2017 OFFISHALL Vancouver-Howe Sound-Sechelt Reports Thread

Fishing has tapered off....but depending on where you were you had a stellar day yesterday.

Further offshore than it had been had pockets of dense fish.

Talked to one talented fisher who was at Snake and tubbed with 4 from 14-18 pounds all on plugs and Hoochies.

A few passes at Entrance generated a couple of 12's which were released.
 
No doubt prawn numbers are down from previous years however we still do well regardless of commies, here is what we do that may or may not help some guys out there.

9. We have located spots the commies do not fish , likely because of the dropoffs into very deep water of Howe Sound. It takes time to find these spots and they are small but packed with prawns. Also prawns will leave traps to go to others that present a better bait.

10. If you don't have an electrictric trap puller you are losing half the prawns on the way up.

I did a rudimentary test a few months ago where I pulled my traps, re-baited them, and put them back down - but in one of the traps, I left five prawns in the trap but removed all the bait. They had no reason to stay in the trap. I pulled the traps up 24 hrs later, and all 5 prawns were still in the trap. They were alive and kickin' but had not escaped. For their co-operation I granted them their freedom and let them go over the side. They scooted away, so they still seemed healthy and physically able to escape a trap if they could figure it out.

This makes me think they can't escape the trap. What makes you think that you lose prawns on the way up? I'd love to have a light and a go-pro on the trap but I don't think the cameras can go that deep.
 
5.No bait with eyeballs like fish heads.


That's crazy, I swear yesterday was the first time I've ever been skunked but it's also the first time I've used a salmon head. It was actually a bunch of scraps that my cheap chinese girlfriend insisted we use because she thought the cat food was expensive... This from the girl with $2000 purses. I had to hand it to her though I was pretty impressed that she busted out the blender, it got nasty.

Anyways do you know why that is with the eyeballs?
 
That's crazy, I swear yesterday was the first time I've ever been skunked but it's also the first time I've used a salmon head. It was actually a bunch of scraps that my cheap chinese girlfriend insisted we use because she thought the cat food was expensive... This from the girl with $2000 purses. I had to hand it to her though I was pretty impressed that she busted out the blender, it got nasty.

Anyways do you know why that is with the eyeballs?

We had the same experience as you then were told prawns get eaten by cod fish and even salmon, so they won't go in.
 
I did a rudimentary test a few months ago where I pulled my traps, re-baited them, and put them back down - but in one of the traps, I left five prawns in the trap but removed all the bait. They had no reason to stay in the trap. I pulled the traps up 24 hrs later, and all 5 prawns were still in the trap. They were alive and kickin' but had not escaped. For their co-operation I granted them their freedom and let them go over the side. They scooted away, so they still seemed healthy and physically able to escape a trap if they could figure it out.

This makes me think they can't escape the trap. What makes you think that you lose prawns on the way up? I'd love to have a light and a go-pro on the trap but I don't think the cameras can go that deep.

I have seen a video showning prawns going in and out of traps, as far as pulling them up by hand we were on west coast and water clarity was excellent. Pulling by hand makes an up and down motion and we could see them swimming out.
 
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Not much wind at Thrasher, bit of a southerly with a light chop. Just put two back-to-back in the box. 8 - 10 lbs. Bloodied the decks of the new boat with the first fish of the season!

Both at 120 ft on anchovies.
 

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Not much wind at Thrasher, bit of a southerly with a light chop. Just put two back-to-back in the box. 8 - 10 lbs. Bloodied the decks of the new boat with the first fish of the season!

Both at 120 ft on anchovies.
Nice work!
What make of boat are you running there CB?
500 Yamaha horses on the back must make it get up and go!
 
Nice work!
What make of boat are you running there CB?
500 Yamaha horses on the back must make it get up and go!

2006 Pursuit 3070 Offshore (aka 305 OS). The admiral got 14 ft-itis and wanted to step up from the 17 ft Whaler we had previously to something with a proper head and the ability to overnight on.

Picked it up out of the US just before Christmas as a winter project. Installed a bunch of new pumps/plumbing and wiring. Had a new headliner installed and new canvas made as well.

Today's the first shakedown cruise and still getting a feel for it, but had a easy run across the straight at 30 mph at 4100 rpm.

Back to the fishing reports... things slowed down for us after the first two. One bit that didn't stick and released one undersized. Saw a big humpback and the way over this morning too
 
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