Shearwater Area Reports - Forecast
- Thread starter BigHog
- Start date
Some buddies and I have been going to Shearwater for the second week of July for the last few years. Salmon fishing has been very good. We have fished many of the usual spots but have had the best luck at Cheney Point and Cultus Sound. I would try these first. There may be a dozen boats at Cheney point and 0-2 at Cultus. A typical day would start with an early trip to somewhere on the outer coast (Chenny, Cultus, Purple Bluff, Spider, etc.) and fishing closer to home in the afternoon as the winds start to blow (Idol Point, Dryad Point, areas around Mc. Loughlin Bay, etc.). We will be arriving in Shearwater July 13 after a few days anchored somewhere behind Spider Island. Come for a visit if you’re still around. We will be running in a large aluminum crew boat and a blue 17’ Harbourcraft.
BigHog
Member
Thanks for the great info. I will look these areas up on the charts. I had heard of Cheney before so that seems to be a very poular spot. Any depths or choice lures that have been good over the years or just use Chovy, Herring, spoons etc? Looks like we will be up there thru July 12 so hopefully we hit it right.
We usually run chovies to start and move to spoons etc. if the coho are becoming a problem. Fishing depth off Cheney Point ranges from 60-110ft. Look for the bait. Most people are trolling hardware away from the kelp this time of year so there is plenty of room to move. Cut herring along the kelp becomes popular a little later in the season but not many people doing it this time of year.....not sure why? maybe someone on the forum could answer that? Watch the weather while you are out at Cheney because coming around the corner at Welch rock can get a little lumpy with the tide and wind. Hope this helps!
G
Gordo
Guest
How do coho become a problem???
They start to be after the thirtieth one has stolen your carefully seutp bait.
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BigHog
Member
We had that same problem in Hardy at Duval a couple of years ago with the Coho. Tons of fun for a while but if you are after springs then it becomes a bit of a pain. But it's better than not catching at all. Wasn't planning on running cut plug - never really fished that way in the past. Will probably just run Chovy, spoons and plastic. Weather forecast looks better for everywhere mid next week on so that may help things.
Another year and another trip to the Shearwater area. We’re planning on anchoring July 2-4 in the area between Spider and Nalau and then moving north to Shearwater for a few nights at the bar. We will be in a 36ft crew boat and 17ft blue Harbourcraft. Come and say hi if you don’t mind sharing some fishing stories over a few beer. While in Shearwater, we will be fishing mainly Cheney, Cultus and Idol. While in the Spider-Nalau area we will be trying Spider, the Gap, Breadner and ??? We did the same last year but the weather didn't cooperate so we were forced to fish in some of the less exposed areas. We got a few nice chinook and coho but didn’t get the numbers or the trophies that we were really looking for. We found that the chovies and 4inch army truck coyotes were the slow but consistent producers. Does anyone know the Spider-Nalau area well enough to suggest some other spots that are worth a try? Also, does anyone have some recent reports?
Striper Sniper
Well-Known Member
Hey Blue, maybe check with Bear Cove on this site.
SS
SS
BigHog
Member
Don't know about the outside but we made a few trips up last summer and from a halibut point of view Burke Channel was awesome. Lots of 30 to 50 pounders. Fish the slack as the water runs 3-4 knots. 200 to 300 feet worked well for us. Good luck. Heading up again in a few weeks to try our luck.
We’ll be going down the Burke on our way out but it will be too late at night to give it a try. We will also likely be going from Shearwater to Bella Coola via the Dean on the way back because it's a little shorter and much smoother of a ride. We've fished the Burke in years past and have had a great time but everyone in our group agrees that exploring new areas for chinook on the outside is more our style. Good luck on your trip BigHog!
Sharphooks
Well-Known Member
Hey Blue
If you don't mind me asking, how does that 17 footer get way up there? Does it get towed or does someone run it? I'd love to get my 21 footer up to Stirling and Spider but it seems like a daunting trip from Pt. Hardy. Would you suggest going up the east side of Calvert on up to Nalau Passage or just pick your weather and come straight across? Thanks for any details on your trip---sounds like a fantastic place to go!
If you don't mind me asking, how does that 17 footer get way up there? Does it get towed or does someone run it? I'd love to get my 21 footer up to Stirling and Spider but it seems like a daunting trip from Pt. Hardy. Would you suggest going up the east side of Calvert on up to Nalau Passage or just pick your weather and come straight across? Thanks for any details on your trip---sounds like a fantastic place to go!
Sharphooks - It's a great area to explore! I've been lucky enough to do 10 or so trips over the years to areas between Hakai and St Johns. All these trips are possible due to a good friend with a 36ft crew boat in Bella Coola. We put the 17ft behind and make the trip out at around 8 knots. I would NOT take the 17ft from Bella Coola or Port Hardy without it being under tow. Some people do the trip from both Bella Coola and hardy with boats in the 20-23ft range. Most I've seen come in groups of 2 or more. I've never done it from Hardy so I will leave it to others to comment on the specifics.
Sharphooks
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the comments, Blue. I'd sell my soul to the devil to have two weeks of that part of the world in July. I saw some pictures of Kildidt on a kayaker website that made some of the anchorages in that neighborhood look like the South Sea Islands....unreal.
I'll be in the Broughton Archipelago when you're up off Spider---my guess is, you'll have the better deal as far as fishing goes. Would love to see a report when you get back!
I'll be in the Broughton Archipelago when you're up off Spider---my guess is, you'll have the better deal as far as fishing goes. Would love to see a report when you get back!
E
excalibur
Guest
Just got back last night from a 4 day trip out there. Cheney, Idol and MacLauglin Bay were good. Coho were already 7 to 8 lbs. ! Got one -20 lb. spring out front (St. Johns) Lost 3 "big" springs at Idol. Used cut-plug medium herring always. We ran down to Cultus and tried there and at Spyder Island but absolutely nothing. I think it was too early in the year. Nobody at Purple Bluff. Nobody anywhere around there. Pretty rough at Spyder on Wed. a.m. Some guy caught a 35 lb. spring right in front of "Little Whistler" the Coast Guard\Fisheries, etc. complex across from Bella Bella village. Weather was OK but not great. Ran out from Bella Coola Monday a.m. bumpy first half (Meachaiee sp.? Nose was bad) Smooootttthh ride all the way back early Thurs. a.m. 2 hrs. 20 min. Whiskey Cove to Bella Coola. Friends were down in the Burke and they did well for Halibut.
We will be back out there July 19th for about a week.
We will be back out there July 19th for about a week.
Sharphooks, Port Hardy to Shearwater is very doable in a 21 ft'er. Guys go to Pine Island and the Mainland Coast near Cape Caution all summer long. From Cape Caution it's a short hop to Egg Island then you are almost in protected waters again, and almost at Duncanby Landing in Rivers Inlet. 1 hour from there takes you to Hakai, and another hour (if you stay inside to) to Shearwater. Mid July to the End of August has the best weather. Lots of boat traffic in that period. A guy running Bamfield to 12 Mile return would be in swells a far longer time. PM me if you want more details.
JAC
Well-Known Member
It all depends where you live, I live in the okanagan and we launch in Bella Coola. For the most part pretty calm water and you can be at shearwater in 2.5hours. Im heading out there in Aug with 2 boats and there are both 20 foot aluminums. You have a 21 Arima that would be no problem at all l!!!
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excalibur
Guest
I forgot.....Opened up the first coho and it was full of anchovies. We had none so I commented to my pal that we might as well continue using the herring....Just a future thought. bring some herring and some anchovies. !!!
