2017 OFFISHALL Vancouver-Howe Sound-Sechelt Reports Thread

Might be wrong - but pretty sure I saw this posted elsewhere re: them harvesting brood stock for the hatchery. I think those may be live pens in the background?
 
I was out today for the low tide change in the harbor. One under sized, near the change and then when pulling the gear to go home at 12:40, another hit which popped off the rigger on its own. the first decent fish of the winter! It was on a plug and there was a seal following me. A splashy encounter followed and the fish was gone. The seal didn't get it and eat it as far as I could tell. I hung around watching but the seal started to follow me again.
 
I don't remember the last time we had a long stint of gale force winds, it's been at least a month of consistent high winds... wtf?
 
Long time no post. Here’s a nice 9lb spring caught Oct 13 in Howe Sound. Wasn’t expecting a fish much less one this size considering the time of year.
 

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Curious ... has anyone plotted out the specific reef areas noted in "FN1150-Glass Sponge Reefs - Area 28 - Howe Sound - Request for Voluntary Avoidance of All Bottom Contact Fishing Gear for Prawn, Shrimp, Crab and Groundfish" yet; if so, can they share it. See the notice below ...

Subject:
FN1150-Glass Sponge Reefs - Area 28 - Howe Sound - Request for Voluntary Avoidance of All Bottom Contact Fishing Gear for Prawn, Shrimp, Crab and Ground-fish

This notice requests voluntary avoidance of the use of all bottom contact
fishing gear for Commercial, Recreational and Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC)
fisheries for Prawn, Shrimp, Crab and Groundfish, in Subareas 28-2, 28-4, and
28-5 of Howe Sound, to protect newly discovered glass sponge reefs.

In 2014, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) embarked on a
consultation process to protect nine glass sponge reefs in the Strait of
Georgia and Howe Sound through a process called the Strait of Georgia and Howe
Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative. In 2015, fishery closures
were put in place to protect these nine glass sponge reefs from all bottom
contact fishing gear.

During the 2014 consultation process, additional sponge reefs were brought to
the Department's attention by the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society (MLSS). At
the time, it was decided that consultations would proceed on the original nine
reefs while the new reefs would be set aside for further research and
consideration. Since that time, DFO has initiated work in partnership with
MLSS and other groups to gain a better understanding of the new reefs locations
and biological composition.

Although a final report from DFO Science is pending, DFO has concluded that
these additional reefs are biologically significant enough to warrant a
precautionary management approach and are asking the public to voluntarily
avoid fishing in these areas with bottom contact fishing gear of any kind until
further research and consultation with First Nations and stakeholders can
occur. Bottom contact fishing gear includes: crab by trap; shrimp by trap;
prawn by trap; shrimp by trawl; scallop by trawl; and, groundfish by trawl,
hook and line, and trap used for Commercial, Recreational and Food, Social and
Ceremonial (FSC) fisheries.

Further research will be completed over the coming months with consultations
anticipated in the Winter of 2017.

Maps of Fishery Management Areas and Subareas can be found at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/areas-secteurs/index-eng.html

The geographic descriptions of the reefs follow:

Defence Islands/Ellesmere Creek:

DI-a: Ellesmere Creek bioherm
49°35.572'N 123°15.635'W
49°35.293'N 123°15.763'W
49°35.281'N 123°15.283'W
49°35.472'N 123°15.243'W

DI-b: East Defence Island
49°34.639'N 123°16.281'W
49°34.653'N 123°16.213'W
49°34.728'N 123°16.243'W
49°34.713'N 123°16.313'W

DI-c: East Defence Island pinnacle
49°34.630'N 123°16.449'W
49°34.663'N 123°16.366'W
49°34.687'N 123°16.422'W
49°34.641'N 123°16.481'W

Anvil Island:

AI-a Clayton bioherm
49°32.756'N 123°17.356'W
49°32.607'N 123°17.353'W
49°32.581'N 123°17.009'W
49°32.749'N 123°16.992'W

AI-b North Christie
49°30.208'N 123°18.156'W
49°30.118'N 123°18.133'W
49°30.116'N 123°18.040'W
49°30.208'N 123°18.070'W

AI-c: Lost Reef
49°29.812'N 123°18.043'W
49°29.559'N 123°17.970'W
49°29.660'N 123°17.701'W
49°29.958'N 123°17.961'W

Lions Bay:

LB-a: Brunswick bioherm
49°28.324'N 123°15.062'W
49°28.397'N 123°14.886'W
49°28.475'N 123°14.959'W
49°28.420'N 123°15.154'W

LB-b: Lions Bay Seamount
49°27.126'N 123°15.512'W
49°27.145'N 123°15.243'W
49°27.543'N 123°15.379'W
49°27.481'N 123°15.688'W

LB-c: Kelvin Grove Seamount
49°26.973'N 123°15.028'W
49°26.981'N 123°14.676'W
49°27.270'N 123°14.660'W
49°27.260'N 123°15.016'W


Halkett Point, Gambier Island:

HP: Halkett West pinnacle
49°26.747'N 123°18.825'W
49°26.740'N 123°18.658'W
49°26.887'N 123°18.598'W
49°26.884'N 123°18.790'W

South Bowyer Island:

SB-a: South Bowyer
49°24.715'N 123°16.158'W
49°24.586'N 123°16.162'W
49°24.567'N 123°16.021'W
49°24.703'N 123°16.0074'W

SB-b: Southern-South Bowyer
49°24.352'N 123°16.156'W
49°24.357'N 123°16.112'W
49°24.448'N 123°16.095'W
49°24.449'N 123°16.185'W


Dorman Point, Bowen Island:

DP: Dorman Point bioherm
49°22.481'N 123°19.241'W
49°22.416'N 123°19.311'W
49°22.384'N 123°19.292'W
49°22.452'N 123°19.209'W

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

If you have any questions or would like more information, please visit
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html
Or contact Aleria Ladwig at Aleria.ladwig@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1150
Sent October 27, 2017 at 1455
 
Curious ... has anyone plotted out the specific reef areas noted in "FN1150-Glass Sponge Reefs - Area 28 - Howe Sound - Request for Voluntary Avoidance of All Bottom Contact Fishing Gear for Prawn, Shrimp, Crab and Groundfish" yet; if so, can they share it. See the notice below ...

Subject:
FN1150-Glass Sponge Reefs - Area 28 - Howe Sound - Request for Voluntary Avoidance of All Bottom Contact Fishing Gear for Prawn, Shrimp, Crab and Ground-fish

This notice requests voluntary avoidance of the use of all bottom contact
fishing gear for Commercial, Recreational and Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC)
fisheries for Prawn, Shrimp, Crab and Groundfish, in Subareas 28-2, 28-4, and
28-5 of Howe Sound, to protect newly discovered glass sponge reefs.

In 2014, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) embarked on a
consultation process to protect nine glass sponge reefs in the Strait of
Georgia and Howe Sound through a process called the Strait of Georgia and Howe
Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative. In 2015, fishery closures
were put in place to protect these nine glass sponge reefs from all bottom
contact fishing gear.

During the 2014 consultation process, additional sponge reefs were brought to
the Department's attention by the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society (MLSS). At
the time, it was decided that consultations would proceed on the original nine
reefs while the new reefs would be set aside for further research and
consideration. Since that time, DFO has initiated work in partnership with
MLSS and other groups to gain a better understanding of the new reefs locations
and biological composition.

Although a final report from DFO Science is pending, DFO has concluded that
these additional reefs are biologically significant enough to warrant a
precautionary management approach and are asking the public to voluntarily
avoid fishing in these areas with bottom contact fishing gear of any kind until
further research and consultation with First Nations and stakeholders can
occur. Bottom contact fishing gear includes: crab by trap; shrimp by trap;
prawn by trap; shrimp by trawl; scallop by trawl; and, groundfish by trawl,
hook and line, and trap used for Commercial, Recreational and Food, Social and
Ceremonial (FSC) fisheries.

Further research will be completed over the coming months with consultations
anticipated in the Winter of 2017.

Maps of Fishery Management Areas and Subareas can be found at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/areas-secteurs/index-eng.html

The geographic descriptions of the reefs follow:

Defence Islands/Ellesmere Creek:

DI-a: Ellesmere Creek bioherm
49°35.572'N 123°15.635'W
49°35.293'N 123°15.763'W
49°35.281'N 123°15.283'W
49°35.472'N 123°15.243'W

DI-b: East Defence Island
49°34.639'N 123°16.281'W
49°34.653'N 123°16.213'W
49°34.728'N 123°16.243'W
49°34.713'N 123°16.313'W

DI-c: East Defence Island pinnacle
49°34.630'N 123°16.449'W
49°34.663'N 123°16.366'W
49°34.687'N 123°16.422'W
49°34.641'N 123°16.481'W

Anvil Island:

AI-a Clayton bioherm
49°32.756'N 123°17.356'W
49°32.607'N 123°17.353'W
49°32.581'N 123°17.009'W
49°32.749'N 123°16.992'W

AI-b North Christie
49°30.208'N 123°18.156'W
49°30.118'N 123°18.133'W
49°30.116'N 123°18.040'W
49°30.208'N 123°18.070'W

AI-c: Lost Reef
49°29.812'N 123°18.043'W
49°29.559'N 123°17.970'W
49°29.660'N 123°17.701'W
49°29.958'N 123°17.961'W

Lions Bay:

LB-a: Brunswick bioherm
49°28.324'N 123°15.062'W
49°28.397'N 123°14.886'W
49°28.475'N 123°14.959'W
49°28.420'N 123°15.154'W

LB-b: Lions Bay Seamount
49°27.126'N 123°15.512'W
49°27.145'N 123°15.243'W
49°27.543'N 123°15.379'W
49°27.481'N 123°15.688'W

LB-c: Kelvin Grove Seamount
49°26.973'N 123°15.028'W
49°26.981'N 123°14.676'W
49°27.270'N 123°14.660'W
49°27.260'N 123°15.016'W


Halkett Point, Gambier Island:

HP: Halkett West pinnacle
49°26.747'N 123°18.825'W
49°26.740'N 123°18.658'W
49°26.887'N 123°18.598'W
49°26.884'N 123°18.790'W

South Bowyer Island:

SB-a: South Bowyer
49°24.715'N 123°16.158'W
49°24.586'N 123°16.162'W
49°24.567'N 123°16.021'W
49°24.703'N 123°16.0074'W

SB-b: Southern-South Bowyer
49°24.352'N 123°16.156'W
49°24.357'N 123°16.112'W
49°24.448'N 123°16.095'W
49°24.449'N 123°16.185'W


Dorman Point, Bowen Island:

DP: Dorman Point bioherm
49°22.481'N 123°19.241'W
49°22.416'N 123°19.311'W
49°22.384'N 123°19.292'W
49°22.452'N 123°19.209'W

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

If you have any questions or would like more information, please visit
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html
Or contact Aleria Ladwig at Aleria.ladwig@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1150
Sent October 27, 2017 at 1455
I just plotted pins on my navionics.
 
If the winds and your boat allow it GO WEST....GO WAY WEST.... 120-160 out front 2 miles from that spot.

Spoons 3.4-5.0...

Lotsa bait....whole lotsa bait... herring, birds, seals....do not net the undersize....
 
If the winds and your boat allow it GO WEST....GO WAY WEST.... 120-160 out front 2 miles from that spot.



Spoons 3.4-5.0...

Lotsa bait....whole lotsa bait... herring, birds, seals....do not net the undersize....

Wow... great report FM.
o_O
 
If the winds and your boat allow it GO WEST....GO WAY WEST.... 120-160 out front 2 miles from that spot ...
Great report indeed. Wish I had that last night. Went out this a.m. to run up the boat and get some fresh air and first dropped the lines in the Harbour on the Jericho side between the Mile Markers. Well that was a waste of an hour and a bit ... absolutely no bait. Then took a run over to Tunstall and the had a bad stretch where I tangled the lines twice. Proceeded to follow that by losing one very good fish, releasing three undersized and finally boxing one small keeper. Not great but not the complete bust that I thought I was in for after the tangled lines.
 
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