2026 OFFISHALL Vancouver- Howe Sound- Sechelt Report Thread

[Howzer]

Mackerel are rarely see 'Inside'- water temps are wrong for them as to Codfish there are a number of species we use that name for you need to be more specific.

I see from previous posts you are new to fishing... there are very few 'true' cod fished in local waters, what we generally see are rockfish, sometimes called 'rock cod'. It is very important that you do not fish in the RCA (Rockfish Conservation Areas). They are relatively easy to catch in rocky shore areas on a jig.
Be very careful of the spines on many of them, it's easy to get stabbed and become infected. Good luck.

 

[RTKF]

Mackerel are rarely see 'Inside'- water temps are wrong for them as to Codfish there are a number of species we use that name for you need to be more specific.

got it. How about..... Pacific cod, Pacific tomcod, pollock and hake?
Thanks.

 

[RTKF]

I see from previous posts you are new to fishing... there are very few 'true' cod fished in local waters, what we generally see are rockfish, sometimes called 'rock cod'. It is very important that you do not fish in the RCA (Rockfish Conservation Areas). They are relatively easy to catch in rocky shore areas on a jig.
Be very careful of the spines on many of them, it's easy to get stabbed and become infected. Good luck.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, just move to the coast and lots of rules and regulations to learn from DFO, as well as places to fish and species to fish, etc.

Coming from inland lakes in AB...........both overwhelmed and excited at the same time.

 

[adanac]

mackerel are a west coast game . In saying that I haven’t seen or heard of the chub mackerel that used to show up and takeover places like Barkley sound in quite some years . Late summer out of winter harbour last few years seems like there was quite a few of the larger jack mackerel around. Caught enough for a fantastic sashimi feed and a bunch of our lingcod has them in their guts. Large as well 3 - 4 lbs some of them. Took them on light jigs and spin gear while drifting for bottom fish .

 

[RTKF]

mackerel are a west coast game . In saying that I haven’t seen or heard of the chub mackerel that used to show up and takeover places like Barkley sound in quite some years . Late summer out of winter harbour last few years seems like there was quite a few of the larger jack mackerel around. Caught enough for a fantastic sashimi feed and a bunch of our lingcod has them in their guts. Large as well 3 - 4 lbs some of them. Took them on light jigs and spin gear while drifting for bottom fish .View attachment 125051
View attachment 125052

Beauty, and good eats. Too bad it's not available on the inside waters.....

 

[TucTuc]

Thank you for your reply. Yes, just move to the coast and lots of rules and regulations to learn from DFO, as well as places to fish and species to fish, etc.

Coming from inland lakes in AB...........both overwhelmed and excited at the same time.

I think I know exactly why you are asking, I also grew up on inland lakes in AB and I miss perch and walleye... and the cod varieties you've listed are much closer in taste than salmon . I have in my fishing notes that i caught a pacific cod in mid March 2024 just off the Bell Buoy by UBC while trolling for salmon. I've also caught one before in Tunstall Bay off Bowen Island while trolling for salmon in early 2025. They tasted great. I'm not sure if they are migratory or how to find consistent schools of them, but I'd sure like to know more if anyone has anything to add.

 

[RTKF]

I think I know exactly why you are asking, I also grew up on inland lakes in AB and I miss perch and walleye... and the cod varieties you've listed are much closer in taste than salmon . I have in my fishing notes that i caught a pacific cod in mid March 2024 just off the Bell Buoy by UBC while trolling for salmon. I've also caught one before in Tunstall Bay off Bowen Island while trolling for salmon in early 2025. They tasted great. I'm not sure if they are migratory or how to find consistent schools of them, but I'd sure like to know more if anyone has anything to add.

Perch, perfect pan fry size....and Walleye.....best fish meat from lakes, and yes, probably closest thing to cod from lakes I just don't read about the cod varieties in this forum, it's always the hallies, the salmon and the lings. Just curious was all, since the ocean and SOG is such a big body of water and offers more varieties than lakes.

Thanks for the two notes - I'll be out in those areas experimenting at various depths......

p/s - I noticed you didn't mention the Pikes! I usually take those home, grind up the fillets and make fish balls.

 

[Top Rod]

I think I know exactly why you are asking, I also grew up on inland lakes in AB and I miss perch and walleye... and the cod varieties you've listed are much closer in taste than salmon . I have in my fishing notes that i caught a pacific cod in mid March 2024 just off the Bell Buoy by UBC while trolling for salmon. I've also caught one before in Tunstall Bay off Bowen Island while trolling for salmon in early 2025. They tasted great. I'm not sure if they are migratory or how to find consistent schools of them, but I'd sure like to know more if anyone has anything to add.

We caught one two weeks ago last time we’re out actually we caught two, which I have never caught in Vancouver Harbour in the past myself-we were trying to identify the fish by the solar, and I believe we came up with P cod-
We also caught some soul while dragging mud

 

[RTKF]

We caught one two weeks ago last time we’re out actually we caught two, which I have never caught in Vancouver Harbour in the past myself-we were trying to identify the fish by the solar, and I believe we came up with P cod-
We also caught some soul while dragging mud

Looks like P Cod to me.

 

[sweettjim]

We caught one two weeks ago last time we’re out actually we caught two, which I have never caught in Vancouver Harbour in the past myself-we were trying to identify the fish by the solar, and I believe we came up with P cod-
We also caught some soul while dragging mud

those things make awesome crab bait

 

[Top Rod]

Is there any reports out in the local waters for today? I will be out there tomorrow and will report back.

 

[Top Rod]

Is there any reports out in the local waters for today? I will be out there tomorrow and will report.

 

[Koz21]

Was out today with my son to test out the kicker that I had some work done on. Big rollers early that were persistent made it less enjoyable so we didn't stay out long. Managed a couple of unders 58 and 60 and packed it in...not nearly as much bait as previous weeks, not many boats out either. Hopefully, things pick up a bit before the season ends.

 

[adanac]

We caught one two weeks ago last time we’re out actually we caught two, which I have never caught in Vancouver Harbour in the past myself-we were trying to identify the fish by the solar, and I believe we came up with P cod-
We also caught some soul while dragging mud

No barbells under chin , pollock not a pacific cod

 

[Tinny]

No barbells under chin , pollock not a pacific cod

Yup -Alaska pollock or walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus). The inside straight is full of them this time of year. Mainly juveniles. In times gone by when we were allowed to fish the hump in April / May you would have to check lines often as anything under 100' on certain days was guaranteed to get you a pollock on the line within 15 to 20 minutes. I kept several one time - they were full of worms, but made for an incredible fish broth. Large commercial fishery for them in Alaska and offshore - you've eaten them in frozen fish sticks and imitation crab meat.

 

[Top Rod]

Well, we went out today and fish mile markers to Bell and towards North arm parallel to QA- really did not mark a lot of fish at all or bait. We did manage between 2nd mile marker and Bell Boy to hook a few decent fish lost a couple and box 163 cm a few unders one that was like 61 cm.-generally a slower day managed 12 keeper crab to wrap it up-all fish on bottom really quiet on the reports for how many boats were out there a lot of boats were further out towards hump, but didn’t seem too busy either-where did all the fish move to? Hole in the wall or anyone fishing West Van side?

 

[Aquaholic]

Well, we went out today and fish mile markers to Bell and towards North arm parallel to QA- really did not mark a lot of fish at all or bait. We did manage between 2nd mile marker and Bell Boy to hook a few decent fish lost a couple and box 163 cm a few unders one that was like 61 cm.-generally a slower day managed 12 keeper crab to wrap it up-all fish on bottom really quiet on the reports for how many boats were out there a lot of boats were further out towards hump, but didn’t seem too busy either-where did all the fish move to? Hole in the wall or anyone fishing West Van side?

the scale loss on these winter feeders is crazy, I guess they are growing so quickly that they shed scales.

 

[RTKF]

Well, we went out today and fish mile markers to Bell and towards North arm parallel to QA- really did not mark a lot of fish at all or bait. We did manage between 2nd mile marker and Bell Boy to hook a few decent fish lost a couple and box 163 cm a few unders one that was like 61 cm.-generally a slower day managed 12 keeper crab to wrap it up-all fish on bottom really quiet on the reports for how many boats were out there a lot of boats were further out towards hump, but didn’t seem too busy either-where did all the fish move to? Hole in the wall or anyone fishing West Van side?

BTW, where does hump refer to? I think I know where Bell and mile marker is, but not hump.

 

[Top Rod]

BTW, where does hump refer to? I think I know where Bell and mile marker is, but not hump.

The hump is almost directly south of Cape Roger Curtis the southwest most point off Bowen Island guessing about a mile south there is kind of a raised area off the ocean floor-northwest of QA marker if that helps lol

 

[One More]

There's also a trough out there that a well known member has named after himself