2023 Secret Cove, Pender Harbour and Texada Reports
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Chefthatlikesfishing
Member
Went out today around slack tide. Hooked into a couple of wild coho but couldn’t get the hatchery.
Accidentally got into a 20lb+ spring at 40 feet off a spoon. Took almost all of our line. Happy to return it and ready to find it again on the 14th.
Accidentally got into a 20lb+ spring at 40 feet off a spoon. Took almost all of our line. Happy to return it and ready to find it again on the 14th.
Last_Call
Well-Known Member
Will be at Thormanby this thursday til tuesday and hope weather coorperates for a few of those days so i can join the action. Have all my coho gear ready to go ... just hoping I can get through all those springs to find a hatchery coho 
Nice to see so many fish around.
Nice to see so many fish around.Will it be 1 spring over 65cm?
Sea.S.I
Active Member
Another beautiful evening! Lots of springs and wild coho but no hatchery this time. I found a bait ball and it was almost like shooting fish on a barrel. Double after double after double. I changed to a single hook and tried to filter coho but still kept catching some beauty springs. The water was awesome!
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sherrett
Well-Known Member
Same story for us. We tried jigging for about 20 minutes on a bait ball and didn't get anything (My 10-year-old son loves jigging.). All the boats around us were on fish and we could hear them hooting. Son says, "Let's do some downrigging."
Fished 45' and 65' and both rods got fish consistently. Even split of fish between coho and chinooks.
He brought in his biggest fish yet, a ~15 lbs chinook, and we landed another ~15 lbs chinook too. Broke a hook we used it so much.
Ended the night on a double with a hatchery coho for the BBQ. Pretty great fishing and another amazing night.
Rain City
Crew Member
Seeing a lot of catch and release fish being photographed in nets on the deck. I'm surprised that's still happening. I can see the odd one if it's some kind of prize or someone's first fish, but hammering fish all day and netting them just to post pictures and let them go seems counterproductive to our cause. Maybe people can spend some time learning and then teaching how to gaff release as part of introducing fishing to family and friends. Having a "landed" count going just seems so show-offy.
Chefthatlikesfishing
Member
I believe 62 according to the BC tidal area map
We could do with a whole thread on here for release techniques and tools.
Last_Call
Well-Known Member
We could... and should. the way the fishery is going coastwide catch and release will be a reality going forward. There's lots of good experience over the decades here on C&R and some really cool new C&R studies (by UBC, PSF, SFI) that are going on now that have shown some very interesting results... some counter to long held beliefs that I grew up with. Anyways, I'd be happy to add what info I have if you wanna get a thread going... probably the 'conservation' section?
back to reports. i'll be up at Epsom tomorrow evening if all goes to plan. Need to find a coho or 2 for my wife's bday dinner this weekend!
Sea.S.I
Active Member
I switched to a rubber lined net to reduce scale and fin damage. I also pull them into the boat quickly to more easily remove the hook. The fish are tending to spin and roll causing the leader line to entangle in gills. You are correct though, I only pull and photograph a few of the 20 to the boat.
Overall, I follow DFO and UBC recommendations on catch and release - minimize time out of the water, use a rubber net, and don’t handle the fish. Also, spoons with single barbless hooks are the easiest to release.
Some have suggested using a gaff, I’m not sure that’s better for the fish.
Proper catch and release is part of the “sport” of fishing.
Overall, I follow DFO and UBC recommendations on catch and release - minimize time out of the water, use a rubber net, and don’t handle the fish. Also, spoons with single barbless hooks are the easiest to release.
Some have suggested using a gaff, I’m not sure that’s better for the fish.
Proper catch and release is part of the “sport” of fishing.
Once you learn how to use a gaff, you'll never go back to a net. Takes a few f&8kups to get the hang of it so don't give up on it. Keep sending the reports please - maybe with less pics of chinook on your deck. It's just a few more weeks until we can post pics of fish with some blood.
Rain City
Crew Member
I should have said that first, I am loving the reports. Sorry to be a downerOnce you learn how to use a gaff, you'll never go back to a net. Takes a few f&8kups to get the hang of it so don't give up on it at the start. Keep sending the reports please - maybe with less pics of chinook on your deck. It's just a few more weeks until we can post pics of fish with some blood.
So one chinook 62+cm starting July 14th Epson, Sangster etc.?
Last_Call
Well-Known Member
god damn @Rain City ... you're such a net half empty kinda guy
Chefthatlikesfishing
Member
Yup, all of area 16 is open for 1in the boat
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Chefthatlikesfishing
Member
Went out for a quick couple of passes for Coho, just infont on Hodgson islands. Bait everywhere! Got two BEAUTIFUL wild coho to the boat (proper C&R done) and then lost another 3.
35-70 feet on the rigger with a couple of green/white spoons were doing the trick. Cannot wait to get that Hatchery!
35-70 feet on the rigger with a couple of green/white spoons were doing the trick. Cannot wait to get that Hatchery!
Upwood Roller
New Member
DFO hasn't released a date yet but traditionally has been July 15 for chinook retention not July 14...
meatwagon
Member
Looks correct to me . Closure ends on & including July 14th
Last year, 00:01 hours July 15 to 23:59 hours August 31: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook.
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