Reply With QuoteThere was that stupid amount of fish around barkely (inside) late may, early june last year and they were almost all hatch (i assume american) fish 8-20lbs. Anyone ever find out where they were from? I didnt get a chance to send the heads in.
I see from the fish ladder data on the Columbia that the peak in-river migration seems to be from Mid May to June. Wondering if anyone has any good/reliable data on when those Columbia "springers" pass along the west coast of Vancouver Island? Trying to time some trips to match when those predicted 479,000 fish swim by Bamfield.[][
Searun
Searun
Good to the "Last Cast"
There was that stupid amount of fish around barkely (inside) late may, early june last year and they were almost all hatch (i assume american) fish 8-20lbs. Anyone ever find out where they were from? I didnt get a chance to send the heads in.
They Were in sooke in early june last year. Thats all the help I can give.
That was my experience last year also. I didn't get a chance to put any heads in, but would bet you a few beers the majority of fish were Columbia River fish. Sure would be good to get some technical data to back up what we expect to be run timing for WCVI to be...my guess being it will start in late April and peak in May. I'm hoping there are a few data junkies out there who can put some science behind the best guess...there must be some WCVI commercial troll data somewhere??
Searun
Believe or not-DFO would really like all the sporties to turn their heads in.With less troll fisheries, less heads turned in means less data available. Maybe we should all turn in every head?thus more accurate data. That would include me as I don't alway turn all my heads in either.[}
Depending on where you were last year - I might have to take that bet! But, only if it is "good" and cold Canadian beer!quote:Originally posted by searun
That was my experience last year also. I didn't get a chance to put any heads in, but would bet you a few beers the majority of fish were Columbia River fish. Sure would be good to get some technical data to back up what we expect to be run timing for WCVI to be...my guess being it will start in late April and peak in May. I'm hoping there are a few data junkies out there who can put some science behind the best guess...there must be some WCVI commercial troll data somewhere??
The majority of those 8-20 pound “fin clipped” springs caught off Sooke and southern VI, are actually from Puget Sound. Many on the banks are also Puget Sound that reside there. They usually don’t go farther north than La Perouse Bank and very few north of VI, but they are caught offshore at Nootka (heads turned in - Westview Marina).
But, it is interesting everyone thinks if it is clipped, it is U.S. and if it’s not clipped it is “wild”, that is not necessarily true and - Canada clips! Canada and Washington clips almost 100% of all Coho and Steelhead, but Washington clips less than 50% of the Chinooks (Columbians). And, sorry to say that the majority of those Columbians clipped or not… have also originated from a hatchery!
BTW… Something brought up on another forum, If you read your regulations - some just might be releasing “hatchery” fish thinking they are wild, not looking for the “ventral” or “pectoral” fin – you need to be watching, as I have caught fish on the WCVI missing the pectoral and... to my knowledge "no one" in the U.S. clips the "pectural" fin! According to regulations “Glossary” that would be a hatchery marked fish:
As stated, you should start seeing more on the WCVI starting in April. You can do a search for “Bamfield” and look at last year’s fishing reports, when and where they were catching the bigger fish, which would be a good place help determine when to target them. If I were to plan a trip to target them, I would be going around the middle of April or May 11th-12th?quote: HATCHERY MARKED FISH – a fish usually marked by the absence of the adipose fin, or sometimes the ventral (pelvic), or pectoral fin, and having a healed scar in place of that absent fin.
Charlie, Do you think a guy might get into some at the highway offshore Nootka in about mid April?
Fill the dam tub!
Derby i always turn my heads in but was moored at the gov dock and didnt see a return.
Pat i think i remember someone saying they sent the heads in and as charlie said they were puget fish. Someone must have sent a few in.
I recalled my fishing trip off Beechy head with old friends of mine long time ago hooked a hatchery fish, decided to send the head in at DFO office. We have received the information that our fish was from the hatchery in Puget Sound.
Yep, if you can "get" out there? I have fished that area at the end of March and it can get iffy – fast.quote:Originally posted by Island Fish Lifter
Charlie, Do you think a guy might get into some at the highway offshore Nootka in about mid April?
Nootka Sound is a different fishery than the banks South of Estevan Point, especially at that time of year through July 15 (when the 77cm takes effect) and “it” is all about Conuma fish? It's slower at that time, but the Conuma 5/6 year olds start showing up around the first of May - ahead of the massive amount of 3 and 4 year olds - and those are "large" good fighting fish – very much Canadian! Many are in that 40/50 pound range and they very much like to travel “very” early with the tide. Like to hold in areas like Ferrer Point and they will travel on the afternoon flood, during a full moon. I would only run offshore during that time early morning and if it was completely dead at your favorite spots?
The Chinook head count last year shows 77.4% in that area, are Canadian fish coming from Vancouver Island stocks with the majority of these, 59.7%, coming from the Conuma Hatchery, with the balance from Washington stock leading, followed by Oregon and California, while it is just reversed, south of Estevan. I personally think the Columbians come closer to shore south of Estevan to get out of the affects of the “Big Eddy”, which is also why some come into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but that is a different subject!
Me - if I were fishing off Nootka in April or May, I would be looking for “no” moon less than a 5 foot tide, and after those 5/6 year old Conuma!
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