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Salmon
Fishing on the Sunshine Coast
Close to
the big city but far from the crowds, the Sunshine Coast is
a fisherman's paradise. If you'd describe yourself as an avid
fisherman, you really should check out this area during sport
fishing season!
Secret
Cove Harbour, Sunshine Coast |
Bordered
by the snow covered Coastal Mountains, this protected coastline
stretches 175 Kilometres (105 Miles) along the northeast shore
of the Strait of Georgia, from Howe Sound to Desolation Sound.
Clean sparkling Pacific waters, secluded sandy beaches, bays
with Red Cedar and Arbutus trees sprinkled along the coastline.
Canada Geese, Bald Eagles, Blue Herons and Osprey share the
sky and shore.
Locals boast 14 more days of sunshine per year than HAWAII,
with approximately 270 growing days per year. All of this is
only two hours by car and ferry from Downtown Vancouver. Enjoy
the picturesque, 40-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe
Bay to Langdale,
and continue with the paved coastal highway, following the coast
northwards.
This region offers relatively protected waters for sport fishing
on Georgia Strait, with Vancouver Island protecting the area
from the open sea. The numerous islands also offer shelter,
so you are not subjected to the high seas of the Pacific Ocean
(no swells or fog).
The Sunshine Coast offers year-round guided fishing for Chinook
Salmon at great resorts at such locations as Secret
Cove, Pender
Harbour and Powell
River. Feeder Chinooks are present during the winter months,
and the migratory Chinook start showing up in late spring, with
the best fishing from June to September.
Coho are best from June to September, while the Northern Coho
are available from September to October. Pink and Sockeye go
by from mid-August to Mid-September, and Chum Salmon from September
thru October.
25
Pound Ling Cod |
Another big
attraction to the anglers is the bottom fish fishery; large
Red Snappers (Yellow Eye), Ling Cod, Rock Cod, Flounder and
Tommy Cod.
Most of these species are open year-round, with only Ling Cod
being closed from October to May.
For the seafood specialists, the prawning and crabbing is excellent
year-round, all along the Sunshine Coast.
Unique to the Secret Cove and Pender Harbour area, Mooching
is the way most of the guides and local anglers fish for these
tail-walking salmon. Most of the fishing is done from larger
charter yachts from 26 ft. to 40 ft. The salmon fishing techniques
are quite different, as we don't use a Cut plug or troll for
the salmon...we Mooch. This means that we locate the schooling
bait fish off reefs and kelp beds with sounders, and anchor
the vessel over the bait fish, using live herring, the natural
food of the salmon.
We go equipped with long, limber 10-ft salmon rods, a single-action
graphite fishing reel, a 3 ounce weight, about 8 ft of light
leader, and a single # 10 treble hook in the nose of the live
herring. Fishing anchored, we are able to fish from 4 to 7 rods
around the vessel at different depths, from the bottom to the
surface. Live bait is available at most marinas from Gibsons
to Pender Harbour. This offers a natural light tackle fishing
method and is a fun way to fish for these powerful salmon.
A
Day's Catch |
Local fishing
spots include Halfmoon Bay, Buccaneer Bay, Secret Cove, Lasqueti
Island, Texada
Island, Seal Reef, Bejji Shoals, Bargain Harbour, A Frame
and Quarry Bay ... just to name a few.
When planning your next saltwater fishing trip, this region
is arguably one of the best light tackle salmon fishing destinations
in British Columbia. The season never ends, it just gets better
at certain times.
Enter our Free
Salmon Fishing Draw to win a 3 day, 2 night fishing
trip to Secret Cove - three draws to enter: April 1st, July
1st and October 1st, 2000. Good Luck.
Tight Lines, Good Luck, and Good fishing
For more information on fishing on the Sunshine Coast of British
Columbia, visit our website at www.CohoSports.ca,
Email us at fishing@cohosports.ca,
or call Fred Kuzyk at (604) 435-7333.
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Written
by Fred Kuzyk
Coho
Sports
Secret Cove
British Columbia |
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