Chasing halis

I'm planning a halibut trip this Sunday for my first fishing of 2015. If any of you island boys want to join me, I'll be launching at Muir Creek, west of Sooke at about 8 AM. Looking for fish and chips!!!
T2

I wanna go

You'd be welcome, Nangus! I'm going to try one of my summer Springer tacks but bottom bounce for halibut. Last summer I noticed this power boat anchored up for halibut and thought "what the hell?" I've never seen anyone fishing halibut here!  An hour later the central nut on  my downrigger came right off and for once I didn't have my multi tool with me.  So I pulled up the ball by hand and pedalled over to these halibut fishermen to borrow a screwdriver and didn't they have a 50 lb plus halibut in the boat! Note to self: come back with your halibut gear!So now's the time!
T2 

you're not supposed to tell everyone about your super secret 'but hole 

you're not supposed to tell everyone about your super secret 'but hole 

That's why I said "one of my summer Springer tacks" .  really though, there are so few yak fishermen up here we all share info as much as possible. I think it's the same for you in Alaska.
T2

Not sure how it is in BC, but I like to keep my 'but holes to myself.  Its a personal area I like to keep private.

Its true, some do like to share secrets on how to access their favorite 'but hole or when the best time to check it out is. 

.....FYI, its winter and I'm bored...so I'm just giving you a rash about your 'but hole secrets

You'd be welcome, Nangus!

I would if I could but the timings just not right. I'm retiring from the AF (32 years) in June and plan to fish my arse off this summer. The BC coast has been calling to me for a very long time...have you ever fished up around Barkley Sound?  I'd love to take two weeks and have a look around up there.

Congrats on retiring from the AF. That's quite the accomplishment. I only did 4 years and regret not staying in longer sometimes, but my liver thanks me for leaving when I did.

You'd be welcome, Nangus!

I would if I could but the timings just not right. I'm retiring from the AF (32 years) in June and plan to fish my arse off this summer. The BC coast has been calling to me for a very long time...have you ever fished up around Barkley Sound?  I'd love to take two weeks and have a look around up there.

Thank you for your service!

You'd be welcome, Nangus!

I would if I could but the timings just not right. I'm retiring from the AF (32 years) in June and plan to fish my arse off this summer. The BC coast has been calling to me for a very long time...have you ever fished up around Barkley Sound?  I'd love to take two weeks and have a look around up there.

Congrats on your imminent retirement! I've got about another year and a half to go. Once I do retire I'd love to come down and take part in some of the NWKA events like ORC ECT..  I used to fish up in Barkley quite a bit in the late '90's.(power boating) There are some good places not too far for a yak to get to. Come out of Bamfield harbour and turn north and "the wall" is only a short distance up the inlet. August is usually the best time to go for springs. If you are serious about coming up, keep me posted and we can get into some more detail.
Back to halis--went out from 9-noon today for not a sniff. Sunny, about 10 degrees Celsius, with a 10 mph breeze blowing. No fish but it sure felt great to be on the water. It was good to have the pedals and big sail rudder to keep the bow into the wind. I should have brought my sea anchor to help with that.

I was out at Jordan River today looking for halibut, with my usual luck!    It was calm, grey and rainy, with a light flood tide. I tried a spot shallower than I usually fish for halibut--from 65 to 85 ft of water, but the only life I saw were a couple of pairs of harbour porpoise--they are shy little guys and won't come over and say hello like their cousins will. It was nice to run into an old friend at the launch, he and a couple of other kayak guides were kayak surfing on the break west of the river. My buddy has forgotten more about kayak technique than I'll ever know. (He circumnavigated Vancouver Island by kayak a few years ago, and has guided for years.) he is not a fisherman so he wants me to take him out salmon fishing in the yaks this summer. Since he taught me how to surf kayak back in the '90's, I couldn't be more delighted to return the favour.
It was great to be out on the water!
T2

Man, around VI in a kayak. What a trip that would be!

Man, around VI in a kayak. What a trip that would be!

Yeah that would be the trip of a lifetime...hmmm

Man, around VI in a kayak. What a trip that would be!

Yeah that would be the trip of a lifetime...hmmm

Have you guys ever seen this? It's a lengthy blog post about a 47 day trip down the west side last summer.


http://wildwashington.blogspot.com/2014/09/kayaking-vancouver-islands-west-coast.html

what a great read. thanks for passing that along.