2025 Port McNeill, Telegragh Cove Reports
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ChandlerLing
New Member
Good spawn off of Cluxewe yesterday
BearCove
Crew Member
Browning Pass, that's fantastic news, so great to see them returning.
sam_n_leo
Active Member
So I finally got the boat out of the shop and up to TC and out fishing with one of my sons. It didn't take very long to find some halibut jigging off Malcolm and with our possession limit of 2 fish we didn't need to put in a whole lot of time. Lost one in the 40 lb range that would have been oversized with the new regs. Fish fry flavours this trip were halibut and black rockfish, rockfish was the winner. 
sam_n_leo
Active Member
Nice to see you too Ed. Looking to next be back up for June 7/8 and hopefully with both Sam and Leo (back to full crew and jig efficiency). Going to be a little bit of extra challenge for the TC folks with the big fire rebuild going on, but I'm confident in the resilience of Gordie and all the amazing folks there. They'll find a way to tie up every boat that needs a dock, run lunch and dinner service the old store building. Run the new store in the lodge, keep the bear watching and whale watching and kayaking running, all while the end of the boardwalk rebuilds. I think it'll be another fantastic season.
sam_n_leo
Active Member
It seems there is still little fishing activity out of TC according to the creel survey fellow. But since I was fortunate to drag both my sons out for a weekend of fishing, here is a report.
We found halibut again in the easy fishing waters of Malcolm Island, a little more work than a few weeks ago. About 2 hours of fishing to get one 87cm and another similar size that shook off beside the boat.
We also spent a good amount of time chasing lingcod. On day 2 we pulled about 12 lingcod to the boat, 6 were legal size up, maybe 7 to 12 lbs, the rest undersized. We took one for the fish fry and the rest went back. We use mostly rubber swim jigs with pinched barbs and cover a lot of ground. I'm not going to admit to the total cost of tackle we left on the bottom in one day but worth it for a nice day of memories with my kids.
No pictures of the fish fry but lingcod won over halibut in a close contest.
We found halibut again in the easy fishing waters of Malcolm Island, a little more work than a few weeks ago. About 2 hours of fishing to get one 87cm and another similar size that shook off beside the boat.
We also spent a good amount of time chasing lingcod. On day 2 we pulled about 12 lingcod to the boat, 6 were legal size up, maybe 7 to 12 lbs, the rest undersized. We took one for the fish fry and the rest went back. We use mostly rubber swim jigs with pinched barbs and cover a lot of ground. I'm not going to admit to the total cost of tackle we left on the bottom in one day but worth it for a nice day of memories with my kids.
No pictures of the fish fry but lingcod won over halibut in a close contest.
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Macdeep
Active Member
Sounds like Orca were off the McNeill breakwater over the weekend. Otherwise, ya, quiet (probably mostly due to regs and very limited retention options).
Anyone have any info on whether it's worth it to go long to areas where there is retention open for chinook? Areas 12-27, 28, 35, 38 to 40?
12-39 (Fife and Broughton Archipelago) is probably the only area that I'd consider within reach for day trips from McNeill/TC considering fuel burn. I've done ok for Coho and Chinook around Gordon point later in the year (August/Sept), but I've never tried out there this early. But I've never had any luck the handful of times I've tried the inner waters like Cramer and Retreat pass.
Thoughts? Advice on exploring parts of area 12 that have better retention options besides 12-14?
Anyone have any info on whether it's worth it to go long to areas where there is retention open for chinook? Areas 12-27, 28, 35, 38 to 40?
12-39 (Fife and Broughton Archipelago) is probably the only area that I'd consider within reach for day trips from McNeill/TC considering fuel burn. I've done ok for Coho and Chinook around Gordon point later in the year (August/Sept), but I've never tried out there this early. But I've never had any luck the handful of times I've tried the inner waters like Cramer and Retreat pass.
Thoughts? Advice on exploring parts of area 12 that have better retention options besides 12-14?
Eden Island
Well-Known Member
The guys I know do well are fishing 12-14 and area 11 south of Cape Caution. We haven't fished this early in the areas you've mentioned [mainland inlet sub-areas]. We have caught some nice fish in mid-July and August in there -- some had to be released. I don't think there's numbers inside but if you aren't into open water and long runs, I think its worth a try.
sam_n_leo
Active Member
I have had spring salmon success in Wells Pass in June/July while in the area mostly for halibut fishing. James Point was much more productive than the next point up in area 12-41--Popplewell Point. I wouldn't motor that far just on chinook retention aspirations but wow, nothing like hitting a good spring bite in a place in BC where there is not 1 single boat in sight on any horizon.
Second the previous comments that Fife is good later in the summer (both springs and coho) but unknown for early season. I also wonder about Knights. I will motor a long ways to enjoy a good day salmon fishing. Retaining fish is not the priority but the option to retain a fish is very key to the full experience.
Second the previous comments that Fife is good later in the summer (both springs and coho) but unknown for early season. I also wonder about Knights. I will motor a long ways to enjoy a good day salmon fishing. Retaining fish is not the priority but the option to retain a fish is very key to the full experience.
Macdeep
Active Member
And then there's prawning - I have a few spots that I like (besides Beaver Cove) when it's not commercial season, but just wondering if anyone has had any success for prawns around TC in June?
A buddy of mine got a total of 2 prawns between two sets of traps in Beaver Cove last weekend. Hand pulled too lol, poor guy.
I see the prawn boats every day in and out from my house - probably cheaper and better odds to just head to the docks and see if there's a box of prawns that fell off the truck for a price
A buddy of mine got a total of 2 prawns between two sets of traps in Beaver Cove last weekend. Hand pulled too lol, poor guy.
I see the prawn boats every day in and out from my house - probably cheaper and better odds to just head to the docks and see if there's a box of prawns that fell off the truck for a price
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