Snuck out for the last day of the year. Picked up my brother, who flew in from Toronto, at the Richmond Chevron. Made it to the Hump by 2pm. Fished until 530 and had pretty much nonstop action. First 90 mins was off the charts. 3 keepers - two in the 70’s and one mid 60’s to the fork. Great final day. Shame it has to end!
2026 OFFISHALL Vancouver- Howe Sound- Sechelt Report Thread
- Thread starter fishin_magician
- Start date
adanac
Well-Known Member
Looks like you’re about to be down an islander.
A-a-Ron
Well-Known Member
The ‘ol fish whistle tends to do the trick for me
Aquaholic
Crew Member
The wireless anchor is selling well too.
A-a-Ron
Well-Known Member
Ah yes but the fish whistle is a real thing. Not an April 1st thing but more of an April 20th thing…. If you get my drift…
Top Rod
Well-Known Member
Ayup or the bite of a sandwich, dip of the net, not looking at the rods purposely, toasting the kokanee gods
Aces
Well-Known Member
Attachments
JKOZAK
Well-Known Member
My Fishing BC app tells me that nooks and ho's are "non-retention" at the moment. I believe this indicates that catch-and-release is legal. Can anybody set me straight if I've misunderstood that? Also, still being relatively new to the community, I'm curious if there is an unwritten rule that it's best to stay off the lines until there is an opening for retention. So, if I wanted to do a little catch-and-release scouting in late May in hopes of a June hatchery coho opening, is that kosher / legal?
Rain City
Crew Member
It's totally legal but somewhat frowned upon. But that's only because of the ridiculous wording of "no fishing for Chinook". But maybe they changed that this year? I think most guys wait until there's a possibility of retaining something when the coho roll in so it's not so painfully obvious. So, no, you're not doing anything wrong if you're not targetting Chinook for catch and release in those areas. This will get a side-eye from all sides. So maybe not posting your accidental non legal fish to the boat count online would also be a good idea.
Aquaholic
Crew Member
I preach this often, but you have to keep scrolling on the app to look for CLOSED status, and I believe it is coloured. Chinook are closed to fishing in most of the areas you usually fish in. The only one that I saw. which may be an error, is 28-6 (Pt Atkinson to Navvy Jack Pt) is non-retention last time I checked. The latest Pacific Angler report touches on it, however you should be able to see it on the app. Respectfully, many stop scrolling when they read what they hope to see, and that is where the trouble can start.
Also, maybe choose the one sub area at a time you want to fish in, 28-2 or 29-3 etc but not both.
Pacific Angler:
Now that we are in April, chinook fishing is closed in Area 28 and 29. The regulations are no fishing for chinook, which means you can’t actively target chinook. This means no catch and release chinook fishing. If you cross over to Area 17 it is open for non-retention of chinook (catch and release) and if you fish in Area 17-6 and 17-9 it is open for 1 hatchery chinook a day, 62cm or greater.
Coho are currently non-retention and will open for 2 hatchery coho per day, 30cm or greater, on June 1st. A reminder that lingcod and rockfish will open in Area 17 on May 1st.
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Tockeyetalmon
Well-Known Member
Anybody else aware of the 2 day First Nation net opening from sandheads to hope on our endangered upper Fraser springs. Flat out disgusting.
There’s still some guys on this thread that shame other fisherman for going out to catch and release / poke around to scout for coho when the Fraser river is netted from top to bottom at the end of April. Those are the biggest stocks of concern for the rivers entire yearly returns. It’s a damn shame make your voice heard. Enough is enough.
There’s still some guys on this thread that shame other fisherman for going out to catch and release / poke around to scout for coho when the Fraser river is netted from top to bottom at the end of April. Those are the biggest stocks of concern for the rivers entire yearly returns. It’s a damn shame make your voice heard. Enough is enough.
Sttr
Crew Member
No kidding, absolutely disgusting, thanks for the fishing report or better said netting report, what a joke, I hope admin won’t delete this or move it somewhere else where nobody will read it,
To tell you the truth, it's been known for years that the low hanging fruit of fisheries management is this. Many reports out there that alot of these fishes are dumped into the bushes somewhere because they couldn't sell it all.....and they don't eat it themselves. Pity.
Tockeyetalmon
Well-Known Member
Its hard enough dealing with the river being clogged from end to end with nets mid summer when the runs are fairly strong. But we can’t even go and catch 1 spring right now anywhere except flippin Sidney because they’re worried we will intercept one of these endangered upper Fraser fish. Meanwhile they’re being netted by the hundreds. April 2026. The camels back has broke.
JKOZAK
Well-Known Member
The frustration is certainly shared. May 1st right around the corner and I need some ling cod in my fridge. Never have done this locally before but I’m thinking a rip out to flat tops as soon as the Straight permits. Hopeful to see some pics of those sea dragons on the thread! I appreciate any tips our helpful ground fishing veterans can offer.
