Hello FWR viewers, it's hockey night in Canada! Oops...I meant..it's fishing day in Vancouver!
Day 3 for me and my father out fishing. We hit the water at 1030 am looking to fish the high this morning at 1130. We launched, and motored out to Pt. Grey and set up at the last mile marker, dropping in the usual gear, this time fishing 4 chovies, and 2 Blood and Bone Hootchies, in search of the elusive quarry, Spring Salmon. A quick survey of the area counted EIGHT boats including us. No Guide boats present, but I did recognize 2 of the local sporties that hang out down at one of my favorite coffee hang outs--Vanier Park boat launch
Customary angler sign language with spread arms and thumbs up or thumbs down either in the boat or over the side indicated that there were no bites by either boat. We had rods in until 1230, nada bite, and the sounder fired up on the drop off and over the area revealed no hard targets--lots of bait though--and the boats were spread over the area over a mile distant past the Bell toward the QA. At which point we made the call to ditch Pt. Grey and head over to West Vancouver to pick up the trail on Pinks, Socks, and Coho. What stopped us from going to the T10? Crapshoot--it's a bit early, and why bother to make the run and possibly get skunked for Springs and be left fishing for just Pinks?..and the price of gas was a factor as we filled up at the Petro Can for $110 at 98.4 cents a litre on Burrard.
We fished from 1245 pm to 530 at West Van, in all the usual spots, and there were only 3 boats spread over the area, a tin boat, a Hourston Glascraft, and a Cabin Cruiser and there wasn't a whole lot going on. It was right quiet for the first 45 minutes--nothing really showing on the sounder and then, JERK JERK JERK on the middle port side rod (fishing six rods still). Quickly popped off the clip, reeled into the fish, and set the hooks. FISH ON! 3 minutes later, we netted a 6 lb Coho, and 1 in the box. Yes! I am sure that guy was right annoyed in the tin boat as he was right behind us when we boated the fish. At least he looked annoyed, we just show up and hook a fish!
Set the lines back up and continued on one of my killer tacts to the East and didn't see too much, a couple of hard targets and that was about it, and then on a sharp turn to avoid some salad in the tide line, we hooked up with a prime 4 lb pink. Alright, 2 fish in an hour and 10 minutes! Didn't see too much else going on at that time, spying on the other boats with binoculars...
Rods back in, and we headed offshore..out into the "shipping lanes" as the water temp was reading a balmy 19.3 degrees Celcius! Let's take a bath! At which point we then hooked into our second and what was to be our final pink of the day. She went a lean 4 lbs.
By that time, the tide was pushing pretty hard, and the morning cloud had cleared and it was getting pretty hot. Winds were out the SW at 5 to 10 knots which made for a nice cool breeze which was great. We were also joined at that point by several more boats, of which there were 3 or 4 boats from the local Guide fleet, John B fishing closer to the storm run off, and Mickey Finn who came trolling all the way down from Atkinson, the Tamark, and I think Mongoose Striker. Didn't see them doing too much, and the guests all looked pretty bored, sitting on the back deck soaking up the rays and emptying a few beers...
About a half hour passed and there wasn't too much going on, and just then Dad and I were getting ready to call it a day and then we started tacking back to the West and working one of the most productive areas, and suddenly, PRESTO we hooked up with another Coho, a 5 lb Chunky right in front of one of the forementioned boats--which we almost lost behind the boat...., and the other boats guests gave a thumbs up
. 2 Coho, 2 pinks in the box and was it time to quit? NO! Dad said as we quickly tacked back to to the east and the local guide fleet trolled back up to the West out of sight and gone to Caulfield. We then made our way down the Storm Sewer and hooked up once more with a lean 4 lb Coho. All in all a nice, day on the water.
Total stats for today on the water, 3 Coho, 2 pinks.
Overall synopsis, hey folks, it's quite quiet out there right now, and there isn't a lot going on. Basically the only thing that is working for me is the fact that we have been on an incredible hook up string, hooking up on every hit. Sharpen those hooks folks! Given this is middle of August, and fish should be stacked like cordwood off West Van due to the lack of rain, it is quiet, basically it amounts to a fish an hour for us today.
Can't really say what stats were reported by the other folks at Pt. Grey before or after we left, but I didn't see much indication that there were fish to be caught there, and if there were, I am sure we would have seen a hook up or two. Having spent the last 3 days on the water, I would recommend 1 of 2 things, fishing early in the morning and packing it in by 12 noon at the Bell Buoy if there is no indication, or trudging up and down West Van shoreline.
hard to say guys, but I did alright the last 3 days, but this is the slowest action I have seen overall for numbers of boats on the water, number of fish deemed to be present, and run abundance.
Won't be on the water tomorrow but I'll likely pick up the hunt on Saturday or Sunday...or likely both!
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Topic: Pt. Grey and West Van Report, August 11. (Read 3550 times)