So lets talk about something worth talking about. DFO warned us that in area 19/20 that 4/2's and 5/2's could be in trouble, particularly this brood year. Now with all the political BS with the Fraser River I know many people feel it is all a hoax to get more fish to that fishery. That is always in the back of my mind as well. But I'm a realist and something that is real after 6 weeks of this fishing season is that Chinook over 30 pounds are very scarce. Fish over 20 pounds are not much better. The VAST majority of the fish being caught are not our usual local migrating Fraser stocks, but are marked US stocks. Most are 10 to 17 pounds. So of the few 30 pound fish that have made it this far how many of them were caught? I know that 99% of those hooked were bonked and I bet less than a handful let go. So more damage has been done...what do you think will happen 4 years from now? If we do get a complete closure from May to mid-July in 4 years, will killing those 30 pound fish be worth it?
Big Chinooks?
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scott craven
Well-Known Member
You're right Pro, the size of the Chinook are down and they seem to
continue to decrease in size year after year.
I would guess without the US hatcheries we would be lucky to catch
any Springs.
it's kind of scary looking into our future fishery's if this persists.
continue to decrease in size year after year.
I would guess without the US hatcheries we would be lucky to catch
any Springs.
it's kind of scary looking into our future fishery's if this persists.
spring fever
Well-Known Member
You are correct-I have meticulous records going back 15 years and a memory that goes back 40 years -on a good day. My partner and I would take at least 6 fish over 40 a year-but that started to slip and now it has been 4 years since a 40 came on board Spring Fever. I don't claim to be the worlds best fisherman but I am far from the worst-now a 30 + is a fabulous fish-best we've done this year is a 25. I doubt it will get better-thank God for the Yankee hatcheries-keep a hatch and let a big native one go. It's our only hope!!
The fish they are worried about are now 5 year old fish. Those fish are close to or over 30 pounds. We have lots of 10 to 17 pound fish, but 90% are US hatchery marked and mature fish as well. (3 year olds) I've noticed it to Lippy...the winning fish for local derbies has been a smaller fish for a few years now. The late summer runs are the only ones now with a decent number of larger fish remaining...but for how long?
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fogged in
Well-Known Member
Please forgive me for posting this on the Chinook thread, BUT...off the Oak Bay and Sooke waters the big halibut are also becoming very scarce...not that I want those barn door ladies anyway. Tried to release one well over a 100 pounds a few years back, but they often swallow the hook as this one did.
Fogged in you can just cut the line on those big Hali's if you want to release it don't worry about the hook.
Trophy fishing by all sectors is causing the decline of our big fish. Ask any native, commercial or rec fisherman they all want to cath and keep the big ones. In addition the ocean is not full of food like it used to be so growth rates are slower. I bet 25 years ago all these 12-17lb fish would be 18-25lbs. Same thing going on with the Hali's slower growth rates result in smaller fish most likely a result of a lower abundance of food.
Most lakes with trophy walleye fishing have slot limits. The small scale of a lake makes it easy to see fairly quick results. Time to start treating the ocean the same way. If all 25 lb plus fish had to be released for the past 10 years there would be way more of them.
People ***** about slot limits oh what's the point if I can't keep a big one. Then they open it up and now people ***** oh I can't catch a big one there are so few. Then people get lucky and catch one... BONK!
The sad thing is I would do the same like almost everyone else. It's the nature of a salt water fisherman. Fly fishermen in rivers and streams get it, most steel headers get it why can't we? I think it's because the ocean is so big and there are so many factors at play most out of our control people just think what difference can it make?
Trophy fishing by all sectors is causing the decline of our big fish. Ask any native, commercial or rec fisherman they all want to cath and keep the big ones. In addition the ocean is not full of food like it used to be so growth rates are slower. I bet 25 years ago all these 12-17lb fish would be 18-25lbs. Same thing going on with the Hali's slower growth rates result in smaller fish most likely a result of a lower abundance of food.
Most lakes with trophy walleye fishing have slot limits. The small scale of a lake makes it easy to see fairly quick results. Time to start treating the ocean the same way. If all 25 lb plus fish had to be released for the past 10 years there would be way more of them.
People ***** about slot limits oh what's the point if I can't keep a big one. Then they open it up and now people ***** oh I can't catch a big one there are so few. Then people get lucky and catch one... BONK!
The sad thing is I would do the same like almost everyone else. It's the nature of a salt water fisherman. Fly fishermen in rivers and streams get it, most steel headers get it why can't we? I think it's because the ocean is so big and there are so many factors at play most out of our control people just think what difference can it make?
High five, a shutdown won't restore the runs but history has proven that a cash strapped DFO will use that as the only means at their disposal. So should we continue to take the few remaining larger fish and give them no choice but to do just that? High Five I think you missed my point...yes numbers of springs are up...but they are almost all US hatchery fish. If those fish were removed from the waters tomorrow...ahhh spring fishing in Sooke would remind me a lot of fishing in Brentwood. Sad!!!
BTW, the spring fishing will probably improve as we get into August with more fish over 20 pounds and reaching 40. These are the later runs which are not as depressed in numbers as the earlier runs. Don't think everything is ok as the fish were just late...that is not the case...this brood year of the early runs are in serious trouble.
I actually doubt a big barbed hook burried deep in a Fishes throat is ever going to rust out. Maybe eventually. If its in the mouth yea probably but way down their throat with a huge barb burried deep? Sounds like a stretch to me. The fish can probably survive with the hook in it though.
I don't know what the answer is I was just thinking if you really want to let it go cut the line at least it has a chance. Plus you could get hurt trying to take a hook out of a big fish like that even if the hook is in the corner of the mouth. Good on you for considering releasing the big one most don't even give it a thought.
I don't know what the answer is I was just thinking if you really want to let it go cut the line at least it has a chance. Plus you could get hurt trying to take a hook out of a big fish like that even if the hook is in the corner of the mouth. Good on you for considering releasing the big one most don't even give it a thought.
Releasing big hali is a problem because the hooks used are often bigger/stronger and the barb is also quite pronounced. I think part of the solution would be to use hooks on the smaller side which will be plenty strong enough for the hali you intend to keep any way. If the odd large hali straightens out a hook...you say you were going to let it go any way..so no big deal.
Drewski Canuck
Active Member
I have often wondered what the hatcheries are taking for brood stock, and if it relates to the year of the fish returning. Last year a poster explained that the 3 year fish were the target as more survived simply because there was less time out at sea. You would think that the logic of enhancement was to get as many big fish returning by creating the large smolt runs from a hatchery were the survival from eggs is so significantly higher. Apparently not. Too many years at sea to take its toll by predation, disease, and high seas fishing.
The big factor is alot of 4 - 5 year fish are coming from years with lots of Mackeral around. Very little got past those hordes.
Drewski
The big factor is alot of 4 - 5 year fish are coming from years with lots of Mackeral around. Very little got past those hordes.
Drewski
