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Author Topic: How is smelt fishing this year?  (Read 1789 times)

Steelhawk

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How is smelt fishing this year?
« on: August 27, 2008, 06:29:08 PM »
Haven't fished for smelt for a few years. Heard that smelts are not as plentiful as before. But with the high price of gas, it may not be a bad idea to fish more locally. How has it been this year so far?
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Fish Assassin

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Re: How is smelt fishing this year?
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2008, 07:41:03 PM »
It's been on the downslide for years. When I was a kid we were catching over 50-100 lbs a night. Not anymore.
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jettabambino

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Re: How is smelt fishing this year?
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2008, 08:35:36 PM »
i have a family member who has waterfront property in west van.   

He usually gets as much as he wants... usually feeds his brothers family and then some...

this year he has caught a grand total of 39 fish....

terrible...
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see ya on the river

Sam Salmon

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Re: How is smelt fishing this year?
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2008, 09:55:31 PM »
Quote from: jettabambino on August 27, 2008, 08:35:36 PM
i have a family member who has waterfront property in west van.   

He usually gets as much as he wants... usually feeds his brothers family and then some...

this year he has caught a grand total of 39 fish....

terrible...
It's a tough situation, and a dynamic one as well.

The fact is that English Bay is full of feed, Needlefish, small Herring balls glittering all around the Bell Buoy and even Sardines too.

The Harbour Porpoises are all around Point Grey and out toward Bowen Island tearing through bait like I've never seen (not to mention Orcas but that's another story).

But Smelts?

They seem to have taken a tumble.

So it's bad news for shore bound Smelt fishermen but if you have a boat and a few Sabiki rigs you can clean up on Sardines, never eaten one m'self though.
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Steelhawk

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Re: How is smelt fishing this year?
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2008, 06:35:16 PM »
I wonder if this is to do with ocean condition such as warming water temperature. The smelts seem to disappear along with the Pacific Tom Cod which fishermen used to catch lots in lower Fraser around Richmond. These fish are not heavily targeted by commercial fishermen, so they must be having trouble staying around warmer Vancouver water and heading north. Just a guess.
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