It looks like summer is trying to get its act together… I just wish there was something I could do about the wind factor.
One thing that does get me excited is seeing big fish early into the salmon season.
Congratulations to my friend and fishing junkie Dr. Doug Watson. Recently retired and now able to fish a bit more often, Doug and I have rivalled each other on and off for many years. Ask him to tell you the story of how he stole my “Masterfisherman” hat right out from under my nose. That was a great time and a great thrill for Doug, my problem is I can’t forget that day.
43 pounder caught in Pedder Bay!
O.K. I’ll get to this months biggest fish so far. Caught right in Pedder Bay just out from the “Deep Hole”, DW hooked into and with the help of his partner Steve landed a 43lb. Spring, many thanks I’m sure goes out to Steve who was with Doug, without Steve there I might not be telling you this fish story, great netting job and great team work guys. They were using Anchovy and trolling at about 50 feet.
It looks like its game on for the Big Springs of May and June. Now let’s look at where we want to fish.
Salmon Fishing in May and June
- Pedder Bay at the Deephole, The Can buoy, and the Kelp Bed. You’re going to want to try running your gear one shallow say 40-50 feet and one 20 feet deeper.
- Whirl Bay area starting at Christopher Point, and trolling across the mouth of Whirl Bay over to Church Rock.
- The Bedford side of Church Rock just check your chart for the odd pinnacles that are situated in there. Also make sure to don’t go too far over towards the Bedfords as there is a Rockfish Conservation Area surrounding the Bedfords and it goes in to Smyth Head.
- Beechey Head and trolling back towards Aldridge point.
- The Trap Shack. Again, check your chart and watch your depths as the reef loves to eat gear.
Anchovy should be your weapon of choice and if you are of the mindset that the bigger the bait the bigger the fish then I’d try Green Herring.
Halibut fishing tides for May
- May 4th saw me sitting here finishing of this column looking at a 120 lb halibut out on the hook, good job Beenie.
- May 5th and 6th you have a slow moving ebb that starts first thing in the morning and finishes with along low tide in the afternoon.
- May 7th you start your day with a slight flat cardiac tide and just after lunch it also moves into a slow ebb that bottoms out at around dinnertime.
- May 8th this is a sick day from work for any avid halibut fisher you can fish all day dawn to dusk.
- May 9th you start the day with a slow flood tide that crests around 3:00pm and then you’re back to an almost cardiac flat ebb till dark.
- May 10th 9:00am to 11:00am work the low tide, from 3:00pm till dark work the flatline flood.
- By May 11th you’re starting to loose your morning tide so for the 11th and 12th I’d fish the afternoon flood till dark.
Now we skip a week and start again on the 20th with an afternoon low tide bowl say from 1:00pm until 5:00pm.
- May 21st your day starts out with a nice flat flood from daylight through to 11:00am then you want to switch to the other side and fish the ebb bowl from say 2:00pm until 5:30pm.
- May 22nd “OH YA” it’s another all-day fishing adventure so pack a lunch. The day starts off with a slow moving flood till around 1:00pm and then it’s off to a slow ebb until dinner time.
- May 23rd starts with a low tide bowl at daylight and by 1:30ish in the afternoon you will fish the day out on a slow ebb till dark.
- May 24th pretty much rounds out the month with a flood tide fish starting around 1:00pm and taking you right through to dark.
Good luck to all anglers!
Black herring or mackerel should do well as you bait of choice and always remember to watch your weather.
Till we chat again,
Tightlines and tips up
Sean Moore; Manager
