2025 Sidney Reports

[kaelc]

Fished Cole, for a couple hours. Not a sniff. Usual good amount of bait. Wanted to fish more but did an overnighter in Todd inlet with the kids and they needed to move. Made it to Sidney spit and my son was fishing off the dock landing bulkheads and crab. He got a red rock with monster claws so kept him to party with the other red rock worth keeping out of our traps. Wanted to hit the powder warf for some jigging but will save that for another day.

My son caught dog fish on bait in Todd inlet, which was a blast for his cousins who had never even really caught a fish off their boat. Between fireworks, warm water for swimming and the protected Anchorage its worth a visit.

Quite a few prawn traps in Saanich inlet, any reports of size and amounts of prawns?

 

[Peltz]

was able to take my dad out this afternoon. Started at Hamley, lots of bait but no hits. Moved over to Sidney Channel and was lucky to get at least one nice spring, 72cm hatchery.

 

[Srthomas75]

I went to Fairfax this evening with a couple friends. 5-6 boats there. Saw one boat net and keep one. We got one undersize spring at about 120’. Then went to try for lingcod. Lots of undersized as well as snagging bottom. But ended up with one keeper.

 

[Stizzla]

Any big numbers of pinks or ho’s in deeper water? Wanna get my kid some practice killing stuff

 

[Stizzla]

Went out for a quick attempt around the tide change at noonish.
Coal was looking fishy but no bites. Heard a buddy boxed one at the spit so we packed up and went there. Dragged bottom and had 3 rockfish and an undersized ling take it, but no salmon.

 

[Aces]

Any big numbers of pinks or ho’s in deeper water? Wanna get my kid some practice killing stuff

Im triggered

 

[smwbiggsy]

We fished the bottom of the ebb and 80% of the flood today. Lots of fish in Sidney channel but they were tight lipped. Tried a selection of spoons, a hoochie, and even an artificial anchovy with a teaser head.

All in all, missed 3 strikes on the troll and 3 big bites on the jig. All spat the hook. One of those frustrating days where ya just can’t get it going. Even the dogfish I brought up was hooked in the fin Tides and currents were at odds with the full moon. We were in the treadmill over at Hamley with the lines at 45° and going seemingly nowhere lol — skunk fest!

 

[Doublefishter]

Hit Coal hard the past few days on the tide changes. Bite has been on when the current has decided to co-operate. Few days ago landed 2 big pinks and 2 nice springs 75 and 79cm’s. Skunked for 2 more outings, then picked up another 71cm spring today on the first pass 5 minutes after lines wet. Wrapping up a nice week off and packing the rods away for a bit. Tight lines

 

[Stizzla]

Hit Coal hard the past few days on the tide changes. Bite has been on when the current has decided to co-operate. Few days ago landed 2 big pinks and 2 nice springs 75 and 79cm’s. Skunked for 2 more outings, then picked up another 71cm spring today on the first pass 5 minutes after lines wet. Wrapping up a nice week off and packing the rods away for a bit. Tight lines

Thanks and nice work!!

Are they up mid column or are you dragging bottom? Any tips on colour or lure size?

 

[kaelc]

Where is the area cut off at Cole? Do you have to look up the coordinates and plug them into your chart plotter?

 

[Doublefishter]

Thanks and nice work!!

Are they up mid column or are you dragging bottom? Any tips on colour or lure size?

90-100ft on the downriggers fishing 90-125ft of water no deeper. Sticking tight to the ledge. Purple and Green skinny g’s was the ticket for most fish. Gold nugget coho killer also seems to be dynamite at coal for me

 

[Doublefishter]

Where is the area cut off at Cole? Do you have to look up the coordinates and plug them into your chart plotter?

I usually draw a line from the white pole over toward van isle and start my tack back toward the spit once I’ve hit that. Unsure on how to input coordinates into my nav

 

[Srthomas75]

Where is the area cut off at Cole? Do you have to look up the coordinates and plug them into your chart plotter?

I was going to say that Cole island is essentially closed at the moment ( I didn’t realize that changed Aug1, but I don’t fish there often )
Seems like an odd spot to close though???

 

[kaelc]

I was going to say that Cole island is essentially closed at the moment ( I didn’t realize that changed Aug1, but I don’t fish there often )
Seems like an odd spot to close though???

Cole is in 18-6 non retention I believe. My favorite spot is just south of Cole, but I’ve been skunked the one or two times I’ve tried.

 

[smokedvw]

Caught my first salmon solo fishing tonight. What a beautiful night. Not much bait and the occasional fish on the fish finder. I thought only wild was open so I set her free.

Right off Sidney spit by the light house, herring aid spoon and glow chartreuse flasher. Curious what others are using right now in that area?

Man netting the fish at the boat by yourself is an art. Luckily I got it in, was a battle to keep tension as I was trying to net it. I pulled it in grabbed a selfie and off she went!

Cruising home in the moon light, what a beautiful night!

 

[Doublefishter]

Cole is in 18-6 non retention I believe. My favorite spot is just south of Cole, but I’ve been skunked the one or two times I’ve tried.

The area I’ve described above would be area 19-5. Dock island And north till the reef. Open for retention. The 12 boats tacking alongside me on Saturday would probably agree!

 

[smwbiggsy]

Caught my first salmon solo fishing tonight. What a beautiful night. Not much bait and the occasional fish on the fish finder. I thought only wild was open so I set her free.

Right off Sidney spit by the light house, herring aid spoon and glow chartreuse flasher. Curious what others are using right now in that area?

Man netting the fish at the boat by yourself is an art. Luckily I got it in, was a battle to keep tension as I was trying to net it. I pulled it in grabbed a selfie and off she went!

Cruising home in the moon light, what a beautiful night!

Nice. I was the other boat out there. I saw you pull up to the lighthouse and start trolling south. Beauty night. Glad you found one! I’m jealous!

 

[kaelc]

The area I’ve described above would be area 19-5. Dock island And north till the reef. Open for retention. The 12 boats tacking alongside me on Saturday would probably agree!

Yeah, I was fishing out there with 3 boats too. I just wish DFO had a detailed map so I could keep my tack on the right side of the line! Appreciate the report and not trying to derail, back to fishing!

 

[Doublefishter]

Yeah, I was fishing out there with 3 boats too. I just wish DFO had a detailed map so I could keep my tack on the right side of the line! Appreciate the report and not trying to derail, back to fishing!

Not a worry. I usually just refer to that whole backside area as coal. It’s a pain the area is split in half

 

[lpaulcarter]

Warning! Fishing alongside the Spit over the last week, we've lost all terminal tackle on 2 underwater hazards. In both cases, the downrigger was down 40 feet, in 80-90 feet of water. Whatever we hooked was basically immovable with a rod and reel, no matter how hard we tried to change angle, etc. For some reason the downrigger didn't react at all and the gear on the other side of the boat, down at 69 feet also missed them