2025 OFFISHALL Vancouver- Howe Sound-Sechelt Fishing Reports Thread

[Skins88]

I'd try this little honey hole called Sand Heads. Not too many guys have heard of it. Opens Monday, should only be a couple boats and a lots of Chinook...

In all seriousness, the locations you mentioned will have Chinook. Run bait and work different depths and speeds until you find them.

 

[Squire]

I'd try this little honey hole called Sand Heads. Not too many guys have heard of it. Opens Monday, should only be a couple boats and a lots of Chinook...

In all seriousness, the locations you mentioned will have Chinook. Run bait and work different depths and speeds until you find them.

Can you point me to the notice that Sandheads will be open Monday? I’ve searched through the fisheries notices and the only reference to areas 29-6, 29-7 and 29-9 I can find is that an opening may be considered for specific stocks in the future (FN0672)

 

[A-a-Ron]

Can you point me to the notice that Sandheads will be open Monday? I’ve searched through the fisheries notices and the only reference to areas 29-6, 29-7 and 29-9 I can find is that an opening may be considered for specific stocks in the future (FN0672)

FN0593, posted June 30

 

[Rain City]

Please god hang on...

 

[Gomesy]

Limited out on pinks in Squamish on Wednesday (three of us in the boat) - just off the wall 4 minutes from the harbour. We were picking one up each tack - though the wind was howling and it wasn’t easy.

My question is - I have only caught a few coho and no chinook this season (my first season) and I’d really love to get one or two before it’s out. Does anyone have any advice for spots and techniques locally? Should I focus on defense islands? I’m based in Pemberton so that would be closest to me, Bowen is also fine. Considering heading all the way out to the island but would like to stay locally if possible.

I strongly recommend buying and reading - The Science of Salmon Fishing by Bill Haymond.
It’s full of information for a newbie and veteran fisher.

If fishing herring or anchovies, it’s all about the roll of the bait. If you go too fast, you’ll wreck that roll and bait.

 

[A-a-Ron]

I strongly recommend buying and reading - The Science of Salmon Fishing by Bill Haymond.
It’s full of information for a newbie and veteran fisher.
View attachment 120417
If fishing herring or anchovies, it’s all about the roll of the bait. If you go too fast, you’ll wreck that roll and bait.

100% all about the roll. I use dirty Steveston herring sale herring, stopped buying pretty anchovies. Zero effect on success rate. It’s all about the roll baby.

 

[Squire]

FN0593, posted June 30

OK thanks, I found that notice but my confusion was the area Sandheads actually falls in and I’m a bit embarrassed
I was believing the Sandheads area was 29–9, 29-10 from the fishing regs map but after cross-referencing with Navionics and drawing some imaginary lines, I can see that’s it’s actually 29-3, 29-4. Wouldn’t that be neat if Navionics included management area lines?

I was planning to fish Porlier if Sandheads didn’t have an opening; now I have options lol

 

[Blueback]

100% all about the roll. I use dirty Steveston herring sale herring, stopped buying pretty anchovies. Zero effect on success rate. It’s all about the roll baby.

Yup: those Steveston herring (the larger ones) can help sort the smaller salmon out and target the larger ones. It seems work to keep the pinks off as well.

 

[A-a-Ron]

OK thanks, I found that notice but my confusion was the area Sandheads actually falls in and I’m a bit embarrassed
I was believing the Sandheads area was 29–9, 29-10 from the fishing regs map but after cross-referencing with Navionics and drawing some imaginary lines, I can see that’s it’s actually 29-3, 29-4. Wouldn’t that be neat I’d Navionics included management area lines?

I was planning to fish Porlier if Sandheads didn’t have an opening; now I have options lol

Yep common mistake but it’s 29-3 and 4

If you ever want the actual boundaries of all areas, check this out from the DFO site. Very tedious but all the info is there.

Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations, 2007

Federal laws of Canada

laws-lois.justice.gc.ca

 

[Alex_c]

Yup: those Steveston herring (the larger ones) can help sort the smaller salmon out and target the larger ones. It seems work to keep the pinks off as well.

I modify my herring teaser heads to make a large herring fit. Works pretty well

 

[FishDoc]

Well I am working the first week of September and dad was down visiting so we ran out to Sandheads to see if we could limit on pinks or find a hatch coho on Wednesday. Let's just say the guys who hit it monday are going to be stacking the red chinook up like cord wood. We were fishing 28 inch leaders and funky color hootchies pink and this one orange/yellow/blue/green. Tried trolling slow. We got our limit of pinks. Released a sockeye, released a wild coho and we couldn't find something that the chinook wouldn't bite... let's just put it that way. Didn't seem to matter where we trolled. I had a camera on the wire and there were chinook coming by to check out the hootchies more than I was seeing anything else. At one point there was 5 or 6 chinook in the picture. Looking good for monday. Im sure it will be gridlock out there... wish I didn't have to work. Maybe ill try in the evening.

There were probably 20 to 30 boats out there already.

Pinks were best at around 50 to 55 feet for us going slow like 2 to 2.5 mph. Low angle on the lines.

 

[Rain City]

Well I am working the first week of September and dad was down visiting so we ran out to Sandheads to see if we could limit on pinks or find a hatch coho on Wednesday. Let's just say the guys who hit it monday are going to be stacking the red chinook up like cord wood. We were fishing 28 inch leaders and funky color hootchies pink and this one orange/yellow/blue/green. Tried trolling slow. We got our limit of pinks. Released a sockeye, released a wild coho and we couldn't find something that the chinook wouldn't bite... let's just put it that way. Didn't seem to matter where we trolled. I had a camera on the wire and there were chinook coming by to check out the hootchies more than I was seeing anything else. At one point there was 5 or 6 chinook in the picture. Looking good for monday. Im sure it will be gridlock out there... wish I didn't have to work. Maybe ill try in the evening.

There were probably 20 to 30 boats out there already.

Pinks were best at around 50 to 55 feet for us going slow like 2 to 2.5 mph. Low angle on the lines.

Nice size stinkers!

 

[Pineapple Express]

Looks like a fresh breeze from the East in English Bay this morning. Anybody fishing Bell Buoy/Pt Atkinson/Cowans this morning? How're the sea conditions?

 

[Slammin_salmon]

What radio channel does everyone use around this area?

 

[Pineapple Express]

What radio channel does everyone use around this area?

All the cool kids and guides are texting. The rest of us post on here!

I usually monitor VHF ch 12 (Vancouver Trafffic) when fishing WVan or Sandheads to help monitor the commercial traffic.

 

[Aquaholic]

All the cool kids and guides are texting. The rest of us post on here!

I usually monitor VHF ch 12 (Vancouver Trafffic) when fishing WVan or Sandheads to help monitor the commercial traffic.

Yes, 12 is active, keeps me aware of what’s coming around the corner. 16 of course

 

[Aquaholic]

Hit count total at T10 yesterday. 6.5 hours actively fishing. I ran the boat, two guests were doing the fishing. Six chinook, all gaff at waterline released, a few wild coho, the rest were pinks, lots of big ones. My guests wanted to retain pinks. Hot set up was pink squirt with a few missing skirts and no bananas flasher, short leader, even chinook were hitting it. Barefoot water skiing conditions in the morning. Incredible.

The dreaded sideways photo. It won’t correct.

 

[Gomesy]

Hit count total at T10 yesterday. 6.5 hours actively fishing. I ran the boat, two guests were doing the fishing. Six chinook, all gaff at waterline released, a few wild coho, the rest were pinks, lots of big ones. My guests wanted to retain pinks. Hot set up was pink squirt with a few missing skirts and no bananas flasher, short leader, even chinook were hitting it. Barefoot water skiing conditions in the morning. Incredible.

The dreaded sideways photo. It won’t correct.

View attachment 120474

Turn it upside down and it’s an even better day.

 

[Aquaholic]

Turn it upside down and it’s an even better day.

Three more and it would really be a good day no matter how you look at it

 

[Pineapple Express]

Fished around Cowan Point this morning for about 1.5hrs. A bit of a breeze but not too much. A bit rolly with some current. Fishable. Pinks were jumping. Caught two pinks on anchovies. Lost something feisty. Had two very excited 8yr old kids!