The following is our clients' report on salmon, halibut, lingcod and yellow-eye snapper in Tofino BC on May 19th.
Action and the weather were fantastic for Saturday May 19th. Captain Jeff started us off with a new halibut style of fishing. Using spreader bars with different bait mix of oversize herring, octopus, and glow in the dark jigs all adding to the attraction.
Captain Jeff, said once the tide turns to slack. It did not take long after slack tide. The first hit, bent the rod over the side of the boat and took about 20 minutes. Before the 51 pound halibut was harpooned and brought on board.
Then, within another thirty minutes we had another heavy halibut hit. This brought a 50 pound halibut close to the surface. Amazingly the harpoon bounced right off the head. The reel screamed as the halibut, raced back down over one hundred & fifty feet to the bottom. After an incredible 40 minute battle, halibut number two is on board. What a fight this one gave us.
Once again, we had another halibut hit. This one came on board rather quickly. This 'chicken' halibut at 16 pounds was in the boat. With about a hundred plus pounds of halibut and very little room left in the cooler! What a great problem to have! Does Captain Jeff, know his halibut!
We have been listening to our Captains friends on the short wave radio all morning. Keeping us posted on the incredible salmon action. We had a little time left in the day and decide to head over to Portland Point a close 30 minute trip. Captain Jeff matched up our presentation and got us trolling on the bottom where the salmon are feeding on needle fish. By the time it was to head back to the dock we had 2 – 18 to 20 pound Spring Salmon. What a great first day! Check out more pictures on
Fishing Tofino's website.
Back out on the water for day two, on Sunday May 20th. Did not predict the same cooperating weather, wind and rain were expected by noon. This is where Captain Jeff's custom off shore Pursuit made the difference.
The goal for day two was lingcod and yellow eye snapper. Captain Jeff knows of a reef that is a constant producer. So the 45 minute trip was smooth and uneventful going there. The cod and snapper get big feeding on the abundant bait fish at Tofino. The new Ugly Stick rods with Penn reels are a dream. The soft tip action of the rods, enable you to 'feel' the strike. In the first two hours, we caught and released over fifty ling cod in the 11 to 12 pound range. Keeping just three, we are looking for the monsters!
In the next hour, we landed a 31 pound lingcod. It hit a smaller lingcod that was hooked coming up and would not let go. Captain Jeff gaffed that one quickly. Impressive! We now have our limit of Ling Cod. Yellow Eye Snapper are in deeper water. So over the next couple of hours we land 4 snapper, with one topping the scales at 15 pounds in 175 feet of water. The Captain has kept our lines straight while we jigged, the main reason for our success.
By now the wind has picked up and the sea is rough, plus we are 20 miles from Tofino. This is where an off-shore boat and experienced guide pays off. For a safe, reliable trip back to the dock.
June is not far off, the continued action is expected. Salmon & halibut fishing in Tofino, Vancouver is the place to be fishing. Contact Captain Jeff at 1-800-732-3077 for a fishing report or
visit www.fishingtofino.ca.
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Topic: Tofino May 2012 report (Read 3051 times)