2025 Gulf Island Reports

[A-a-Ron]

Is it open for ling cod and rock fish in the straight right now? I feel like it was closed the last couple of years or in 2023?

No it’s fair game for Lings as of May 1 in 29-5 and 18-1 and 18-11, just obviously not in the RCA’s.
We used to hammer them all over the Georgina shoals when I was a kid, I’m sure they did well…

 

[Howzer]

It's kind of sad that the fish cops are usually only seen at the ramps or summer weekend blitzes. Not their fault, there are 3 managers for each one out in the field and constant budget cuts...

Quick trip on the ferry to drop a vehicle off this weekend…. Couple of clowns fishing the Mayne Island North RCA this fine morning. I see this far more often than I’d like (at least once every trip over). Would be nice if the DFO ever made an app

 

[A-a-Ron]

Another beauty of a weekend, did the Galiano derby, tried Fairfax & Coal for 1.5hr each, not a sniff. Went to Sidney and got a 9.5lb hatchery. Bonked an 11.5lb ling after which was enough to get the ‘ol Ling King pin. Couple sweet prizes. Shout out to @Last_Call for organizing a great event.
Rounded out the weekend with a few more fish, good times with old high school buddies, and plenty of fuel burned. Great weather all weekend.

 

[TMan]

Saturday. Caught some core memories with my daughter. Great day on the water. Some adventure, a fish and lots of laughs.

 

[dmack]

Anybody hitting cohos at Porlier? Heading out tomorrow evening.

Edit: Well, took us a while to catch our lings, so never did get to the coho, though 2 other guys were trying.

Will likely get out on the weekend and provide a coho report...

 

[A-a-Ron]

Anybody hitting cohos at Porlier? Heading out tomorrow evening.

Edit: Well, took us a while to catch our lings, so never did get to the coho, though 2 other guys were trying.

Will likely get out on the weekend and provide a coho report...

So did you find any coho? There’s a few being caught around Nanaimo area & Bowen, they should be coming in numbers soon. I’ll be across this weekend to try a few spots…

Edit: I didn’t see your edit lol. I guess I’ll be the test dummy

 

[dmack]

So did you find any coho? There’s a few being caught around Nanaimo area & Bowen, they should be coming in numbers soon. I’ll be across this weekend to try a few spots…

Edit: I didn’t see your edit lol. I guess I’ll be the test dummy

I was going to try to get out on Sunday AM, but bailed. Maybe could have fought through the lumps for a little ling action in the gap at slack current, but trolling for Coho in 20+ knots on the outside was not going to happen. Interestingly I did have a post pop up on my social media from a year ago out there; I remember that day, as fishing was crazy good. About 20 salmon (cohos and chinooks) to the boat in 4 hours; obviously only retained a few clipped cohos.
Anyway, the wind looks a lot better for the upcoming weekend, so barring disaster I'm going and will report either way.

 

[A-a-Ron]

Hit Porlier today 11am for a couple hours, bit slow to start but the bite came on really good around 11:30… 6 hatch coho kept, 5-6 wilds released, and a bunch of shake offs. 2 would-be keeper springs released as well. 50-60’ on the rigger in 100-150’ water, little mini ghost flash fly was killing it. Finished ‘er off with some effective ling jigging.

Nothing at Salamanca last night except a few small shakers.

 

[Squire]

Great day! Wife and I are heading out for a bit tomorrow to try to find some ‘hoes. Was trying to decide between Entrance, The Grande, Thrasher or Porlier and you may have tipped the scale

 

[dmack]

Porlier was also good for us. Got our 4 clipped in between a half dozen unclipped, about the same amount of small chinook and 1 nice chinook. All between about 10:30 and 12. Then managed our 2 lings in about 45 min. Great weather too. Only needed another fisher or so on the boat as we had lots of time to spare.

 

[A-a-Ron]

Great day! Wife and I are heading out for a bit tomorrow to try to find some ‘hoes. Was trying to decide between Entrance, The Grande, Thrasher or Porlier and you may have tipped the scale

I’d bet all 4 of those locations would produce coho tmw. They’re here