Vancouver Fishing Spots

[trendsetter]

For those of you who know the south arm, I was looking at google maps and when coming out of steveston on right it looks like there is channel which kind of heads north. Is this channel made to allow small boat to cut the corner when heading up to vancouver? Is it passable at high and low tide?

Here is map with a path a drew


https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201535478838339895919.0004d75a4ab3268f3a453&msa=0&ll=49.12846,-123.207293&spn=0.023364,0.066047

There are a few channels through there and I have been through them a few times. Only every at tides above 4m. It's very tricky and you could find yourself stuck and beached in no time. Definitely would not recommend it for someone new to the area. Just bomb out to the lighthouse and head north. Keep an eye on your sounder as you will be surprised how far out you can be and come across water 3 feet deep.

 

[daddystoy]

Marty, Marty, Marty, $20 bucks plus tax for a chart, or not. Try Google maps for the ocean and see how that works for you. I've run aground off there once many years ago, luckily no damage and off of Spanish Banks. Same situation, you are a long way off shore so naturally you think you have lots of water under you, WRONG!! If you beach yourself badly enough on a falling tide, well I hope you have lots of time on your hands because you are going to be there for a while. So I say again, Power Squadron Course or "the school of hard knocks".

 

[Captain PartyMarty]

Jeez sorry daddystoy for asking a question. I have both a chart and have done Power Squadron, but my charts don't show the channel I saw on google maps and just wanted to ask if it's passable.

 

[Revenge]

That map makes canoe pass look as big as the north arm !! It could be a bit off scale. lol

 

[fishin_magician]

A chart is definitely a good idea.

Take the Pacific Angler Course. A visual on the places will make all the difference....as well as what gear to use at what time of year. Fishing in Vancouver is not easy even when fishing is "good".

FYI, I know guys who have taken that course and attest to the value of it's content.

As for how to fish those areas...you best get out and fish it. Point of reference, one boat will fish the same area and hit 9 large chinooks. The next boat fishing that area will only hit 4. The occasional angler will get 1 or 2 hook ups.

Time spent on the water makes all the difference.

 

[Jester]

Yah charts are only required for over tonnage commercial vessels

 

[eriks]

I never had fished with DR's (no previous salmon fishing experience) and I did the Pacific Angler course. It was great - really sorts you out on when, where and how to fish. The fishing in Vancouver is great when the Pinks and Socks are running, but if it's Chinooks you're after, do the course and get educated. This place ain't WCVI!!! They teach you very well on the basics of fishing Vancouver, and you get to go out on the water for a day too. Keep asking questions, take photos when you're on the boat, and you'll go out on your own and have a great chance to come home with something and feel great that you weren't skunked. There are just so many variables to consider, it'll take years to figure it all out, even with the help of this forum. I found that it really helped me. I thought it was great value for the money. Another option is to charter a local boat for a day and ask a bunch of questions. That's a more expensive option that I also tried, but I was happier with the course.

 

[Peahead]

Marty, Marty, Marty, $20 bucks plus tax for a chart, or not. Try Google maps for the ocean and see how that works for you. I've run aground off there once many years ago, luckily no damage and off of Spanish Banks. Same situation, you are a long way off shore so naturally you think you have lots of water under you, WRONG!! If you beach yourself badly enough on a falling tide, well I hope you have lots of time on your hands because you are going to be there for a while. So I say again, Power Squadron Course or "the school of hard knocks".

I'd give poor Marty Party a break.Especially because he is a Captain! But seriously I think you may be putting a bit too much faith in charts and the CPS course - I agree every course I have taken was very valuable but its just a starting point. I have taken CPS, MED2 ( longer version of MED 3) SVOP, First Aid/CPR/AED, ROC but I beleive none of those substitutes for experience ( and common sense). I am sure some of you out there have a masters ticket and also the SFI Guides course, CTAG. All fantastic and I respect anyone who seeks training but training doesn't give you instant 5,10 or 20 years experience.

Paper charts are great as back up and do help however I wouldn't expect many people are going to be plotting courses on their paper charts in advance of their day fishing in their small runabout - its just not practical especially if your charts are out at the marina buried in a damp storage compartment in your small boat. Back up charts are good if your electronics fail.... for getting visuals from Nav buoys and landmarks and using your mechanical ( non digital) compass to lead you in a direction away from danger. With poor visibility though, your landmarks and nav buoy visuals are not there. I feel anyone navigating out there without the proper chartplotter/sounder and following them closely is asking for trouble, especially off the Fraser River banks. The paper chart is not gonna help Marty much if he's navigating the Fraser banks and not plotting course on it and always keeping aware of exactly where he is on that course/route.

I use a charplotter/sounder, a second GPS back up unit and a iPhone navionics App back up . I think I'll leave te soggy charts in the bow for when all the electronics die and my iPhone dies.

 

[wildthing]

But seriously I think you may be putting a bit too much faith in charts and the CPS course - I agree every course I have taken was very valuable but its just a starting point. I have taken CPS, MED2 ( longer version of MED 3) SVOP, First Aid/CPR/AED, ROC but I beleive none of those substitutes for experience ( and common sense). I am sure some of you out there have a masters ticket and also the SFI Guides course, CTAG. All fantastic and I respect anyone who seeks training but training doesn't give you instant 5,10 or 20 years experience.

totally agree with you on this one
real time experience out on the water boating /fishing should count
as training and courses are just that and how many hours???? 2-50 hrs avg course duration
my pleasure fishing time is some where between 500+ hrs a year and many times solo outings

sooner be out on the water with someone who's seen it all
rather than a guy who's got x amount of certificates in class room training

 

[Red Monster]

Can't say I agree with all this rationalizing about what you don't need. It's often what gets guys into a lot of trouble, and we see it every year.

 

[Red Monster]

Oh, and given the choice while we're rationalizing, I'd rather be on the water with the guy who has seen it all, who has all the equipment, and who has all the certificates.

 

[Peahead]

Oh, and given the choice while we're rationalizing, I'd rather be on the water with the guy who has seen it all, who has all the equipment, and who has all the certificates.

Can't speak for Wildthing but glad you clarified your first post. As you describe above yes I agree ( more is better) of course .....was just a bit concerned though when I read that a quick CPS course and a soggy chart might have been considered the answer to safe boating off the Fraser banks....lol