Sooke 2014 Fishing Reports

[Seagirt]

Headed west for halibut, anchored in 150-200'. Pulled up a pacific cod, 2 dogshark, and empty hooks. Trolled a bit for salmon around trailer park (lost a small one there) and harbour mouth (released a small ling). Saw about 10 boats out there fishing, nice day.

One reeeeeaaaaallllllllyyyy nasty dead head between the bluffs and Otter point. It is sticking out of the water and easy to see in the daylight hours, looks to be the butt end of a log floating vertically about a foot or two in diameter.

 

[bigdogeh]

nice pic mhbradley! looks like a beautiful day out there. jealous!

 

[Fish Rider]

First time out this fall since the start of hunting season. Beautiful day on the water, fished from 8-11 landed a very scrappy 15lb spring bouncing bottom with bait. Released 3 small springs. Plus 3 keeper craps.

 

[Tsquared]

First time out this fall since the start of hunting season. Beautiful day on the water, fished from 8-11 landed a very scrappy 15lb spring bouncing bottom with bait. Released 3 small springs. Plus 3 keeper craps.

Were you fishing Clover Point?
T2

 

[Fish Rider]

Were you fishing Clover Point?
T2

No i was fishing in sooke yesterday morning and wasn't in the derby.

 

[rook 2]

Headed west for halibut, anchored in 150-200'. Pulled up a pacific cod, 2 dogshark, and empty hooks. Trolled a bit for salmon around trailer park (lost a small one there) and harbour mouth (released a small ling). Saw about 10 boats out there fishing, nice day.

One reeeeeaaaaallllllllyyyy nasty dead head between the bluffs and Otter point. It is sticking out of the water and easy to see in the daylight hours, looks to be the butt end of a log floating vertically about a foot or two in diameter.

went out yesterday and put the pick down in 300 feet of water out off sooke and caught our 10th hali in the past month,,it was 34lbs,,they all have been 23-35 lbs,,only one skunk,,we are going to keep targeting halibut till the new year when it closes for a month,,then we will winter spring fish by the trailer park,,hope to see more boats out there,,the fishing has been good and the weather some days is just awsome,,merry christmas to all of you,and good fishing,

 

[rook 2]

seagrit,,i seen that nasty log on saturday when i was anchoured up,,wow,i would not want to hit that one,,i seen it bobbing up and down,,sometimes right out of sight,,

Headed west for halibut, anchored in 150-200'. Pulled up a pacific cod, 2 dogshark, and empty hooks. Trolled a bit for salmon around trailer park (lost a small one there) and harbour mouth (released a small ling). Saw about 10 boats out there fishing, nice day.

One reeeeeaaaaallllllllyyyy nasty dead head between the bluffs and Otter point. It is sticking out of the water and easy to see in the daylight hours, looks to be the butt end of a log floating vertically about a foot or two in diameter.

 

[Seagirt]

Well done Rook. I guess i'll have to quit being lazy and start fishing deeper. At least, thinking the the halibut are deeper is an easier excuse to accept than thinking my terminal gear is all wrong. I was dragging anchor in 200' depth once the wind and current picked up, so I'm not sure how long I could anchor in 300'.

Went out this morning and watched my buddy bring in a few small chinook. The water was murky but I'm not sure if it is run off from all the rivers or if there is an algal bloom.

 

[rook 2]

seagrit,,put more line out on your anchor,,might stop your dragging,,the halis are there,,try 250 feet,,,,,put down some scent in a pill bottle or put some wd40 on your bait..or fill the belly with wd40,,,you will get one,,,i am going oput tomorrow (wed.) i will let you know how i did,,,maybe thursday also,,no currents,no winds,,

Well done Rook. I guess i'll have to quit being lazy and start fishing deeper. At least, thinking the the halibut are deeper is an easier excuse to accept than thinking my terminal gear is all wrong. I was dragging anchor in 200' depth once the wind and current picked up, so I'm not sure how long I could anchor in 300'.

Went out this morning and watched my buddy bring in a few small chinook. The water was murky but I'm not sure if it is run off from all the rivers or if there is an algal bloom.

 

[sammyslabber]

seagrit,,i seen that nasty log on saturday when i was anchoured up,,wow,i would not want to hit that one,,i seen it bobbing up and down,,sometimes right out of sight,,

...we used to flag those dead heads...maybe it's time to rekindle this life saver

 

[mhbradley]

If I see a flag on a dead head I will follow suit and pay it forward.

Take the lead, Slammer!

 

[sammyslabber]

wax on wax off...grasshopper...

Seriously, if "someone" wants to make them,,,perhaps "we" could hand them out...maybe a charitable salmon enhancement fundraiser...

 

[Franko Manini]

Well done Rook. I guess i'll have to quit being lazy and start fishing deeper. At least, thinking the the halibut are deeper is an easier excuse to accept than thinking my terminal gear is all wrong. I was dragging anchor in 200' depth once the wind and current picked up, so I'm not sure how long I could anchor in 300'.

Went out this morning and watched my buddy bring in a few small chinook. The water was murky but I'm not sure if it is run off from all the rivers or if there is an algal bloom.

Certainly add more anchor rode, that will help. But I keep an extra length of chain in the boat, enough so I can double the amount of chain on the anchor. Doubling your chain makes a HUGE difference in reducing the angle of the catenary on your anchor. I bet it makes more difference than adding 100' of rode.

I haven't caught a SINGLE halibut, but I have put in some time on the pick this year. On a couple of snotty days, I was getting pushed off so I pulled up, and not having any more rode, I snapped an extra 25' of chain on. Done. Held steady with no issues at all. If you've got a section of chain lying around, it might be worth a try.


Franko

MILF (Man, I Love Fishing)

 

[Lipripper]

Could always carry some zip ties and strap a kettle on the chain too

 

[sammyslabber]

...yep,employ a kellet to your anchor rode...

The kellet, also known as a sentinel, angel, chum, or buddy, can consist of any dead weight which is then attached to a point on the rode. A common method of making one is to simply loop a section of the chain, or using a bundled length of separate heavy chain. A secondary anchor could be used, or dedicated kellets are available which make use of specialist deployment and retrieval mechanisms.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Certainly add more anchor rode, that will help. But I keep an extra length of chain in the boat, enough so I can double the amount of chain on the anchor. Doubling your chain makes a HUGE difference in reducing the angle of the catenary on your anchor. I bet it makes more difference than adding 100' of rode.

I haven't caught a SINGLE halibut, but I have put in some time on the pick this year. On a couple of snotty days, I was getting pushed off so I pulled up, and not having any more rode, I snapped an extra 25' of chain on. Done. Held steady with no issues at all. If you've got a section of chain lying around, it might be worth a try.


Franko

MILF (Man, I Love Fishing)

Franko I am not an expert in this fishery but do OK. You need to look at what tides do better in different areas. I use a paper copy of Murrays and follow it throughout the year, and keep a log. This has been a huge help... Don't just go online and look at east juan de fuca and expect current is going to be same, it may be different depending where you are and that's where a proper current atlas can give you clues... I also have to say if your dragging your anchor you might be picking areas and spots that are moving way too fast. Also did you get a proper anchor set up done for you based on your length of boat ?? I use a lot of chain and road based on a boat my size. That system was set up by Trotac..I totally recommend you make sure what you have that locked down and knowing when and when not to anchor...If your having troubles maybe get one of guys on here to take you out or book a spot with Roy in spring if he does that SFBC deal again..

 

[Rum Buddies]

Could always carry some zip ties and strap a kettle on the chain too

we just shackel a cannon ball to the chain where it connects to the rope, keeps things laying nice and flat.

 

[Seagirt]

Thanks for the comments all. I'm familiar with anchoring and the extra length of chain is the best option for me. I dragged once this weekend because the zip ties holding the chain to the end of the anchor shank broke. And dragged again because wind and current working together, could hardly keep gear down anyway.

I don't like putting an extra weight where the rode and chain meet because then the rode doesn't slide all the way thru to my ring up to the anchor when I pull the anchor, thus sliding back down as I try to retrieve the rode back into the boat. Having a one way retrieval gadget on the rope itself would help, but I like the ring better.

As for tackle and scent and extra bait bag...herring, octo, salmon, power bait grubs, hoochies, led lights, glow, noise makers, prawn pellets, anchovies, swim bait, various scents. I used to use wd40 but I find it wears off very quickly and doesn't have any uv dye. Spreader bars, cod jigs, chain, J hooks, circle hooks, lead head weights, dink jigs, weighted hoochies, trolling with the downrigger...I need to start getting more creative.

I'm pretty sure my biggest problem is wrong place and/or time.

 

[Old Seadog]

If you put in your time, you will have success Seagirt. Just have to go on good tide days or slack tide time. All that other stuff will come with time and most of all, fish with confidence and safety.

 

[Franko Manini]

Franko I am not an expert in this fishery but do OK. You need to look at what tides do better in different areas. I use a paper copy of Murrays and follow it throughout the year, and keep a log. This has been a huge help... Don't just go online and look at east juan de fuca and expect current is going to be same, it may be different depending where you are and that's where a proper current atlas can give you clues... I also have to say if your dragging your anchor you might be picking areas and spots that are moving way too fast. Also did you get a proper anchor set up done for you based on your length of boat ?? I use a lot of chain and road based on a boat my size. That system was set up by Trotac..I totally recommend you make sure what you have that locked down and knowing when and when not to anchor...If your having troubles maybe get one of guys on here to take you out or book a spot with Roy in spring if he does that SFBC deal again..

I hear you. I use Murrays tables and have a paper copy of the current atlas. The thing is, if you don't know where to go, then it is impossible to determine what is a good or bad current! So I make a best guess for a general fishing area. Both times I got pushed off the anchor was because I decided to go out despite crappy conditions for tide and wind. I went out because I had time off work! It may have been a lousy day for halibut, but I know for a fact I can't catch them from the couch.

My anchor setup was put together by Trotac. I know it is right for my boat, I just pushed the limits those times.

So I ask... What makes a good tide/current day? The way I see it, it's a catch 22... Nobody will point me to a couple good starter spots so I just guess and go by trial and error (so far all error). But if you don't know where to dish, all the current atlases in the world won't help. And the. There is the whole aspect of which spots to fish in which currents or tides.

Honestly, I am trying hard to avoid getting frustrated and discouraged, but I am also not getting any data to help figure this thing out. If I am not catching any Halis, I can't even know if there are fish around and I am using the wrong gear or bait. So n data, no improvement.


Franko

MILF (Man, I Love Fishing)