Just got back from a quick 2 day bamfield banger. Hopped the first ferry from the mainland in the AM and fished saturday from 11 until 5 or 6, or until we got tired of weeding through the 10 lbers looking for something bigger. I didn't make it for the morning fish, but the boat was on the water getting things warmed up prior to my arrival, and of course, netting the biggest fish of the weekend at 23 lbs. Saturdays overall take was 2 shy of limit for our boat ranging from 10 to the latter 23. We hooked into well over a 15 fish which were set free, to fight another day. We spent most of our time pilaging Kirby, with a half hearted effort mid-day at 7 mile bank for some flatties which proved fruitless.
Sunday, the skies cleared and seas siezed to a muted calm. We decided to give Kirby another run for it's money. It was a little slower but still productive. We hooked into a half dozen fish in the first hour an a half, boating 2 and releasing the rest. Sizes were a little smaller today, with a few coho showing up at the end of our lines. With slow production inshore we made a move for the great beyond. Keeping the lines down, we trolled west and managed to spark a nice take just off the point opposite Beale (the name escapes me), but it managed to spit at us, 20 yards off the stern. Undeterred, the gear came up, and out we went. It was flat calm and we made our way to 25 mile bank, hoping for a halibut. We trolled large glow spoons on glow flashers for a few hours, almost frustrated by the consistant action of springs and coho at 200'. We boxed a few for our troubles and after that we made our push in. Still wanting some white meat in the cooler, we swung into one of our many
ling holes and managed to pick up a 75cm in short order, before heading back to the launch in Bamfield.
Aside from the fantastic fishing, and weather sunday, it was a family affair as highlights we're seeing the cpt's 2yr old land his first coho. Dad gave some rod support and Jr. played it like a pro, releasing it to swim on. As well, Grandpa, at 81, joined the 2 day hunt and showed me a thing or two, bringing up 3 ling cod and a few black and yellow cod before I could put one of anything on the line. It was a treat seeing an old pro work cod on the Islander.
Saw some forum folks on the water which was great, Dak, and Kelly's buddy JP, who seemed to be keeping his clients happy with a multitude of cleaning at the table. We got a glimps of his boat WOT offshore and gatdamn that 300 purrs, and damn near flys!
All and all, another great stop to heaven on earth, aka Bamfield
