Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: JBB on November 19, 2019, 08:45:54 PM

Title: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: JBB on November 19, 2019, 08:45:54 PM: What kind of small fish would be attracting large numbers of gulls to the waters near the White Rock pier today ?
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: waterbearer on November 21, 2019, 09:48:02 AM: Been wondering the samething for month. pm me
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: milo on November 21, 2019, 11:35:57 AM: Herring...they finished feeding off-shore and they are approaching the coastline in preparation for spawning.

And tourists of course...feeding them along the waterfront.
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: VAGAbond on November 21, 2019, 04:14:41 PM: Not spawning herring, tiny slim silvery fish perhaps three inches long. Perhaps young herring but also perhaps sand lance. I would also like to hear from somebody that knows.
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: blaydRnr on November 21, 2019, 05:00:05 PM: Quote from: VAGAbond on November 21, 2019, 04:14:41 PM
Not spawning herring, tiny slim silvery fish perhaps three inches long. Perhaps young herring but also perhaps sand lance. I would also like to hear from somebody that knows.

They're needle fish (sand lace) and they school by the thousands when migrating.

http://metchosinmarine.ca/gf/pacific-sand-lance-needle-fish-forage-fish-of-metchosins-shoreline/
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: milo on November 21, 2019, 05:52:53 PM: Quote from: blaydRnr on November 21, 2019, 05:00:05 PM
They're needle fish (sand lace) and they school by the thousands when migrating.

http://metchosinmarine.ca/gf/pacific-sand-lance-needle-fish-forage-fish-of-metchosins-shoreline/

Cool. Are they tasty? They seem the right size to be fried and eaten whole, like the European sprat, which is abundant in the Mediterranean.

https://images.app.goo.gl/hmAcmWPod2jtjSXXA
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: hammer on November 22, 2019, 04:56:20 PM: I have also seen what I believe to be bay anchovy absolutely en masse in that area
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: clarki on November 22, 2019, 05:34:09 PM: Quote from: hammer on November 22, 2019, 04:56:20 PM
I have also seen what I believe to be bay anchovy absolutely en masse in that area
It appears bay anchovy are only found in the Atlantic.
Perhaps you were seeing type of anchovy?
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: salmonrook on November 22, 2019, 06:33:57 PM: Surf smelts
My dads friend used to go down to the white rock beach to fish or net them from shore when I was a kid .
you don't see them all the time anymore....
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: hammer on November 23, 2019, 08:32:55 AM: Maybe northern anchovy...I have seen massive schools of them very close to shore.
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: canso on November 23, 2019, 12:14:36 PM: In the summer I saw anchovies around the pier. I could see theirs mouths open wide filter feeding. There were large schools being attacked by the starry flounders (or similar sole type flounder) and dogfish eating the flounders and anchovies.
Title: Re: Gulls at White Rock
Post by: firstlight on November 23, 2019, 06:00:20 PM: There was an Anchovy commercial fishery back in the day in Burrard Inlet.