2023 Sidney Reports

[smwbiggsy]

Happy New Year all I went out yesterday around Coal. Got into 3 undersized (~42cm) winters. Missed one other bite that could’ve been close. Right on bottom with AP sandlance spoon & highliner glo red stripe flasher had the most action. Anyone found anything bigger around yet? Wain? Powder wharf?

 

[dstalheim]

After fishing six hours with only shakers and lost Downrigger ball to show for it, I found a nice fatty on New Years at the end of the day. 12 pounds. Marbled meat. This fatty was in the messy part of an eddy line on the ebb. Marking fish on the bottom, this fish was full of sandlance. Moresby. AP Tackleworks sandlance spoon. 115’ of water. Nothing but shakers on Monday around Sidney Island.

 

[scott craven]

After fishing six hours with only shakers and lost Downrigger ball to show for it, I found a nice fatty on New Years at the end of the day. 12 pounds. Marbled meat. This fatty was in the messy part of an eddy line on the ebb. Marking fish on the bottom, this fish was full of sandlance. Moresby. AP Tackleworks sandlance spoon. 115’ of water. Nothing but shakers on Monday around Sidney Island.
View attachment 88128

Interesting setup with the spinner blade ahead of the spoon.
Never seen it, but it obviously works!

 

[WHO DAT]

Now the cats outa the bag! Buddies Dad showed this to me in the late "70"s. He fished Sidney and was Very successful jigging the "Powder Wharf" His version of the "Sand Lance" aka the "Car Antenna" Thought he was kidding at first! Best Regards

 

[dstalheim]

Interesting setup with the spinner blade ahead of the spoon.
Never seen it, but it obviously works!

First time the spinner worked! Bought it in Ganges a couple years ago.

 

[ryanb]

Finally the wind cooperated and I was able to get out this morning. Conditions were fantastic at Fairfax, and the fishing was great as well. Rod went off 2 minutes after dropping in and I netted this beauty 86cm fish. Released 5-6 unders, released 5 fish in the 60-70cm range and lost one that was even bigger than the 86cm.

All fish were hatchery marked. Thank goodness for American hatcheries!

 

[Brett]

Finally the wind cooperated and I was able to get out this morning. Conditions were fantastic at Fairfax, and the fishing was great as well. Rod went off 2 minutes after dropping in and I netted this beauty 86cm fish. Released 5-6 unders, released 5 fish in the 60-70cm range and lost one that was even bigger than the 86cm.

All fish were hatchery marked. Thank goodness for American hatcheries!

did you say that thing? If it’s 86cm it’s gotta be pushing 20lbs high teens at least

 

[cpony]

Definitely nice fish around Sidney now. Played hockey in the morning and pulled out of the parking lot and saw the calm blue waters off Sidney.
Went home had lunch hooked up the boat pulled out of the driveway at 1:00. Tried the Spit for an hour not much happening. Ran over to Coal, hit a 12.5lb, lost another solid one and a few JBLs. Was a hatchery as well. Enough fish so pulled the lines and back home by 4:00.

Fish were on the new West Coast Tackle Little Phate spoon. These have the small barrel swivel to the hook so they fish don't do the twist off.

 

[ryanb]

did you say that thing? If it’s 86cm it’s gotta be pushing 20lbs high teens at least

No I don't usually bother to weigh fish unless I'm in a derby, but it was pushing close to 20 for sure, I'd guess around 18.

 

[Popeye]

Got out this morning for a couple of hours, got one in the boat and lost another. All in all a good day

 

[kingspring]

Great fish guys!!
Is Saanich Inlet and Wain Rock open till April 1?

 

[Popeye]

Great fish guys!!
Is Saanich Inlet and Wain Rock open till April 1?

As far as I know it is

 

[kingspring]

As far as I know it is

Thanks, I’ll double check DFOs cryptic regs.

 

[Holeyship]

Little late on this one - but got out last Sunday mid-day and found a nice 10+ lb near Coal. Lost another nice one near Wain. Glassy and sunny. Great day. Fishin right on the bottom with an AP sandlance. Fish was full of ~3" anchovy.

 

[Tips Up]

How is crabbing around the spit this time of year?

 

[Fisherben3]

How is crabbing around the spit this time of year?

Watch out for the currents

 

[cpony]

Just a heads up that the Sidney Anglers are doing their Salmon Enhancement Fundraiser March 25-26. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. You can purchase them online on their website or at there monthly meeting tomorrow night in Sidney at Mary Windspear. Starts 7:30pm.
FYI Joanne Skakun is doing a presentation on electronics and a local fisher is going to show hot spots for fishing around Morsbey Island.

Sidney Anglers Association

Since May 1977he Sidney Anglers Association (SAA) has been a group of fisherment and women in the lower Vancouver Island area.

www.sidneyanglers.ca

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[Tips Up]

How is crabbing around the spit this time of year?

The answer to the question above is "Terrible" based on my experience yesterday. 3 traps out and no keepers. 2 traps closer to shore just had a couple of rock crab. The 3rd which was further out had a few small females.

Took advantage of the nice weather and trailered the boat out from Langford. Late start dropping the gear at 11am at Coal and being the only boat there. Had a nice fish on in the first 5 minutes which we sadly lost after it pulled some line before charging the boat and creating some slack at 130ft down.
We then ran over to Fairfax and found the fleet but not the fish. We had a visit from DFO boat around 1:30 who informed us they had not spoken to anyone with a fish yet.
Beautiful day on the water and so nice to get out and give the boat a run.

 

[Brett]

Hey hope this is ok to post here. I am putting in a fishing derby in my dads memory. It’s feb 25th 2023. weigh in at North saanich marina. my old man fished every day of his life that he could and taught me everything I know as well as the love for this sport. be great to see some of you guys from this forum show support! great cash and swag and prizes! from Scotty, islander, pacific net and twine…. and more hope to grow it every year! you can grab tickets here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/523887871727

And check out the Insta account for more @mlmemorialderby

 

[smwbiggsy]

After releasing 4 under 55 cms today I was lucky to get one keeper bonked. Sattelite in 155’ of water, 177’ on the rigger. Highliner flasher and my lucky 3” kelp bong AP herring spoon got ‘er done! Dinner!