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[fic]

5 Dollar pinks at the supermarket again.  Cheaper than some fishing spoons 

[Fish Assassin]

Have you seen the shape they're in ? No wonder it's five bucks.

[Easywater]

Test fisheries should start late June with Whonnock starting earliest (2024 was on June 28).

Whonnock is one of the best test fisheries for Fraser pinks as it is located north of Glen Valley between Maple Ridge and Mission.
It should show when the river is loaded with fish.

Earlier test fisheries (as in the fish arrive earlier) are Area 12 is the north end of VI and is a good early indicator of Fraser spawning fish.
Area 20 which is the south end of VI - a certain (fairly small) percentage travel down the outside of the Island.

Purse/Seine tend to be more accurate than the gillnet counts - wrong size mesh, etc.

[wildmanyeah]

looking at my notes from 2023 august 12 I caught some nice brights ones off bowen island, west van trolling the usual pink hootiches.   

Fraser the numbers don't matter only the politics do.  So save yourself a brain aneurysm and don't look at the test fisheries.

[Easywater]

Changed my mind.

[DanL]

FWIW if you look at previous years test fisheries and hydroacoustic data it's pretty consistent that the first ones will show up in the Fraser sometime mid-august but not many. I dont have it in front of me, but I ran some numbers in previous years based on test fishery data and I recall that something like 10-15% of the run returns in Aug and the vast majority won't be until the first three weeks of september

Unless I'm mis-remembering, the largest 7-day rolling return period in the Fraser test fisheries is usually in the second week of September (ie Sep 7-14 +/-  a few days). It's not unusual to see 40%+ of the total test fishery sampled during that peak week. By the last week of Sep, the run is basically done in the lower Fraser.

In 2023, tidal and non-tidal waters of the Fraser opened on Sept 1

In 2021, tidal Fraser opened Sept 3, and to your point non-tidal opened on Sept 11

The Fraser was closed in 2017 and 2019

In 2015, the tidal and non tidal Fraser both opened on Sept 5.

In 2013, the tidal and non tidal opened Aug 30 and Aug 31 respectively.

Based on this, if there is an opening it seems that it's typically early enough in Sep that there will still be plenty of time for you all to hit the bulk of the run. Plenty of fresh ones to be had, especially if you are able to hit the lower Fraser or the salt.

[wildmanyeah]

The earlier opening is about the opportunity not the success. Some like to get out early before the crowds of people show up even if chance to catch one is low.

Opening Pinks early in the lower Fraser, where bycatch is minimal, is a sensible approach in a year when the forecasts predict high numbers.

However, as I mentioned, it has become excessively political. Therefore, spare yourself the mental strain and check in after the long weekend in September.

[RalphH]

Absolutely on the mark. These are points I have tried to make for years. In river it is a September fishery with a major peak mid month.

FWIW if you look at previous years test fisheries and hydroacoustic data it's pretty consistent that the first ones will show up in the Fraser sometime mid-august but not many. I dont have it in front of me, but I ran some numbers in previous years based on test fishery data and I recall that something like 10-15% of the run returns in Aug and the vast majority won't be until the first three weeks of september

Unless I'm mis-remembering, the largest 7-day rolling return period in the Fraser test fisheries is usually in the second week of September (ie Sep 7-14 +/-  a few days). It's not unusual to see 40%+ of the total test fishery sampled during that peak week. By the last week of Sep, the run is basically done in the lower Fraser.

Based on this, if there is an opening it seems that it's typically early enough in Sep that there will still be plenty of time for you all to hit the bulk of the run. Plenty of fresh ones to be had, especially if you are able to hit the lower Fraser or the salt.

[fic]

Some Pinks were caught yesterday in the Area 12 Gillnet.  Lots of sockeye being caught so far compared to 2023.

[SuperBobby]

Some Pinks were caught yesterday in the Area 12 Gillnet.  Lots of sockeye being caught so far compared to 2023.

Not a great comparison. 2019 was the Big Bar slide, so 2023 was expected to be a terrible year.

[RalphH]

I am not sure what 2023 sockeye test catches have to do with it since as I understand most sockeye in Southern BC are 4 year stock  with some 3 and 5 years. The PSC hasn't issued a weekly report as yet though it usually does around the middle of July.

[Easywater]

Furry Creek pinks could be starting in a week or so.

No fisheries notice yet - area 28-4, the boundary between -4 & -5 is the mouth of Furry Creek.

https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm
https://www.travel-british-columbia.com/stories/fishing-furry-creek-for-pink-salmon/

[fic]

The First Seine Test Fishery started in Area 12 yesterday.  2492 Pinks caught

Compared to 2023 from July 20 to 24 yielded this many:

302
931
549
1782
69
---

Not a bad start, but hope the pattern increases more.

 

[RalphH]

hmm ... I've said this many times before:

There are significant runs of pinks on the North Coast that move through area 12 much earlier than the Fraser returns. These include the Campbell and the Broughton Archipelago streams as well as returns to some of the north coast Inlets like Bute and Knight.  To my knowledge the Fraser returns are about the latest on the coast (also among the farthest south of the major returns) coming into the river in late summer and early fall, as they do. I doubt the Fraser runs are reflected to any significant degree in test catches to this point.

The Squamish returns are not included in DFOs pre-season forecast. The 27 million number in no way reflects what may happen there. The last 3 cycles on the Squamish have been very low relative to returns prior to 2017. Another feature of the last 3 cycles has been later returns with what reasonably good fishing at Furry Creek and in the river taking place later in August . A decade or two ago I saw modest schools of pinks off Furry Creek in the 1st week of July and good fishing by mid-month. I haven't heard a word of anything as yet. Stay tuned but I wouldn't bet money on a major rebound in pink returns to the Squamish. In river conditions just have not been good to pink salmon.

Just wanted to add that the Area 20 Seine catch July 15th to date is a whopping 6 pinks. Gillnet is 284 since July 10.

[Wiseguy]

hmm ... I've said this many times before:

There are significant runs of pinks on the North Coast that move through area 12 much earlier than the Fraser returns. These include the Campbell and the Broughton Archipelago streams as well as returns to some of the north coast Inlets like Bute and Knight.  To my knowledge the Fraser returns are about the latest on the coast (also among the farthest south of the major returns) coming into the river in late summer and early fall, as they do. I doubt the Fraser runs are reflected to any significant degree in test catches to this point.

The Squamish returns are not included in DFOs pre-season forecast. The 27 million number in no way reflects what may happen there. The last 3 cycles on the Squamish have been very low relative to returns prior to 2017. Another feature of the last 3 cycles has been later returns with what reasonably good fishing at Furry Creek and in the river taking place later in August . A decade or two ago I saw modest schools of pinks off Furry Creek in the 1st week of July and good fishing by mid-month. I haven't heard a word of anything as yet. Stay tuned but I wouldn't bet money on a major rebound in pink returns to the Squamish. In river conditions just have not been good to pink salmon.

Just wanted to add that the Area 20 Seine catch July 15th to date is a whopping 6 pinks. Gillnet is 284 since July 10.

Mr Ralph your just full of good news!