Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: Zpg on August 13, 2007, 10:34:33 PM
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I'll try to be brief...
Since buying my larger boat a month or so ago I have been doing some saltwater venturing. A little off the mouth of the Fraser, a bit off West Vancouver and even a day at Cates, all with some success. I used to do a lot of saltwater fishing when I lived in Powell River for a year and I definitely miss it. I bought a couple of marine charts that cover most of the local area and while looking over them I wondered about Halibut in Georgia Strait. I did some reading and found out that Halibut used to be plentiful many years ago but basically none in the Strait for the past 20-30 years. Got me thinking that there must still be some around...
I called a few tackle shops that cater to saltwater and asked if they knew anywhere in the Strait that might support Halibut. Basically everyone laughed at me and I was told that there are none this far up the Strait and that Victoria area in spring was as close as they come.
Being the stubborn sort that I am, I decided to give it a try anyway so last night I sat in front of my chart and found an area I thought would be a good starting point. I copied the Longitude and Latitude to my portable GPS and off I went this morning.
When I arrived at my pre-determined location I decided to fish for Salmon for a bit first as it was nice and early, After 2 hours with no luck and the winds picking up I boated over to my "spot" and dropped anchor (I heard from several seasoned Halibut guys that anchoring is more productive than drifting). I rigged up and as soon as my gear hit bottom WHAM. Fish on. It had decent size as I was using my Technium and sturgeon setup and it was taking line.
5 minutes later this came to the surface:
(http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/8641/2981539350100964430S600x600Q85.jpg)
Not a monster but a good 20lbs. I still can't believe I picked the exact spot last night and nailed a Hali on my first drop.
So much for no halibut in the Strait!
I fished for another hour but the wind and waves were getting almost dangerous, the fishing was impossible and I was a LONG way from shore so I headed home.
Cheers
Z
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Sweet!!! ;D
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wow nice fish. VERY UNCOMMON but also not targetted alot. I fish almost everyday in the staright and have never caught one myself but only heard of a handful.
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WOW very impressive! Keep your spot on the DL...you dont want it to turn into a zoo gong show ;)
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awesome....that is going to be delicious!
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it sure is rewarding when a little research and determination pay off. Nicely done!
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Nice work! I picked up a book in Pt Alberni the weekend before last that has some spots near Van, but didn't put much weight in them. I'll have to try one or two out!
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good job. I have only seen once that a halibut was pulled in the strait but that was years years ago... Lucky dog :)
I will buy the head off that fish :)
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Excellent work! What type of boat did you pick up?
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I'll try to be brief...
Since buying my larger boat a month or so ago I have been doing some saltwater venturing. A little off the mouth of the Fraser, a bit off West Vancouver and even a day at Cates, all with some success. I used to do a lot of saltwater fishing when I lived in Powell River for a year and I definitely miss it. I bought a couple of marine charts that cover most of the local area and while looking over them I wondered about Halibut in Georgia Strait. I did some reading and found out that Halibut used to be plentiful many years ago but basically none in the Strait for the past 20-30 years. Got me thinking that there must still be some around...
I called a few tackle shops that cater to saltwater and asked if they knew anywhere in the Strait that might support Halibut. Basically everyone laughed at me and I was told that there are none this far up the Strait and that Victoria area in spring was as close as they come.
Being the stubborn sort that I am, I decided to give it a try anyway so last night I sat in front of my chart and found an area I thought would be a good starting point. I copied the Longitude and Latitude to my portable GPS and off I went this morning.
When I arrived at my pre-determined location I decided to fish for Salmon for a bit first as it was nice and early, After 2 hours with no luck and the winds picking up I boated over to my "spot" and dropped anchor (I heard from several seasoned Halibut guys that anchoring is more productive than drifting). I rigged up and as soon as my gear hit bottom WHAM. Fish on. It had decent size as I was using my Technium and sturgeon setup and it was taking line.
5 minutes later this came to the surface:
(http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/8641/2981539350100964430S600x600Q85.jpg)
Not a monster but a good 20lbs. I still can't believe I picked the exact spot last night and nailed a Hali on my first drop.
So much for no halibut in the Strait!
I fished for another hour but the wind and waves were getting almost dangerous, the fishing was impossible and I was a LONG way from shore so I headed home.
Cheers
Z
Ummm...there's some halibut around and there's been more than just a "few" caught if you know where to look and it's definitely on the DL. Certainly hope you weren't where I think you were. Check the regs...and I don't mean that guide they publish every 2nd year. There's a whole lotta restrictions and you think you may not be in a restricted zone, but you could be. Just be cautious...... that's all. No offence intended.
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im still convinced - with no proof obviously - tat there is a moster out there in the straight.. One days , one day some one is going to tackle the beast..
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Ummm...there's some halibut around and there's been more than just a "few" caught if you know where to look and it's definitely on the DL. Certainly hope you weren't where I think you were. Check the regs...and I don't mean that guide they publish every 2nd year. There's a whole lotta restrictions and you think you may not be in a restricted zone, but you could be. Just be cautious...... that's all. No offence intended.
No offence taken at all. In fact I have appreciated your candid posts here and other forums. In case you were worried I was fishing inside a rockfish conservation area.... I made careful documentations on my GPS to avoid making this mistake :)
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What did you pick him up on, herring? chovie? jig?
I dropped a Berkley Gulp squid.
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Excellent work! What type of boat did you pick up?
I bought a 16' Double Eagle. It's a bit small but really rides the rough water pretty well.
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Now what were the GPS headings again ? ;D
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great catch.... keep your spot top secret 8)
we have been using those berkley gulp squids in various sizes for rockfish, yellow eye, lings and halibut over in Nootka.... they work like crazy!!! and as a bonus.... haven't caught a single dogfish on them.
I have been itchin to check a spot on the local chart for some Hali as well.... some info was passed down to me by a old timer , a spot circled on a outdated chart. I'm gonna have to try and figure where it is on the new charts.
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way to go..nice report.
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Now what were the GPS headings again ? ;D
Hey FA
Always looking to help a brother FWR member. Follow these GPS co-ordinates and I GUARANTEE you will find Halibut:
N49 18.636
W123 04.941
;D ;D ;D
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Or this coordinate.
N49 07.422 W123 11.068 ;D ;D
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Dont know anything about coordinates but my geuss it will take you to a retail seafood outlet. LOL.