2025 Sidney Reports

[smokedvw]

Fun fathers day. Went to coal and saw a few boats out there. Lots of bait by coal but no salmon for us. We moved on then tried trolling for lings for the first time. Got 1 on the first pass. Then hit the pinnacle twice lost our lures once and twisted up on the downrigger the other time. No cannon balls lost but seems like you need to really be on it.

Seems like a interesting way to try for lings vs jigging. Do many people troll lings?

Boys has fun. Good fathers day. Have a great week!

 

[kaelc]

Nice work. That's a nice size. I've done both. I prefer jigging but got a few 12lb cannonballs off a member for trolling for lings. I can't imagine the cost of 18lb's retail these days. Haven't lost any cannballs trolling for lings but it will happen soon!

 

[Srthomas75]

Has anyone targeted coho specifically out of Sidney recently ? Curious if they are around or will be around. And where might be a worthwhile spot to try.

 

[Icky]

If you decided to sleep In this morning bad move lol. Sidney was on fire today 15 for 18 on Chinook, multiple double headers done by 9:45am. Epic morning.

Sounds like a great morning, where were you at? Trying to figure out exactly what is open in 18-6, they couldn’t make it any less clear if they tried.
Cheers

If you decided to sleep In this morning bad move lol. Sidney was on fire today 15 for 18 on Chinook, multiple double headers done by 9:45am. Epic morning.

 

[Srthomas75]

Sounds like a great morning, where were you at? Trying to figure out exactly what is open in 18-6, they couldn’t make it any less clear if they tried.
Cheers

Basically west of piers island is open for retention.

 

[Srthomas75]

 

[Popeye]

Has anyone targeted coho specifically out of Sidney recently ? Curious if they are around or will be around. And where might be a worthwhile spot to try.

I came into a few clipped Coho in the Inlet last weekend

 

[kaelc]

Anyone catching or trying for prawns? Short season for commercial guys, might be some out there still?

 

[carpeweekend]

Went out for a quick fish in the inlet on Wednesday morning from 7 -10. Lots of undersized Springs and one long enough to retain but had one more fin than is legal.

 

[Grant_J]

Sounds like a great morning, where were you at? Trying to figure out exactly what is open in 18-6, they couldn’t make it any less clear if they tried.
Cheers

Adding to srthomas75’s post:

I’ve had low success in this area - a couple over the last few years. I must not have found the right depth, gear or perhaps out too late in the AM.

 

[eroyd]

Thought there'd of been a few more fishing off Lands End this morning with the above opening. Not very many fishing anywhere. Did see a humpback pass near Wain Rk.

We launched at the Mill Bay ramp this morning. Put the prawn traps down and went jigging to the North. Eventually managed a couple of good Lings and rock fish but no salmon for us today.

Prawning was dismal. 4 lines with two traps each in 180-240 feet of water. Manually pulled by two old guys. Maybe 5 prawns, 3 octopus and a couple of little fish. No lobsters or anything else. WTF! I have fished shortly after the commercial opening before and done OK. Wiped out!

The guys at he marina said chinook fishing had been decent from the Saanich inlet up to the narrows. Maybe the few years of good Cowichan returns are starting to have some positive affect on some of the old timers spots.

 

[ryanb]

I fished yesterday on the West side of saltspring up towards the narrows in the open area off 18-7. Got several unders and two nice 15lbers. Unfortunately they were both with adipose so back they went. I've done well this time of year in that area, but seems rare to find a hatchery fish.

 

[Deepaaaar]

A buddy and I took the kayaks out yesterday in the inlet. Jigged up a few small chinook and had to release a nice 13-14 lb wild. DFO came by not once, but twice (two different boats). I hadn't been checked in nearly 20 years of fishing on the coast and for it to happen twice in the same day is hilarious. Nice convos with 'em both times. I hadn't heard about the ecological preserve in Satellite channel (different from the RCA). Apparently it's a provincial thing.

The inlet had a super murky top layer. Does anyone know what causes this? It looked like very thick green/brown sludge with quite a bit of debris.

 

[Grant_J]

I hadn't heard about the ecological preserve in Satellite channel (different from the RCA). Apparently it's a provincial thing.

So that ecological preserve off of Wain Rock is something I wondered about as well - is it also a no fishing area? By the name it sounds like it but I never see that specific part of 18-6 listed as no fishing and see other boats fishing in there (not that people fishing there means its ok). <Insert obligatory "could they make understanding where fishing is allowed and not allowed any more difficult?" comment>

 

[Pearl dog]

Satellite Channel Ecological Reserve | BC Parks

Satellite Channel Ecological Reserve was established to conserve rich benthic communities typical of fine-grained, level-bottom environments in the southern ...

bcparks.ca

 

[eroyd]

"They are not intended for outdoor recreation. However, this ecological reserve is open to the public for non-destructive activities like nature observation and photography. Consumptive activities like fishing and foraging are prohibited."

Hmmm?

 

[Deepaaaar]

The DFO said it was a closed area, but that it's provincial and thus doesn't show up in the federal salmon regs (ya, I know, pretty silly). It was news to me, but I'll be steering clear in the future.

 

[kaelc]

Brutal. Just make it an RCA and then change the name to 'No Fishing Area'.

 

[eroyd]

The noose just got a little tighter.

 

[Stizzla]

That’s great! I was just saying I think they should close more places in Sidney for fishing.