2025 Sidney Reports

[Stizzla]

I’m on another one of my infamous skunk streaks.
Brought the kiddo out for a couple of prime hours and again no bites. No bonks. That’s at least 5 days of nada including 2 full derby days last weekend.
Gonna keep powering through.
At least the stereo sounds good!

 

[Rain City]

I’m on another one of my infamous skunk streaks.
Brought the kiddo out for a couple of prime hours and again no bites. No bonks. That’s at least 5 days of nada including 2 full derby days last weekend.
Gonna keep powering through.
At least the stereo sounds good!

View attachment 115962

Maybe your music is scaring all the fish away.

 

[islandboy]

Maybe your music is scaring all the fish away.

Or needs to work on the vocals?

 

[Reel Gone]

Released one around 14lbs this morning, only saw a couple boats out

 

[Noon Treader]

Summer docks being installed today at Tulista!

 

[ziggy]

Been prawning in the inlet around Wain rock. Was pretty good last week when I first went out, but had dropped off significantly yesterday when I made my second trip. Lots of pressure in that area so no surprise I guess. Prawns seemed a bit bigger than previous years?

 

[Srthomas75]

I took a family member from the prairies out today. Trolled at moresby for 3? hours. Caught one clipped salmon that was a bit short and a legal size lingcod ( if in season ).
But we brought home some prawns and crabs from Sid spit. It was a nicer weather than I was expecting on the water.
I didn’t see anyone else playing/ netting fish in the time we were there.

 

[Stizzla]

Anyone hooking up these days? I went out for a morning of prawn collecting and crabbing with the kid and a bud.
Still solid prawning out there. One crab trap was good and 3 were all females. Probably a good sign for the future in my spot.

Then I tried my ol’ nemesis: salmon fishing.

Coal island. Ripping current pushed me a bit close to the rocks and i tapped bottom with the ball and popped the clip. Brought it up and reset the clip. When I started to drop it again. The ball snapped off the cable. First lost cannon ball in over 2 years for me!
I decided that was the time to take the steel off and go braid on both sides. So I spooled up some braid and somehow the braid got wrapped around the brake at the end and now it’s jammed and won’t work so I need to take some time and remove the spool etc.
Called it a day at that point and I’ll deal with it next time. Let’s call that 6th straight skunk over the last 30ish hours.

 

[kaelc]

Anyone hooking up these days? I went out for a morning of prawn collecting and crabbing with the kid and a bud.
Still solid prawning out there. One crab trap was good and 3 were all females. Probably a good sign for the future in my spot.

Then I tried my ol’ nemesis: salmon fishing.

Coal island. Ripping current pushed me a bit close to the rocks and i tapped bottom with the ball and popped the clip. Brought it up and reset the clip. When I started to drop it again. The ball snapped off the cable. First lost cannon ball in over 2 years for me!
I decided that was the time to take the steel off and go braid on both sides. So I spooled up some braid and somehow the braid got wrapped around the brake at the end and now it’s jammed and won’t work so I need to take some time and remove the spool etc.
Called it a day at that point and I’ll deal with it next time. Let’s call that 6th straight skunk over the last 30ish hours.

Nice work on the bugs. My buddy just joined freedom boat club and donated a 15lb I gave him to the 40 foot spot at Cole. We might try freediving there some day!

He scoffed at the finned 12lbers you sold me but seeing how much led costs at Trotac and how quick they can be donated he will be grabbing them this weekend.

PS he is 0 for 2 at Cole, once with me and once on his own. It’s a tough place to fish in my opinion. You’ll get it dialed especially in July Aug!

 

[Ghostprof]

Just wanted to send a big ol thank you to whoever is poaching traps off Bamberton. Pulled up two that were totally empty today and, weirdly, not where we dropped them. Thanks for making my morning suck just that bit more!

 

[Srthomas75]

Anyone hooking up these days? I went out for a morning of prawn collecting and crabbing with the kid and a bud.
Still solid prawning out there. One crab trap was good and 3 were all females. Probably a good sign for the future in my spot.

Then I tried my ol’ nemesis: salmon fishing.

Coal island. Ripping current pushed me a bit close to the rocks and i tapped bottom with the ball and popped the clip. Brought it up and reset the clip. When I started to drop it again. The ball snapped off the cable. First lost cannon ball in over 2 years for me!
I decided that was the time to take the steel off and go braid on both sides. So I spooled up some braid and somehow the braid got wrapped around the brake at the end and now it’s jammed and won’t work so I need to take some time and remove the spool etc.
Called it a day at that point and I’ll deal with it next time. Let’s call that 6th straight skunk over the last 30ish hours.

I’ve not had that much luck myself at Coal. I try there every now and then almost as a bucket list type of thing.
But I was hopeful for a halibut this morning and wanted to try being on the anchor. Salmon bellies didn’t work for me ( west of mandarte ) But I did get some prawns from the same area.

 

[Tips Up]

Anyone hooking up these days? I went out for a morning of prawn collecting and crabbing with the kid and a bud.
Still solid prawning out there. One crab trap was good and 3 were all females. Probably a good sign for the future in my spot.

Then I tried my ol’ nemesis: salmon fishing.

Coal island. Ripping current pushed me a bit close to the rocks and i tapped bottom with the ball and popped the clip. Brought it up and reset the clip. When I started to drop it again. The ball snapped off the cable. First lost cannon ball in over 2 years for me!
I decided that was the time to take the steel off and go braid on both sides. So I spooled up some braid and somehow the braid got wrapped around the brake at the end and now it’s jammed and won’t work so I need to take some time and remove the spool etc.
Called it a day at that point and I’ll deal with it next time. Let’s call that 6th straight skunk over the last 30ish hours.

Coal (and other areas) can be good for jigging. And you won’t lose any cannonballs.
Well…you shouldn’t anyways.

 

[Sttr]

Anyone hooking up these days? I went out for a morning of prawn collecting and crabbing with the kid and a bud.
Still solid prawning out there. One crab trap was good and 3 were all females. Probably a good sign for the future in my spot.

Then I tried my ol’ nemesis: salmon fishing.

Coal island. Ripping current pushed me a bit close to the rocks and i tapped bottom with the ball and popped the clip. Brought it up and reset the clip. When I started to drop it again. The ball snapped off the cable. First lost cannon ball in over 2 years for me!
I decided that was the time to take the steel off and go braid on both sides. So I spooled up some braid and somehow the braid got wrapped around the brake at the end and now it’s jammed and won’t work so I need to take some time and remove the spool etc.
Called it a day at that point and I’ll deal with it next time. Let’s call that 6th straight skunk over the last 30ish hours.

Have you tried bait for salmon

 

[Stizzla]

Have you tried bait for salmon

I like rolling chovies in Sooke but not really in Sidney. The bait is mostly sandlance so I usually rock small spoons.
I haven’t had much chance to check ideal tides etc. I just jump in when I have 2 hrs and that’s been about it except the derby. I’m sure I will bust the slump soon enough. It’s gonna take @Original to get me through this... He’s knows it and I know it.

 

[profisher]

I’ve not had that much luck myself at Coal. I try there every now and then almost as a bucket list type of thing.
But I was hopeful for a halibut this morning and wanted to try being on the anchor. Salmon bellies didn’t work for me ( west of mandarte ) But I did get some prawns from the same area.

You have to fish Coal on the tide change, fish 10ft off the bottom in 95-130ft of water with small spoons behind flashers. There are a few rocky and grabby reefs that you want to only get close to when going against the tide...stay away from them when going with it or you are asking for trouble. The bottom otherwise is forgiving and won't grab on to your cannonballs when you drag bottom before raising your gear.

 

[Rain City]

I like rolling chovies in Sooke but not really in Sidney. The bait is mostly sandlance so I usually rock small spoons.
I haven’t had much chance to check ideal tides etc. I just jump in when I have 2 hrs and that’s been about it except the derby. I’m sure I will bust the slump soon enough. It’s gonna take @Original to get me through this... He’s knows it and I know it.

I fished coal for the first and only time two years ago for the Galiano derby. First time there and didn't get any intel on how to fish it. Used all Vancouver spoons. Absolutely killed it and didn't lose any gear. Took one pass to understand the rip of that current but got used to it quick. That was in a 15000 lb wind sail with an underpowered kicker. Seems like the easiest place on earth to catch a fish. Almost guaranteed really.

 

[Strait shooter]

2 halibut today. A 102 cm and an oversized released. Both on mackerel.

 

[kaelc]

2 halibut today. A 102 cm and an oversized released. Both on mackerel.

Nice work! Approximate size of the oversize?