Nootka Sound Fishing!

Heyyy Allen, Fishin-T...I came across this website with some very interesting posting.  Maps of where you can fish in Nootka Sound, includes bait, lures recommendation.  Check it out guys...

http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6293

If you've already come across this discussion, please disregard my message.  Thanks.

VP

Area 3, The  Monument, is where we fished when we hit Friendly Cove last year ... http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,347.0.html.

Unfortunately our timing was slightly off and we hit it between waves of fish.  There were some caught the evening we showed up but it slowed for the rest of the time we were there.  Snag did get one barely keeper sized.

-Allen

V.Paddler,

Hey, good to hear from you.  You've been quiet for a while.

Yeah, that's some good info.  And no, I didn't see that one before.  It's funny if you read the post right after the one that you refer to... it seems that some of the motor boater types are a lot more secrective than most of the kayakers that I've ever met.

Fishin-T

  Hi Fishin-T,

Yeah, it's been awhile since I've poke my head here again...was off for a couple years.  Didn't go anywhere exciting, just stayed close to home catching fish, crabs and spending more time with the family.

I agree, from the posting of the other motor fisherman - it does sound like they didn't want anyone else to know their fishing area.  It's like that every you go, you get your overprotective angler that wants to hog it all for himself.  I've heard the same about Sombrio beach w/ the surfers.  And then you meet some nice folks thats willing to share their knowledge with you.  It makes things so much fun.

The kayak fishermen are a new breed IMHO, and since there are not many of us yet, we are quite happy to share what we know,...but who knows, maybe when things are heated up, or down the road when there's one too many of us, that could change huh?   

VP

It's an interesting discussion regarding the openess of kayak anglers vs. the power boat crowd.  It's something I've often thought about.  It also brings me great pleasure to see.

Why is it?  Well, here's what I think.  A kayak angler is limited in range as to where and how far they can go.  We can't rightly work a piece of water hard then pull up and run to another location in a reasonable amount of time if that water is dead or if we hear of a bit going off in the distance.  In this scenario, it's HOW you fish that counts a lot more then WHERE you fish.  And even then I can tell you WHERE and HOW and that doesn't mean you'll catch fish.  Under these scenarios there are certain subtleties that you can't be told.  You just have to experience it and learn.  Also there may be many HOW's, each of which may work (or not) on a given day.  A private boater typically has multiple anglers on board and can try multiple methods (lures, depths, etc) at the same time until they see a pattern and then focus in on it.

So in reality, when I share info, there is no way I can tell you exactly what to do to catch fish.  I can only point you in a direction that may have worked for me.  But the largest part of the equation is you getting out on the water and figuring it out on your own.  Hence, I have no problems sharing what I think I know.

-Allen

Hey Allen...I agree with you 100%  In fact, you sound so much like "Bruce Lee" when he talks about Martial Art! 

"I can only point you in a direction..." Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory!
(Enter the Dragon - 2nd scene when he teaches a student how to attack)

VP

I am pretty sure I am going to make several trips up to Nootka sound this year. It was just too fun.

I found a place I can park in Victoria for $5 a day, and am going to leave my car there and just take the Victoria Clipper there and back, hopefully with my 4 Chinook a weekend.

Anyone have any experience about when they start hitting Moutcha Bay?

Seems like the derby last year was a little late, but I also don't want to show up with no fish!

- Matt

Hey Matt!

Based on my limited experience, but mostly by talking to people up there, the last week of August is about right for seeing them all the way up into Moutcha.  But for a couple or three weeks before they get all the way to Moutcha, you might do well to head them off at Camel Rock or Cougar Creek.  You'll see reference to both of those (I think) in the link that V.P. gives at the top of this thread.  Also, you can ask once you get to Gold River.  There's the info. shop right as you first come into town.

Hey, you're living my dream pal!!  That's just the area that I was hoping to work on if I could have stayed in Seattle this summer.

Fishin-T

T ... you seem to know these things?  What's the regs on bringing back processed fish.  If I smoke or can fish when I'm up there, do I still get to bring back 4 fresh ones?

-Allen

Polepole,

So what do the regs say about length?  Isn't it 65cm?  Any way,  what ever that length is, that's why I never cut them into fillets before I get home.  I used to be paranoid about cutting off their heads, but so long as the species is clear and it makes the length even without it's head (as do most Moutcha fish) I think it's probably fine to de-head them.

Processing?  I don't remember ANYthing about processing that was said.  If you have a canning company put a lable on there, that would probably pass, but the main thing is to prove that you have this many of this species that are all this lenght or more.  Mighty tough to prove once he's in a can.

Try the Canadian D.O.F., but I doubt it'll fly if you process your own fish.  And I think that we're talking about the D.O.F. rangers only.  I doubt if the border patrol cares.

Fishin-T

I looked in to this.

Fish you process, smoke, can, and even eat!! while away from your primary place of residence count towards your possesion limit.

You could bring 8 fish home from BC if 4 were chinook and 4 were other salmon.

You can filet them as long as you leave the tail on and they are bigger than the minimum size requirements (which I think are shorter than 67 cm).

- Matt

Okay, for the official word, look here:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish/KeyPoints/packaging_e.htm

Says that processing your own catch while away from home is NOT permitted.  Headless is okay if they are long enough.  Fillets are okay if the tail stays with one fillet and it's long enough.  And it's "D.F.O.", not D.O.F.

I'm reading between the lines just a little bit, but I think that once you turn your catch in to a "registered processing facility", whether Canadian or U.S., then from that point on those fish don't count toward your possession limit.  I'm thinking that this would be a fairly safe bet.

Fishin-T

You just get it(smoked fish) shipped over the border

Hey Matt----tell me more about taking the clipper, please??? From Victoria??  To where?  Lodging??