Well gang, as January comes to a close, the record books will show that January 2006 was the worst month on record since the early sixties. With gale force Northeast or Southeast winds almost everyday, it was basically impossible to get out unless you sat here on standby. It's pretty tough to honestly inspire a boater when your biggest worry is their safety. The only good thing that may come out this is that with this vast amount of water, we may not find ourselves with warm water temperatures. With the mass amount of snow on the Olympics and all the water we have saved up we may be able to scare the “El Nino” back down to the south.
Now lets get on with the fishing end of things, with halibut re-opening February 1st.
Tides for February
- From the 8th thru to the 11th — I’d look at from daylight until just after lunchtime.
- From the 11th thru to the 16th — I’d look at daylight until dark.
- From the 18th thru to the 20th — I’d look at the midday low and turn to flood.
Last batch would be the midmorning on the 24th and follow that right through to the end of the month. We’ve got some great Black Herring, Mackerel, and Octopus for you grinders. And remember, always check-in with us for the weather.
Salmon fishing
Staying deep still seems to be the productive way to fish. Hootchies and squirts such as Purple Haze, Tiger Prawn, Black Magic from Angelo’s, or Radiant’s Black Tiger Prawn, the GloBelow and Jay 79 hootchie are all working well. Doubling up a hootchie with a squirt up the gut is still working well but,never forget the old reliable — “nothing beats bait”. Pulling an anchovy in a clear or glow green head with or without a flasher is usually going to produce dinner. Two new spring favourites of late have been the #5 Titan and the green/green Coyote Spoons.
Places I’d start looking at would be William head on the flood or possibly the 120′ trench on the West Race Rocks on an ebb or slack tide. Try circling the outside pinnacle at Christopher Point, back through the valley and over to Church. Last but not least, try trolling back and forth through the trough between Fraser Island and Creyke Point.
I mention these new spots because we’re starting to see herring in the areas mentioned. As these fish move and ball, tides will play a factor — especially if they hold up before continuing there move towards the Gorge and onwards.
Remember: barbless hooks for salmon, barbed hooks for halibut.
Good luck to all
Sean Moore
Manager, Pedder Bay Marina
P.S. Thanks to all who participated in the petitions and letters to DFO regarding RCA’s.
