Sooke: Fraction of the Action?

[Little Hawk]

Howdy,

Okay, I'm relatively new to this forum but am I missing something here?

Seems to me there was a sh*t-load more Springs boated by this time last year.

Haven't seen the word 'skunked' used so much before.

What do some of the veterans have to say about the absence of fish?

Cheers,
Terry

 

[scott craven]

Boo hoo, sob sob ....

not that it's any consolation, but just spoke with an associate
who had been in Tasu for 4 days, tough there too..
he caught 2 springs

 

[Barbender]

Sounds like spring fishing is quiet from Alaska to California. There are a few (very few) bright spots but overall it is quiet for the big guys everywhere. Oddly Sockeyes are doing well so not sure if it is because there is more feed for them versus the big springs. Maybe that big commercial herring fishery can finally be stopped for being so wasteful. Maybe the commercial pollock fishery in Alaska will finally be stopped too. The total by catch is already well over 2 million springs. I can't help but think that might be a cause in the downward spiral of our fishery. Not sure but 2 million springs is a big number to me. I have not been down to my boat in Sooke for 2 weeks now. Does not sound like I am missing much.

 

[walleyes]

I have been a regular on this forum for going on 3 years now and its the same thing every year,, doom and gloom.. The salmon are all gone and we hear all the usual reasons.. Just relax the fish are coming,, maybe tomorrow maybe next week but they will come.. Just look at the Sockeye, I thought they were all gone all of a sudden we have the best returns to some rivers than there has been in 30 years,, go figure.

Hey,, put in the time, enjoy yourself out there and quite worring about filling the cooler every time.. You mite actually enjoy yourself..

And just wait I will be there in 3 weeks,, I will send you lots of pics of big fishies lolololo...

 

[deedubb]

I totally agree with walleyes, We have to relax and enjoy fishing. The fish will come and if they dont who are we going to blame. We should blame ourselves for killing everything we catch or close to it. When I guide I always encourage my guests to keep one if they want and release the rest for the years to come. There are people on here complaining that we only caught one or two today. You are lucky you are catching one or two, I have seen so many weigh stations littered with salmon, halibut and cod and then we ask ourselves why arent there any fish coming and then we blame natives, commercial fisherman and fish farms. yeah sure they have a impact but I think its time we look in the mirror and do our part with the conserving the fish for years to come before its to late.
d.

 

[likwit]

i agree that just getting out and fishing is a luxury and something to be enjoyed regardless of whether the cooler gets filled or not.

i also agree that the habit of bonking everything you catch is something we all need to reconsider... seriously a 20 pound spring is alot of fish.

i also agree it has been slow so far this year... at least fishing in victoria. there is still the traditional best weeks ahead, so lets hope we all see some more silver!

 

[TheBigGuy]

quote:Originally posted by deedubb

I totally agree with walleyes, We have to relax and enjoy fishing. The fish will come and if they dont who are we going to blame. We should blame ourselves for killing everything we catch or close to it. When I guide I always encourage my guests to keep one if they want and release the rest for the years to come. There are people on here complaining that we only caught one or two today. You are lucky you are catching one or two, I have seen so many weigh stations littered with salmon, halibut and cod and then we ask ourselves why arent there any fish coming and then we blame natives, commercial fisherman and fish farms. yeah sure they have a impact but I think its time we look in the mirror and do our part with the conserving the fish for years to come before its to late.
d.

Wecome to the forum, couldn't agree more.

 

[Tailspin]

I would agree with a few trips out being skunked in June and July, but lets be real here guys, this year has been full of ten hour days without a hit for many boats from Victoria to Sooke. Sure they may show up, but in comparisson to 5, 10, 15, 20+ years ago, a wee bit of a pattern developing here. As a local boy, I remember the days where you could not even consider rolling bait with so many bluebacks and grilse Springs around in July, even 5 years ago. What about the Fraser and Columbia fish in late May and early June? Perhaps they just went on by, out and deep rather than following there migratory pattern as of the past 25 years! It really is sad to me that you can fish 4 rods with bait all day without a hit from anything in late July. Call it doom and gloom if you want, but i actually wish it was a pink year.

www.tailspincharters.com

 

[Tsquared]

I was saying to my fishing partner the other day as we passed some charter boats during a slow spell that it's one thing for us to come out and have a dry day but it must be tough on the charter guys with the expectation from their customers to produce.
T2

 

[Tailspin]

Sure is good the halibut are around, saved me from hiding the bonker a few times now. Released some nice socs last year, sure will be nice to keep one or two of those for the bbq.

www.tailspincharters.com

 

[Tips Up]

Agreed that it is very slow out there. Over the last couple of weeks there have been a few (very few) good days out west and a very short bite on the tide change at the head.
Nothing like it should be.
Hopefully the springs are late and the coho will be anything like last year. Last year was the best coho fishing I have seen in the last 10.
Sockeye projections are very good so hopefully that will turn on also.
A lot of top rods are having a tough time. I have not heard of anyone with consistant success.

Tips

 

[Tips Up]

Agreed that it is very slow out there. Over the last couple of weeks there have been a few (very few) good days out west and a very short bite on the tide change at the head.
Nothing like it should be.
Hopefully the springs are late and the coho will be anything like last year. Last year was the best coho fishing I have seen in the last 10.
Sockeye projections are very good so hopefully that will turn on also.
A lot of top rods are having a tough time. I have not heard of anyone with consistant success.

Tips

 

[Barbender]

Someone was telling me he thinks it is due to the huge collapse of the US runs that head to California and Oregon. Those fish are at historic lows and as such are not travelling in large schools. Made sense they way they explained it. Saying that Nootka, and other popular west coast spots would be dead until the resident fish showed up later in the year. Sure is depressing though.