Anyone fish for capelin off Cortes?
- Thread starter oronito
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Smelt Bay Park | BC Parks
Located on the southern peninsula of Cortes Island, Smelt Bay Park is named for the capelin fish that spawn ashore by the tens of thousands. Females lay up t...
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Old Blue
Well-Known Member
Interesting.Smelt Bay Park | BC Parks
Located on the southern peninsula of Cortes Island, Smelt Bay Park is named for the capelin fish that spawn ashore by the tens of thousands. Females lay up t...
I couldn't find any other information whatsoever about Capelin in BC. Nothing on retention either. Pretty funny it's called Smelt Bay and not Capelin Bay.
Bryan Allen
Well-Known Member
Back when dinos roamed the earth, capelin spawned on beaches around Cape Lazo off Comox and up towards Bates Beach. It was about 50 yrs ago ( maybe we didnt have dinos then ?) It was October during evening high tides. As the saying goes... " I was there ! " It was a festive event- lasted for just a couple of tides in the evening. Dozens of families showed up with garden rakes and buckets. The fish were raked up in less then 2ft of water. They came in waves along the beach-- we ran from one area to follow the next shout-- HERE ! They are HERE ! The kids were spearing doggies that follow the capelin onto the beach. It was mayhem ! Then after a couple of years.....they never came back. Sad....
Haverodwilltravel
Active Member
True story
Haverodwilltravel
Active Member
I remember that. I wonder what happened to them. I remember the area had lots of kelp beds back in the day too. They’re all gone now.
I wonder wonder if there’s any relation to Draggers and no Capelin, or grunion, or smelts, or whatever they were?
I wonder wonder if there’s any relation to Draggers and no Capelin, or grunion, or smelts, or whatever they were?
submerged
Active Member
I remember hearing stories about the capelin at Smelt Bay, but never saw any. Used to spend lots of time swimming there, and only ever saw flounder and sculpins.
Going back 20 years, there were huge schools of sardines in Gorge Harbour on Cortes, and they don’t seem to be around anymore either.
Going back 20 years, there were huge schools of sardines in Gorge Harbour on Cortes, and they don’t seem to be around anymore either.
adanac
Well-Known Member
Dont seem to see pilchards ( sardines ) anywhere anymore. Some of my most memorable fishing was growing up offshore fishing big bank / the southwest corner out of Bamfield , massive shoals of Pilchards out there, fishing the biggest pilchard pattern tomic spoons and plugs for big chinook. Last time i personally saw one was in the early 2010's, fishing for mackerel off the old Tyee dock, caught one single pilchard mixed in on a sabiki. i have a friend who claims he caught one in the nanimo area a few years ago aswell.
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