halibut in sayward

[gorillaboy]

Hi Everyone
I'm thinking of heading to Sayward for a little hali fun. Is the halibut fishing better on a particular tide?? obviously the tide has to be slow enough to fish the bottom reasonably. Do you guys fish structure or just a piece of flat bottom. Any tips and information you can pass on would be greatly appreciated.

thanks gorillaboy

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Earles ledge,ebb tide, right across from Sayward.
Fish in the back eddy. .......BB

 

[gorillaboy]

Earles ledge,ebb tide, right across from Sayward.
Fish in the back eddy. .......BB

thanks Bill. ill let you know how i make out??

 

[wet spot]

There is a small island 3 mi. east of Sayward in the middle of the Strait...fish the north side of it about midway up in the 300' depth with sandy bottom...tough fishing because of the tides and lots of shoals to get hung up on but I have pulled a couple of hali out of there...(low) slack was best....we used to jig with a 1lb weight and hootchies with big treble...

 

[RiverBoy]

There is a small island 3 mi. east of Sayward in the middle of the Strait...fish the north side of it about midway up in the 300' depth with sandy bottom...tough fishing because of the tides and lots of shoals to get hung up on but I have pulled a couple of hali out of there...(low) slack was best....we used to jig with a 1lb weight and hootchies with big treble...

Is that Helmcken Island? X2 on The tough fishing. And watch your tides. The water in that area is a nasty piece of business.

 

[gungadin]

Sayward/Kelsey Bay is a beautiful spot, but as others have mentioned watch out for the water. Standing waves are a certainty, with a wind blowing against a running tide. I have been fishing north of Kelsey in calm waters, near shore while 200 ft away into the straits there have been 10 ft waves. Always check the weather before heading out. I have been caught out there once, waited until the tide changed before coming back to port. Never have caught a hali there, but the kids love it when the pinks come through; it becomes absolute meyham on the pier, whenever a school swims through. Good luck

 

[Gong Show]

Never been skunked on our trips to the locations mentioned.
We also have never caught anything bigger than 17 lbs!
It is tough fishing and the weather is a big factor!

 

[Charlie415]

Never been skunked on our trips to the locations mentioned.
We also have never caught anything bigger than 17 lbs!
It is tough fishing and the weather is a big factor!

Three years ago........130lber off Earl's Ledge.

 

[jiggerjim]

Best halibut fishing for me was always in wellbore channel, easy to fish not overly deep max 260 I think and you could jig pretty much all day, would have to back troll for a couple of hours each day but not much of a problem. I believe now part of it is in the RCA zone, planning a trip there this summer to check it out.j.j.

 

[Gong Show]

Three years ago........130lber off Earl's Ledge.

Maybe that was the last biggee, I have only been fishing there for the last two seasons.
Or maybe I am still dialing it in!!

 

[Charlie415]

Maybe that was the last biggee, I have only been fishing there for the last two seasons.
Or maybe I am still dialing it in!!

I stopped and fished the area 2 years ago on my way back from the Broughtons. No hali love that day.

 

[Charlie415]

Best halibut fishing for me was always in wellbore channel, easy to fish not overly deep max 260 I think and you could jig pretty much all day, would have to back troll for a couple of hours each day but not much of a problem. I believe now part of it is in the RCA zone, planning a trip there this summer to check it out.j.j.

What area of Wellbore Channel were you fishing in? RCA at the north and south end. Mostly calm waters except for Whirlpool Rapids area. Thinking of spending a night up there on my way up to Hardy this July.

 

[jiggerjim]

1/4 mile past the island after you enter the channel drift from west side to the east side repeat. Never had any luck fishing close to whirlpool rapids. Jigged using octopus and large pink and white skirt,hali,s all had small crabs in there stomach. .............j.j

 

[halimark]

Jiggerjim

That spot was very good until they made the whole area an RCA. Check the regs before dropping gear in there. Now you must fish the rapids=good luck.

HM

 

[jiggerjim]

HM, You are correct the hali fishing was good,never caught one rockfish all the time I fished there too bad. I,m going to double check the regs don,t believe the whole area is RCA......j.j.

 

[wet spot]

Riverboy - yes the island I am referring to is Helmcken and fishing on the "Current Passage" side....when the tide is running out in that area it is time to get out - big whirlpools at the west end of the island can make things pretty scary at times.

 

[Charlie415]

Are you talking about entering from Chancellor Channel - Bukely Island right? There is RCA's at the top and bottom of Wellborne Channel but mostly at the bottom.

 

[jiggerjim]

C415, Nope I enter Wellborne Channel from Johnstone Straight and started Hali fishing about 1/4 mile in before RCA was implemented.Will check the situation out next time I,m there know another few good spots so not overly concerned.......j.j.

 

[jiggerjim]

Really keep an eye on the weather been dead flat in the channel then white knuckle ride back to Kelsey Bay on more than one occasion.j.j.

 

[Charlie415]

C415, Nope I enter Wellborne Channel from Johnstone Straight and started Hali fishing about 1/4 mile in before RCA was implemented.Will check the situation out next time I,m there know another few good spots so not overly concerned.......j.j.

The RCA on that side is from Althorp Pt across to Thynne Pt and out into Bessborough Bay, so the top end of Wellborne Channel is out of any RCA. I will give it a try next time I am up that way. Any other hali spots that you are willing to share would be greatly appreciated. I am heading from Powell River to Port Hardy the last week of July and the top priority is bringing home halibut. Pm me if you can help...thx.