Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

Author Topic: Gulls at White Rock  (Read 4998 times)

JBB

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 193
  • I'm a llama!
Gulls at White Rock
« 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 ?
Logged
Man does not cease to play because he grows old ; he grows old because he ceases to play

waterbearer

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 35
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2019, 09:48:02 AM »

Been wondering the samething for month.  pm me
Logged

milo

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2106
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #2 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.
Logged

VAGAbond

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 538
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #3 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.
Logged

blaydRnr

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1551
  • nothing like the first bite of the season
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2019, 05:00:05 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/
Logged

milo

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2106
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2019, 05:52:53 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
Logged

hammer

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 141
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #6 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
Logged

clarki

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1965
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #7 on: November 22, 2019, 05:34:09 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?
« Last Edit: November 22, 2019, 06:17:12 PM by clarki »
Logged

salmonrook

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 213
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #8 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....
 
Logged

hammer

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 141
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2019, 08:32:55 AM »

Maybe northern anchovy...I have seen massive schools of them very close to shore.
Logged

canso

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 597
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #10 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.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2019, 12:21:20 PM by canso »
Logged

firstlight

  • Old Timer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1550
  • I'm a llama!
Re: Gulls at White Rock
« Reply #11 on: November 23, 2019, 06:00:20 PM »

There was an Anchovy commercial fishery back in the day in Burrard Inlet.
Logged