We just got the word that Halibut opens in Canada tomorrow. Pulled hearing, salmon bellies and a salmon head out of the freezer and gathering my gear from my old boat to haul down to the dock tomorrow. Any other Canucks heading out? Any pointers on Halibut fishing using an anchor setup off a C-dory? Planning fishing three rods if things go smoothly. Two off the stern and on off the bow, but due to high winds tonight the chop might keep me away from the front of the boat! Hope to see some of you out there or that the fish are biting wherever you are!
Halibut 2018
- Thread starter kaelc
- Start date
Saxe Point
New member
My boat's not quite ready so I won't be out opening day. What are the currents looking like for tomorrow?
As for anchoring, aren't you just going to keep running a traditional Vancouver Island (i.e. Trotac) setup with rings and a Scotchman where you also connect to a line running from bow to stern? It's a safe and effective system.
As for anchoring, aren't you just going to keep running a traditional Vancouver Island (i.e. Trotac) setup with rings and a Scotchman where you also connect to a line running from bow to stern? It's a safe and effective system.
Currents look pretty good a little strong but shouldn't have much trouble getting to bottom at 240 feet 
Yes, I have a nice Trotac setup that I used to run on my 18 footer but it was built for a 25 boat so should be perfect.
Glad to see a south islander on here, I fish the trap shack in Sooke quite a bit but might spend more time in the waterfront and constance now that I have a moored 25 in the harbour.
Yes, I have a nice Trotac setup that I used to run on my 18 footer but it was built for a 25 boat so should be perfect.
Glad to see a south islander on here, I fish the trap shack in Sooke quite a bit but might spend more time in the waterfront and constance now that I have a moored 25 in the harbour.
Saxe Point
New member
How was the fishing? How did the boat perform?
Ran from North Saanich Marina to Border Bank. The run south was a little bumpy so we went slow but once we got past Trail Island things flattened out and we could get up to speed. Set up on our usual spot and things were perfect for a couple hours but the currents were a little strong, then I spotted some white caps off in the distance and between the wind swell from the night before and the 20+knot winds we had to pull anchor in the rough and run for Victoria Harbour where we are now deep in the harbour by Tilicum Bridge. No bites on the spot that delivers 80% of the time but usually in slower currents.
Handled some really big waves well. Have to learn how to run in rough weather and really use the trim tabs but the boat performed pretty flawlessly. Had three rods bouncing and would have loved to have gotten the floors bloody but that's why they call it fishing and not catching. Going to try again Sunday.
Handled some really big waves well. Have to learn how to run in rough weather and really use the trim tabs but the boat performed pretty flawlessly. Had three rods bouncing and would have loved to have gotten the floors bloody but that's why they call it fishing and not catching. Going to try again Sunday.
kaelc":2tc3oh0o said:Currents look pretty good a little strong but shouldn't have much trouble getting to bottom at 240 feet
Yes, I have a nice Trotac setup that I used to run on my 18 footer but it was built for a 25 boat so should be perfect.
Glad to see a south islander on here, I fish the trap shack in Sooke quite a bit but might spend more time in the waterfront and constance now that I have a moored 25 in the harbour.
240' :shock: Why so deep? In Kachemak Bay, I rarely fish over 100' & biggest Halibut was approx. 325# 7'x4' (released) on king gear 20# test in 35 ft. water while trolling.
[ATTACH=full]119663[/ATTACH]That is a 6" Grand slam bucktail snagged between her eyes :wink:
They still do get the odd one trolling and jigging down here but it hasn't happened to me yet! We troll at about 100 feet and bounce off the bottom all the time. Kachemak looks like a great spot but a little long of a run for me this year
When does the season start for you guys? I've seen Alaska from a commercial troller 20 odd years ago and would love to make the run up.
Some guys are fishing 600 feet deep, but my spot has traditionally been 240. I hope to try spearfishing a halibut some day when salmon are about to spawn at the mouth of a local river but it's currently just a dream and I don't think they'll let us fish for Hali in the fall ever again unless hali start reproducing faster
and they leave it open for sporty's longer.
When does the season start for you guys? I've seen Alaska from a commercial troller 20 odd years ago and would love to make the run up.
Some guys are fishing 600 feet deep, but my spot has traditionally been 240. I hope to try spearfishing a halibut some day when salmon are about to spawn at the mouth of a local river but it's currently just a dream and I don't think they'll let us fish for Hali in the fall ever again unless hali start reproducing faster
and they leave it open for sporty's longer.kaelc":1q18mn5m said:They still do get the odd one trolling and jigging down here but it hasn't happened to me yet! We troll at about 100 feet and bounce off the bottom all the time. Kachemak looks like a great spot but a little long of a run for me this year
When does the season start for you guys? I've seen Alaska from a commercial troller 20 odd years ago and would love to make the run up.
Some guys are fishing 600 feet deep, but my spot has traditionally been 240. I hope to try spearfishing a halibut some day when salmon are about to spawn at the mouth of a local river but it's currently just a dream and I don't think they'll let us fish for Hali in the fall ever again unless hali start reproducing faster
The month of Jan. is the only time Halibut is closed in South Central Alaska, 2 a day any size for 11 months. South East has their own regs. :wink: Some day I would like to make the trip from Homer to Juneau, spend a summer / fall exploring. Good luck in your fishing!!
Unless you are lucky enough to have a SHARC card! Then you get 20 per day, 365 days a year!
I don't know a ton about fishing K Bay, but I can catch halibut year round in PWS and the Gulf, but as the water gets colder I only get little babies unless I fish deeeep (~400' or more) and closer to the Gulf of Alaska. In the summer I can get into big buts in shallower water and regularly get bigger fish around 100'. Most non-commercial anglers consider halibut a summer fishery, but most of the commercial catch is taken in the early spring, off the edge of the continental shelf.
I don't know a ton about fishing K Bay, but I can catch halibut year round in PWS and the Gulf, but as the water gets colder I only get little babies unless I fish deeeep (~400' or more) and closer to the Gulf of Alaska. In the summer I can get into big buts in shallower water and regularly get bigger fish around 100'. Most non-commercial anglers consider halibut a summer fishery, but most of the commercial catch is taken in the early spring, off the edge of the continental shelf.
Man you are making us Jealous with that limit and those pictures. Biggest I've caught was about 150 commercial fishing and 100 during a tournament that we had to release due to the regulations.
Skunked again last Sunday but I'm obviously into fishing not catching so planning to head out Saturday weather permitting.
Skunked again last Sunday but I'm obviously into fishing not catching so planning to head out Saturday weather permitting.
starcrafttom
Active member
kaelc- Ok I give up. I am done squinting at charts looking for Border bank. Most likely local name. Is is off of halibut Island east of Sidney??
starcrafttom
Active member
or are you talking about Constance bank?
I did fish Constance on Sunday but the weekend before was Border and hopefully this Saturday morning, if the winds hold the tides look great.
Shhhhh don't tell anyone
http://www.fishingvictoria.ca/images/victoria_large.jpg
Shhhhh don't tell anyone
http://www.fishingvictoria.ca/images/victoria_large.jpg
kaelc":1zu80dk6 said:I did fish Constance on Sunday but the weekend before was Border and hopefully this Saturday morning, if the winds hold the tides look great.
Shhhhh don't tell anyone
http://www.fishingvictoria.ca/images/victoria_large.jpg
Good luck, let us know how you do!! :wink:
starcrafttom
Active member
Thanks for the map. The chart I was looking at did not have that area named.
As I mentioned, I have a SHARC card. I'm not sport fishing, I'm subsistence fishing. Yes, totally different, and the sport regs are not applicable. K-Bay and Homer residents are not qualified rural residents. There really aren't any qualified communities on the road system.
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisher ... ce-halibut
https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisher ... ce-halibut
tsturm":1sypnzau said:
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php
Not sure if this picture will post correctly, but we managed a 49, 33 and 15 pounder on Saturday.
It was a long wait for action after heading down to the boat at 6 and getting set up at about 7:45 at our backup spot, it was pretty busy on the water with lots of boats and about 10 dog fish.
The 33 was our first fish at about 11:15 and it came on the bow rod. I had barely used a harpoon before but sure needed it on Saturday going three for three.
Our second was the 15 pounder which was also on the bow rod, which I got our rookie to reel up. We had just finished our high fives on the little fish and my buddy, with the beard an experienced fisherman in the photo, yells "We are going to need that harpoon back here!"
We were patient and got the last one through the gill plate as well and were thrilled to get our daily limit and 1/6 of our limit for the year ending March 31!
Crabbing yesterday with the head and stomach, it looks like she had stipped a whole salmon head off our hook earlier in the morning but came back for more. Managed about 8 Dungenous off 2 of the 3 carcasses. Hopefully the small head in the freezer will get us a few more.
Great the boat fishes well as most people were empty-handed for the day or caught 1 or 2. Thanks for helping me choose a C-Dory!
Not sure if this picture will post correctly, but we managed a 49, 33 and 15 pounder on Saturday.
It was a long wait for action after heading down to the boat at 6 and getting set up at about 7:45 at our backup spot, it was pretty busy on the water with lots of boats and about 10 dog fish.
The 33 was our first fish at about 11:15 and it came on the bow rod. I had barely used a harpoon before but sure needed it on Saturday going three for three.
Our second was the 15 pounder which was also on the bow rod, which I got our rookie to reel up. We had just finished our high fives on the little fish and my buddy, with the beard an experienced fisherman in the photo, yells "We are going to need that harpoon back here!"
We were patient and got the last one through the gill plate as well and were thrilled to get our daily limit and 1/6 of our limit for the year ending March 31!
Crabbing yesterday with the head and stomach, it looks like she had stipped a whole salmon head off our hook earlier in the morning but came back for more. Managed about 8 Dungenous off 2 of the 3 carcasses. Hopefully the small head in the freezer will get us a few more.
Great the boat fishes well as most people were empty-handed for the day or caught 1 or 2. Thanks for helping me choose a C-Dory!