Denman Island Prawning

[Fish Assassin]

I have say the last couple of weekends around Denman Island Ferry has been crazy. I seen 23+ traps on Sat. and there were more the 30 on Sunday. People were seen setting many more traps then they should have been using. This is sick,stupid and uncalled for. This hole has not produce good numbers in years and all of a sudden every so called sportsman or woman is out there attacking all that is left. I sure hope the the DFO is out there this weekend checking gear and license's.

 

[Cuba Libre]

I noticed some of the boats setting traps in the ferry lane... Cant think of a quicker way to get the area closed... dumb...........

 

[lorneparker1]

Fisheries officer was out checking boats today fyi.

 

[Fish Assassin]

Fisheries officer was out checking boats today fyi.

Great.....I hope they are out this weekend.

Just remember that there are many types of working boats in that area towing stuff and some other boaters that are not always on the ball. Some of which that can find it hard going around you people out prawning after already staying clear of the oyster farms. Making problems with working vessels is a great way to have a area closed or to have all of your gear go missing.

 

[lorneparker1]

I wasnt prawning, However i was scopping the area from shore with the bino's. And he came up and asked me what i was looking at, and we chatted.

 

[Pippen]

Did someone post up a "good report" about prawning in the area on the "ole internet"???

I have seen it happen with crabbing areas about 4-5 years ago; saw a report of an exact area I had thrown traps all through the season with maybe another half dozen in the area that you can see by sight. All of a sudden on another forum someone posts up success with a pretty specific description of the area and the next weekend I am out there are close to 30 traps I can see from my usual spot; not to mention the 'extras' I came across while heading to my 'spot'.

 

[Fish Assassin]

Did someone post up a "good report" about prawning in the area on the "ole internet"???

I have seen it happen with crabbing areas about 4-5 years ago; saw a report of an exact area I had thrown traps all through the season with maybe another half dozen in the area that you can see by sight. All of a sudden on another forum someone posts up success with a pretty specific description of the area and the next weekend I am out there are close to 30 traps I can see from my usual spot; not to mention the 'extras' I came across while heading to my 'spot'.

It is our local fishing stores. They tell every one to prawn there. They will show you on the map. Should have seen it when I moved here 8-9 years ago they told me about the prawning and the crabing around here. Prawns were at the ferry and crabs were at the enterance to our harbour. Traps were going out the door nonstop now I buy my crabs at Superstore because there are none left. I know that a certain store NOT Gone Fishing is telling people the are lots of salmon 15-30#'s being caught right now. Love to know where them fish are.

 

[Fish Assassin]

But I just wanted to say congratulations as someone I know set traps out in front of the Denman Island Ferry a couple of days ago and got 1 prawn. Sure didn't take long to go from 80-100 per trap to 40 or so...... now 1. I can't believe the hoarding/poaching that kills this and other prawn fisheries.

Well I see one of the local stores even offered a course on prawning with pro guide James Fisher for expert prawning instruction. Can't wait to see were all these new trappers start prawning.

 

[Prawnhunter]

this hole produces unreal numbers if you know what your doing. 1,400 in 1 set with 8 traps between 2 guys. its all about placement, distance between traps, bait of choice, and length of soak.

 

[GLG]

this hole produces unreal numbers if you know what your doing. 1,400 in 1 set with 8 traps between 2 guys. its all about placement, distance between traps, bait of choice, and length of soak.

Never seen it that good but if you say so, 1400 counted, I hope you only kept 400. That would be 200 each and 4 traps each as that is the limits for a day.

GLG

 

[bananas]

Whats the deal is this area closed for prawning or do you want it all to yourself fa? If it's open it's hard to be pissed there are to many traps.

 

[Prawnhunter]

Correct 200 per license in the boat as well as each set of traps is only allowed to catch one daily limit. No bs though I rarely fish for more then 2 hours to get two guys limit.

 

[Fish Assassin]

this hole produces unreal numbers if you know what your doing. 1,400 in 1 set with 8 traps between 2 guys. its all about placement, distance between traps, bait of choice, and length of soak.

Never seen it that good....Ever...Your so full of it.

 

[Fish Assassin]

Whats the deal is this area closed for prawning or do you want it all to yourself fa? If it's open it's hard to be pissed there are to many traps.

I fish it maybe once or twice a year. But I watch guys that fish it daily and set more traps then they are allowed to. They are over fishing the area. I don't even like the prawns there. What they are doing is wrong and who is sending people there? Our local stores.

 

[Prawnhunter]

Well I don't want to come off as bein rude but you clearly don't know how to fish that spot because I fish it about twice a month and never have a problem getting my limit and often with less than my allowed number of traps. Seriously if you want some tips and I'm not just gona say buy some traps off me lol just email me
Fullpulltraps@gmail.com
Tides make a big difference
Bait is very important
Depth
Distance between traps
And how long you soak for!!!!! Very important

 

[Cuba Libre]

For those that dont know this spot--- ITS TINY! The worry is that if the heavy pressure continues, we could see a closure. FA sees the flotilla of floats daily as he works on the ferry and has seen the effort climbing steadily. I have avoided dropping traps in that location because common sense dictates that there is a limit to what the resource can take in a very small area.

There are a bunch more areas in Area 14 that produce as well, and are larger and are better able to take the pounding. So why not take the time to ferret out a more suitable spot if you see 15-30 floats or more?

 

[Fish Assassin]

Well I don't want to come off as bein rude but you clearly don't know how to fish that spot because I fish it about twice a month and never have a problem getting my limit and often with less than my allowed number of traps. Seriously if you want some tips and I'm not just gona say buy some traps off me lol just email me
Fullpulltraps@gmail.com
Tides make a big difference
Bait is very important
Depth
Distance between traps
And how long you soak for!!!!! Very important

I am up for a lesson. I want to see this. After 25+ years of sport fishing and prawning along with commercial prawning jobs I want to see what you know that I don't. Any one want to join me for this one....

What boat are you running? I know almost every boat that sets on that hole.

 

[mr eagle]

I've tried that hole and caught prawns, but no more than other places in area 14 where there is no one around. Usually we just dump a couple traps in the area where we are fishing, and have had very good success.

 

[-steelhead-]

I've tried that hole and caught prawns, but no more than other places in area 14 where there is no one around. Usually we just dump a couple traps in the area where we are fishing, and have had very good success.

Thats the truth. Pretty well anywhere in that area has decent prawning, you don't have set them on that spot. The key is good bait and they will come to your pots. as for prawnhunter, go easy on fishassassin he pretty well knowns better than most how to fish prawn in the area. The guys on the water here all the time.

 

[Fishing Guide]

Cheers All,

The ocean is free and, should you wish to prawn (crab, halibut fish etc...), then it's your right.
However...I wish a few more would have the decency not to drop right on top of other's floats.
Frustrating to be the first one on the water in the morning...not a float in sight and the whole
ocean to drop. When I come back at the end of the charter ... 30 floats and several of them
are across my ground lines. I have had days where I spend more time unwrapping ground
lines than pulling pots. Next day I drop in a different spot only to come back to another mess.
Last weekend I dropped my pots and when I returned there were 20 pots in a circle around
my set. Frustrating for both my guests and myself.

However...on a lighter note...seems to be a few more prawns than last year. I had 5 guests
out last Saturday and we kept our full limit of prawns and crab. Perhaps shutting down the
commercial rape...errr season...early (only 3 weeks off Nanaimo) last year actually
accomplished help rebuild some of the local stock.