Ladysmith and Vancouver Island
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Hi, my name is Ken Bryski and I'm the Harbour Manager for Ladysmith Fisherman's Wharf.Local Vancouver Island Fishing Reports
This marine and fishing report covers the Ladysmith - Chemainus area and the lower Georgia Straits region.
January 24, 2008
Fishing for winter springs around Thetis Island has been hit and miss for the past several weeks. Fish in the 6 to 10 pound range have been caught by the more persistent fishers.Prawning has been pretty slow for this time of year with few jumbos being caught. Most fishers are finding large numbers of very small prawns.
April 8, 2006
During March the weather was still pretty bad and not many fishers were venturing out. Those that did were still finding the odd spring salmon. Towards the end of March herring balls were seen along the beach all the way to Samsum Narrows where a few springs were reported as well.Everyone going after prawns seems to come back happy with their catches. But for most people the crabbing has still been pretty slow. With the nicer weather this month, many more people are getting out on the water.
February 18, 2006
With the terrible weather we've had for the past few weeks, there hasn't been much fishing activity and so there hasn't been much in the way of Vancouver Island fishing reports.But on February 16th we did get this from a young local fisherman, Dylan Bradford, who I know lives right beside my favorite crab fishing spot.
His Vancouver Island fishing report: I have had my limit of crabs the last 2 times out just in front of Saltair around 100 feet. Also I was wondering where the closest place to drop my prawn traps is (close to Ladysmith) and if there's any areas around the harbour worth trying for springs not all the way out to Porlier Pass.
Thanks Dylan. There's lots of good spots for prawns close to Saltair. My favorite is the reef halfway between Coffin Island and False Reef just off Thetis Island. I like to fish on the southwest side of the reef in 37 to 42 fathoms but sometimes you have to move around a little bit to find the best spot.
There's also lots of spots around all the small bumps that stretch between there and Chemainus. The trick is getting your traps as close to the edge of the reefs while still keeping them in the mud.
As far as the springs go, I haven't heard too much coming from anywhere other than Porlier Pass, but I know your old neighbour, Fuzzy, used to get them along the shore by the big boulder many years ago. We also used to catch springs this time of year off the beach around Yellowpoint and towards Dodds Narrows, but again that was a long time ago.
We did try for springs the last time I was out, which was around Christmas. After we set our prawn gear we trolled from False Reef towards Dodds Narrows. We didn't try very long and only managed to catch a couple of undersize springs. One was only about a half inch short. You might still get lucky and find a keeper. If I remember correctly, I think we were using an army truck hootchie behind a hotspot flasher at about 25 fathoms.
January 13, 2006
We'll be setting a record this weekend for the longest stretch of rain recorded. Not very nice!Today is the first I heard of a rumour to close commercial prawning in the Ladysmith - Chemainus area. If anyone else hears something about this could they let me know.
Tomorrow is the big day to sink the plane off Chemainus. This will become a big diving attraction and should help the local dive charters.
January 12, 2006
This time of year only the real diehards are getting out. For the past couple of weeks wind, rain, and lots of debris from the high tides have been making fishing a real chore indeed.Prawn season was closed above and below the Ladysmith - Chemainus area in December, but is still open between Ladysmith and Chemainus. Prawners have been getting their limits without too much effort.
Crab fishing has been a little slow but some of the luckier fishermen have been able to catch a feed now and then.
Over the Christmas season a few of the more hardy fishermen were able to get out to Porlier Pass where a few winter springs were taken in the 8 to 10 pound range.
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