prawns

[JDR]

Out twice this week , great big fat ones, good on the barby, with a nice steak. no prob getting the limit. Prawn when it's open then go fishing when it's closed.NICE[8D]

 

[Captain Dudds]

Funny, I was about to ask about prawning around here. I got some traps for Christmas and I think I'll finally get to use them this weekend. I've heard Saanich inlet is the best - there is a public launch out of Brentwood Bay right?

Where abouts do you drop em in the inlet? Are currents dragging away traps much of an issue. I would think the currents would be fairly mellow way up the inlet.

Is there any prawning away from the inlet? Such that you can drop traps then go jig hali's for a couple hours or troll around a bit? Oak Bayish or Sydney even? Sooke?

I've got a 2 lb ball hanging off each of my two traps, which are attached with 50' of lead core line, then I have a bunch of links of poly - one of 250', 2 of 100', and 2 of 50'. how much extra do you usually give? I also have a 1 lb lead to hang halfway to drag the excess rope under. Sound like a reasonable set-up? Anything I'm missing?

I was given some "Ace of Baits" prawn bait. Good stuff? Better baits?

Thanks,

Captain Dudds

 

[scott craven]

you'll need at least 250' of line to prawn in Saanich inlet...
Try off Coles bay, about a 10 min run north from the Tsartlip ramp.
The only local prawning i've heard of is off Albert head
but currents are so strong you need to anchor your traps.
we've tried it in Oakbay , same problem.

 

[JDR]

Tarslip ramp Brentwood. Of the island straight out. Pretty much where you see floats. I drop them up past the Mill bay ferry dock . you will see lots of floats. You need min. of 300 ft of line. drop around 225 250. use yor sounder and be careful cause some drop offs are over 300 and you loose your traps. Closed for all ground fish. Take a nice snack and watch the world go by. Can also put down yor crab pot and hope for a bonus. I let soak for at lest 1 to 2 hrs. Don't like to leave overnite.

 

[Tanglefoot]

Try to place the traps on rocks on a slope. Stay away from open flats if you can as the traps will sometimes settle into the silt so far that they are covered with it. Plus I'v not found a lot of prawn on the mud/silt flats. fwiw Tom

 

[Captain Dudds]

Thanks for the headstart guys, I'll give it a try this weekend. For bait - do you find the bought stuff is best, or cat food? or fish guts etc?

Captain Dudds

 

[JDR]

Bought stuff is as good as any thing, you can mix it up a bit if you want. I prefer a flood tide , i've fished onan ebb not to good but the flood is definately better.

 

[Captain Dudds]

Gave er a shot today. Was a little behind schedule and needed to get back early so the traps were only in from 1 to 2 just out from the Tsartlip ramp - not right off the island but a little south - about 250' deep. There were some other traps around so I went near them but with a fair bit of breathing room - no point competing for the same prawns I figure. Anyways, between the 2 traps we got 36. Could have been better but could have been worse.

Next time I'm hoping for 2 sets at 2 hours each - one near the island and maybe one up near coles bay. Hopefully end up with a couple hundred that way - time will tell. Thanks for the tips though!


Captain Dudds

 

[Little Hawk]

Just like you Dudds I'm a new prawner; although, at this point you have traps and I don't. I'm waiting for a break in the weather to try to get mine back.

This has been a real learning experience.

As Craven said, if currents are suspect ANCHOR THEM with a small anchor at the end of your rope (no chain)and use a big enough float.

As for bait, I'd recommend a bag (55/lb) of aquaculture feed; it's gooey and smelly as hell and is reputed to be the best. I bought a bag (a year and half ago) from Willow Wind Feed/Tack (Sooke Rd) for about $45/bucks that never got used and went bad and I just replaced it at Trotac for $75.00 (ouch).

Good luck to you.

 

[Humpy]

I prawn quite a bit and do very well with my bait, I buy block anchoveys....and cut them up in small pieces, a few cans of fish flavored catfood, and mix in about 25% pellets.... then about a pint of cheap cooking oil.... mix it up leave it overnite.... works for me[8)]

 

[salmonkiller01]

I always use carlyle cat food(tuna), so stinky my cats wont eat it. I also use the pellets along with the cat food as it lasts longer and keeps the prawns in the trap feeding. If you use the scotty bait containers drill some 3/16 holes aroung the bottom as air gets trapped in them and the pellets wont soak,the container sits upside down and does not put out scent.

 

[Captain Dudds]

we tried again today - dropped them 3 to 530 - this time just east of senanus, but only ended up with about 25 prawns. I think we set them in an area thats too fished - there were traps 100' either side of us. prawns weren't as big either. We'll try again in a couple weeks, but nowhere near any other traps.

Captain Dudds

 

[scott craven]

Dudds, run farther north to Coles bay...
try giving them a soak in about 250-260' .
you will see the other floats in the area.

Can't guarantee anything, but have done well in the past.

 

[Copper Moon]

quote:Originally posted by salmonkiller01

I always use carlyle cat food(tuna), so stinky my cats wont eat it. I also use the pellets along with the cat food as it lasts longer and keeps the prawns in the trap feeding. If you use the scotty bait containers drill some 3/16 holes aroung the bottom as air gets trapped in them and the pellets wont soak,the container sits upside down and does not put out scent.

Scotty has new bait containers that have thin slits on the side. Good for areas where you get a lot those small scavengers.

 

[Cedarstrip]

Shouldn't give away my trade secrets, but chuck the Scotty bait containers!
BIG size plastic peanut-butter containers! Drill a gazillion 3/8" holes in the sides, top and bottom.
Nice big opening to load the bait in, and the scent will waft right through in all directions. Attach a string to the lid to make it easy to lift out and you're good to go. They fit just nicely in the square, mesh style traps and most any others as well.

 

[abl]

Dudds, try pat bay close to the anchoring bouys 200-225 feet produces well. try over between bamberton & the ferry dock, stay below 225'. like cedar strip said I use old yorgart containers with holes drilled in the containers. The cheapest & best value for bait is Red Barn on west Saanich Rd. real convient when heading out to the inlet, added bonus is you can get coffee and lunch to go to enjoy on the water while watching your floats

 

[Captain Dudds]

I was given some bait containers - I don't know what brand they are - they just have gills on the top, but they stay upright (bungies) so I'm not worried air is in them. But I might drill some holes in the side and bottom as well. I think a big problem right now is only having one rig (of two traps) - I can only try one spot at a time. I definitely want to give coles a shot, as well as bamberton and pat bay. The contours look nuts on the bamberton shoreline; Should probably make sure your floats are enough to hold all your gear in case your traps fall off the cliff eh?

Our this weekend again or maybe next,

Cheers,

Captain Dudds

 

[islandboy]

quote:Originally posted by Captain DuddsShould probably make sure your floats are enough to hold all your gear in case your traps fall off the cliff eh?

Maybe someone could clear this up for me. I was under the impression you weighted your traps to keep them from moving in the "bottom" current. The floats were only for marking and should not be able to lift your traps from the bottom. My rig consists of a weighted trap; 15 m up the line (from the trap) a stabilizing 5 lb ball; then 15 m from the float a 1 lb ball to keep the line straight down (and out of propellers); then a single float designed to sink in heavy current.

I am new at this so advice is appreciated. The single trap is due to fishing from a kayak. Makes for a good workout when deep.

 

[salmon9]

Some people use bouys that can keep their traps afloat and some don't. I don't as I find a large bouy effects how a trap fishes and you need more weight to counteract the wind and tide pushing on the bouy. Just make sure you have enough scope and know where you are dropping your traps and you will be fine. For Sannich Inlet I have 300 ft of line and fish 220-240 ft, with two traps on the line and the trap closest to the bouy is weighted with approx 4 lbs of lead. I place two weights on the line to ensure it sinks.

 

[the fog ducker]

Hey Guy's
I am having a hard time fiding Carlyles ( cases ) in Town ( Vancouver - Nanaimo , anywhere ), could someone help me out here , appreciate it ,thanks in advance , ,FD...

Carlyle Tuna for Cats