Fishing Report for August 6, 2012
Chinook fishing has followed the previous trend of extreme ups and downs this week. On occasion we’re bringing nice 17- to 19- pound chinook to the boat, other days all there seem to be are undersized fish in the Thrasher and Grande areas.
There are now jack chinook in the area. These are one year males that spawn prematurely. They are basically “waste fish” in nature, as the majority don’t spawn if there are bigger, mature males in the rivers.
They would be the ideal fish to harvest, except few of them make it to the 24 1/2 inch size limit. We tried a motion at S.F.A.B. this year to drop the size limit for chinook in area 17 to 22 inches to allow a fishery for jacks in August and September, but D.F.O. declined. Last year in August we sometimes released seven or eight jacks that weighed 6 to 7 pounds in a trip, and it seemed kind of futile. Here’s hoping some larger fish arrive in the area, soon.
Neck Point/Rocky Point has provided some good results occasionally this week. The best email I received described a man kayak fishing, and landing a 10- and 15-pound chinook while jigging off Rocky Point. He didn’t have a landing net, so played them for a half hour apiece, before landing them by the gills!
There were two more halibut taken off Neck Point. Clyde Wicks finally joined the club, and a 40 pounder was landed in the same area.
The tides have been punishing for bottom fishing this week. Ling fishing is good, if you’re not drifting at 2 knots!
Likewise, the prawning has been difficult. I lost two traps this week to the severe tides. Make sure you have lots of line, and plenty of weight on the traps. Otherwise, start looking towards Vancouver for your gear! The prawning has been relatively good, with an average of 50 per trap, but some sets we’re catching 100 per trap.
Good fishing!
Bob Meyer is the owner/operator of Silver Blue Charters based out of Silva Bay, Gabriola. Tel: 247-8807 fax: 247-9700.
www.silverbluecharters.com