2004 Salmon Run!

[Capn Mike]

The first springer was caught in the Cowlitz last week, about 50 miles downstream from me. They're not supposed to be here for another month. <br />Guess I better finish up my winter maintenance and get my boat into the water. This is supposed to be the biggest run since the 1930s. Yahoo!<br />Of course....of the 7 bazillion lures I have: none will be "correct" for this year....

 

[mountainboy]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

Go get 'em, Capn Mike!!!

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

Biggest runs since 1930's. Sounds great, I cant<br />wait.

 

[catmania]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

been good to me so far, limited out 3 weekends in a row, unbelievable to have cans of salmon marked January instead of August of September<br />last weekend was the first time we didnt limit out but we were focusing on halibut and only got on 10 pound spring<br />This is supposed to be a great year! Wahoo it already is!

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

Hey...no fair! They aren't up here yet....where are you located?

 

[catmania]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

Located Vancouver Island, Victoria area<br />Fishing has been good and very steady, if you want fish for dinner go out at 3:00 and be back by 5:00 with a couple for the BBQ <br /><br />The winter feeder springs are getting bigger all the time. The herring are filling the bays and the feeders are real hungry. This weekend i caught 2 nice springs, one had bright pink flesh and the other was pale white. Wierd but ohh so tasty. My friend thinks its a genetic differnece but i think its related to diet. ie if they each shrimp they will be pinker... what do you guys think?

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

you fishing off Sooke bluffs?

 

[catmania]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

Yes, Sooke bluffs near the trailer park, also inside pedder bay (real hot there lately) and i mean inside, i dont even fire up the main motor, just use the kicker to put out while rigging up. Occasionally do beecher bay. Whole south tip of the Island has been hot.

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

ya, we were fishing the drop off between Church rock and Otter point and picked up some nice ones Saturday, nothing big, 6-8 lbs.I hear the forcast for the summer runs of springs is better than last year- which was excellent.Haven't heard anything about coho though, wild or hatchery

 

[LubeDude]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

Come now, we all know there aint no Salmon in the sea anymore, leastwise thats what they try and tell us.

 

[gss036]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

Hey, believe it or not the blackmouth fising hasn't been all that bad for those who know how to fish for them. I was fishing on West beach,(Orcas Island)across from the lighthouse at EastPoint ( Canadian side) on Saturday, I had 3 fish, you notice, I said "HAD" 3 fish, but seals got all 3 before we could get them close to the boat. But that is fishing when the SEALS are protected species. The buddies I was with were in the same area the week before and managed to get 5 in the boat, 8-13 lbs.

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

I well know what you mean,seals aregetting to be a real problem- and we don't fish some places because of them.You go past Posession point and if you pick up a rod, the seals slide in the water and follow the boat.Same if your reel runs out- they hear it- it;s a dinner bell.<br />Years ago there was a $5 bounty and the seals stayed clear of the boat but not any more.And to add insult to injury- some animal rights guy says I should ''share '' the salmon- because ''the seals were there first''Personally, I think we should have a fishery for them,use the meat and hides, and there is no reason why not- they are hardly endangered.

 

[catmania]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

How about halibut? Any sign of them yet? Last year was good for them too, I caught a couple while fishing for springs. Nice 40 pounders. Now thats fun! <br />If I remember right last year they started showing up in mid to late February. We tried for some couple weeks ago, and there looked to be quite a few others fishing for them as well.<br />I guess the enhancement and resoration projects are starting to pay off.

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

Still none here yet, but they're not supposed to be here for a few weeks yet...<br />Sea lions are the problem here...last year, a radio-tagged SL was marked near Bonneville Dam (Columbia River mile 130). 10 days later he was marked again: near the BC line in Puget Sound. <br />Frisky devil....

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

ya, actually the halibut fishery has picked up.Butlast year Fisheries conducted a ''test'' fishery off Jordan river with long lines- so you know what was left!<br /> Some guys troll for them and pick up either a halibut or a spring-a bit later on , in May when the first summer run springs start showing.<br /> Probably the best success for halibut is off the bank at Port Renfrew- but my stomach can't take that!

 

[kenjudy1]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

On foggy days off Coos Bay years back it sounded like a small war with fisherman takeing pictures of seal and sealions with 12 guage cameras.

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

you get caught taking a ''picture'' of a seal with a 12 guage and I tell ya, they'd put you away for life, an throw away the keys.I have nothing against seals and sea lions- untill they become a nuisance- the the reason they become a nuisance is they have no fear of humans, plus associate boats with an easy food source.Years ago when there was a bounty on them they kept their distance.I've never heard of anything so rediculous as ''relocating''problems annimals, often at great expense, just to have them return.The money would be far better spent on stream enhancement, but even that is of limited value if you don't have effective preditor control -they'll sit of the river mouth and take all the spawners.

 

[Capn Mike]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

They opened the commercial season for one day, today on the lower Columbia. Hope they get their quota so the fish can get up river. Cold (40) water slows them down, but I put my boat in its slip Sunday, and I'm ready!<br />Guess I'll know the fish are up here when I see the seals and sea lions....

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

I heard someone picked up a 32 lb white spring last week of Sooke.Hard to know where they are coming from- it's too soon for spawners,they'll show up in May-June, most of the winter springs are 6-8 lb with the odd one running into the teens.I have never heard a satisfactory explanation for white springs vs red springs- whether it's just genetics, feed,I really don't know.I don't think they are a separate species though.

 

[catmania]

Re: 2004 Salmon Run!

Got lucky last weekend, buddy and I spent all morning trying for halibut out at constance, then not having any luck with that we opted to try for salmon, almost immediatly hit an 8 pounder. 10 minutes later I remebered what it was like to have a big fish on the line again. For the next hour we were kept busy fighting and landing 3, 20+ pound winter springs. It sure was exciting, biggest fish so far this year! They were all stuffed absolutely full of big herring. <br /><br />Also the Gorge bridges are starting to get busy again with everyone jigging for herring (dinner or bait?) Apparently last year a few salmon were caught while jigging for herring as the salmon follow them right up into the inlet. Sure would be hard to land a salmon in those conditions, using super light line, on a mini-casting rod, with 50 people standing right next to you, 25 feet up on a bridge, without a net! <br /> <br />Good luck captnmike, let us know when you get lucky!<br />Ratherbefishin you get out last weekend? That must have been a big early spawner, cant imagine 32 pound feeders lurking out there. <br /><br />Seems to me that the runs are coming in earlier and lasting longer than in previouse years. However I am out there with gear in the water pretty much all year long now. Gotta be fishing before you can be catching.