over to the fly rod and sight casting at feeding schools, limited in under half an hour for two people. Some big wilds out there not far off the ten pound mark, about 1/3 ratio hatchery to wild at the moment. Small 1/0 factory barbless hooks ensured clean releases and no eye damage as well.
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