Halibut fishing has been good in the Victoria area
recently. Forty flatties were weighed in at Pedder Bay two weekends ago, which
is terrific. Look at Island Outfitters images to find Phillip and Steven Chang
who, on Constance Bank, April 5, caught bookend halibut. Phillip’s was 131 cm
and 53.4 lbs; Steven’s was 126 and 52.4. They lead the leader board, and with 133
cm the current upper length, they may stay there for some time.
Anglers have been using large herring, salmon slices
with octopus added, for a tough bait that keeps the halibut there once it has
inhaled the herring. Berkley Gulp and Powerbait on lead head jigs also work
well. Halibut have legendary nasal abilities and that scent trail is a powerful
stimulant, particularly if you are anchored, with the scent passing downstream
and the halibut following it up.
Spires or edges where depth drops rapidly make good
spots to fish as these bottom features concentrate halibut for several
different reasons: they rest in the downstream vertical eddy for baitfish swept
off the edge; they ascend from deep water up gullies which accumulate halibut from
a great wide flat space to a very small space. An edge, almost by definition,
accumulates fish, because on a flat they can spread out anywhere, but once they
hit an edge, they cannot go any farther without going down, staying on the edge
or going back where they came from. This takes time.
Upstream eddies also hold halibut because there is a
small spot of slow water for them to rest. Upstream eddies are commonly found in
river fishing. Steelhead and trout lie beside, behind and in front of bottom
obstacles like rocks. Upstream, water piles into itself and divides, flowing
down each side and over top; this creates slow water in front of the rock and fish
hang there. Edge considerations help explain Constance Bank, Race Rock ledges,
and Swiftsure Bank canyons.
If you fish on strong current days, it makes sense
to let the current move you into deep water before picking up your gear and
going back. Anchoring up on windy or strong current days can be dangerous –
always tie your boat to a large buoy that is tied to the line to the anchor. Otherwise
your bow gets tilted down and waves can swamp the boat. The last time I was
out, water temperature was 43.5 degrees Fahrenheit – you will be dead in no
time, if you go in.
In fast current or wind the anchor drags until it
catches. The faster you move the farther it drags. That can fish your tackle in
deeper water than you intend, necessitating a time-eating motor back upstream
to set the anchor again. Also, the faster you are moving, the harder the anchor
sticks; this can be a real drag as you may have difficulty lifting your anchor
when you motor upstream and heave away. While there is extra cost and faddle in
a two line system, if you lose an anchor, chain and line once, with the new finer,
cheaper line from chain to buoy, it doesn’t cost much to get that second line
that attaches to the other end of the anchor, so you have a much better chance
of lifting it.
It makes sense to drift a bank on a high speed tide –
you find the fish. Once, fishing the Rat’s Nose, 40 clicks off Ucluelet, we drifted
a mile off, from 250 feet into 500. Looking back, we saw not much action and
heard not much chatter. The strong current pushed the springs and halibut
straight sideways. They were 250 feet off the bottom. We took limits of both. But
no one else.
Finally, if you fish a spreader bar, the weight goes
on the short arm. You attach leader and lure to the long arm. The reason is: in
letting down your line, if the tackle is on the short arm, it tangles in your
rod’s main line, and you are presenting a mess to the fish. You only find your tangle,
after wasting half an hour, thinking it was fishing.
When you get a bite, hit a waypoint on your GPS, not
where you land the fish. Then motor back up stream and set up to pass the spot
again. It is also recorded for future days. You will find anglers anchored up
from Darcy Island, to Helm and Border Banks and to spires all the way to
Constance Bank. The 310 foot water off the Quarantine Buoy sometimes produces
as well. Then there is Albert Point and all the way out to Jordan River. Don’t
overlook the Oak Bay Flats – it’s easy.
Prepare in advance, with a gaff, large cooler and a
line, in case you have to tie the halibut and tow it. Consider adding a raw
water pump to your boat, to sluice the deck of slime and blood. Both are very
slippery, and you don’t want anyone going off the boat. If that happens, throw
a life jacket immediately, then turn and motor back. You should have a rope
ladder of steps, or at the least, trim tabs for the person to climb back in.
The Just for the Halibut derby is May 11 and 12.
Both are good tide days, meaning two or more tides within a foot or so of one
another, hence, water speed is slow. Friday, May 10 also presents a good tide
pattern. Get your ticket and fish in advance to prove your spot.
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