Gabriola - Where to fish/crab & prawn

[transplantednewf]

Hello all

Great forum. I know some are thinking great, first post and he's looking for advice. I wouldn't do this but time is short.
We're (two families) heading to gabriola for the last week of July and staying up in pilot bay. Was wondering if anyone could share advice/tips for that particular area regarding crab, prawns & lings. Researching the area, it seems that the other end of the island is the most popular. I would rather if possible stay in the vicinity of pilot bay and perhaps the inside channel....if its worthwhile. Thanks all in advance.

cheers
Gord

 

[Pippen]

Do you have access to a decent boat?

Crab....I can't help you too much but they are definitely around. I don't drop crab traps when fishing over that way.

As for prawns....you can head out to the 300'+ contours and try in various areas. We do drop traps around the corner from you close towards Thrasher Rock (east side).

As for lings....you'll get them down around Thrasher...The Grand which is along that northeast side of Gabriola (I think lings are open there)....but DEFINITELY look at the regs for the area. They are online and there are LOTS of rockfish conservation areas (RCA's) where you can not even have a line in the water.

I'll help you out....... unless you run very far you will likely be in area 17. http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/tidal-maree/a-s17-eng.htm

You will see on this link there is a hotlink up top for a map of the sub-areas.....you will see the salmon limits....and as you scroll down there is a notice in "red" about lings in the area. Scrolling down further....you will see links to where all the RCA's are in the area.

Good luck. I wish I could be more specific but when we run across there to fish....it is primarily for salmon in the Thrasher/Grande area and if we pick up a ling it's just a bonus.

 

[trendsetter]

Head down to the south eastern tip of Gabriola to Thrasher rock to fish for Lings. There are lots there; seems mostly up to about 10lbs but have heard of some larger.

Remember the limit at Thrasher (area 29-5) is ONE ling cod per day and it has to be less than 65cm long. You can't keep the Lings larger than 65cm because they are the old breeding females and are needed to replenish the stocks.

Also you can keep one rock fish per day in that area. As mentioned there are Rock Fish Conservation areas around Gabriola and you can't fish for anything with a line there.

Good luck!

 

[Pippen]

Remember the limit at Thrasher (area 29-5) is ONE ling cod per day and it has to be less than 65cm long. You can't keep the Lings larger than 65cm because they are the old breeding females and are needed to replenish the stocks.
!

Important to take note of the size limit.

 

[straightup]

Im confused ,in the regs it says 65 minimum size.Is there a new rule ?

 

[Sculpin]

Im confused ,in the regs it says 65 minimum size.Is there a new rule ?

I would stick to what the reg's say.

 

[Pippen]

I would stick to what the reg's say.

hahaha.....


Maybe we need a clarification....65 is the "min" or "max".

 

[Sculpin]

hahaha.....


Maybe we need a clarification....65 is the "min" or "max".

I hear ya! I just read this years notice and they could have worded it better for sure.

http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/x..._notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=133082&ID=recreational

I thought the regs were quite clear. The minimum is 65cm.

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/species-especes/fintable-tableaupoisson-eng.htm

Go with the reg's always straightup and check DFO's site often for updates and new postings to changes in the reg's.



Sorry for the hijack.

I have only prawned off the flat tops before with good results. The North entrance to Silva Bay is popular. Look for all the other floats. I have never crabbed around there at all.

 

[transplantednewf]

Thanks for the info guys. I will have to try and check out Thrasher and the flat tops. Not sure what the water is like around there in terms of wind/chop. I have a 18ft harbercraft with outboard. Primarily a river boat (12 deg hull) so you tend to get bounced around a bit if theres any sea at all.
I'm still hoping to get some info for the northwestern area of the island. Looking at charts/maps I see five fingers and snake island. Anyone know what the situation is in that area?

cheers
TN

 

[trendsetter]

I'm confused about the regs now. When they say "size limit" does that mean minimum size or maximum size?. It sounds like you guys are saying size limit means minimum size.

"Subarea 29-5: Lingcod: May 1 - Sept. 30, 2011: Daily limit: one (1), size limit: 65cm, annual limit: ten (10)."

At least with Salmon they are more specific:

"July 16 - July 28, 2011: the daily limit is two (2) per day with a minimum length of 62 cm and a maximum length of 77 cm."

P.S sorry to hijack the thread. As the waves at Thrasher, it can get pretty rough out there and along the east coast of Gabriola because it is exposed to the Straight. Check the weather and marine forecasts before heading out. I fish there often in a 17ft boat but I have a deep V 20 degree hull.

 

[trendsetter]

In case anyone is interested, I phoned DFO this morning for clarification. For ling cod the Size Limit means minimum size. So lings must be 65cm or larger with no upper limit on size.

Still seems confusing to me as for salmon they always say min size, minimum size and maximum size.

This is for Areas: 12-1 to 12-13, 12-15 to 12-48, 13 to 19, 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5.

 

[manderso]

Could anyone tell me where the best place to drop a couple of traps would be for crab? We'll just be taking our kayaks out.