The countdown has begun for the Lingcod opening! We expect them to open up May 1st here on the East side of Vancouver Island. Rockfish will also open on the same date. The West side of the Island opened April 1st and all reports have been good. Top lures have been Z-man swimbaits in 7" Sexy Mullet colour. Paired with a 3oz Diezel Eye jig head. The other lure I keep hearing about is the Savage Gear Burbot. This lure is dynamite, but it is easy to snag the bottom. So I would use a spreader bar to keep it off the bottom. These larger type swimbait will also let you target Lings without as much Rockfish by-catch. Target Lings wherever you find rock piles or underwater ledges. If you get on over 25lb consider releasing it as fish of those size are breeder females.
And remember to have your Rockfish descender to release all Rockfish that you are not keeping.
Prawning reports around Nanaimo have not been stellar. Not bad, you just need to work at it a bit. Make sure to use quality prawn oil your pellets with prawn oil to increase catches. Try to soak them together the night before.
Chinook and Coho fishing is still great. Interestedly I'm hearing of a lot of hatchery Chinook getting caught all around Georgia Straight. Top lures have been chartreus glow hoochies or Avocado Dream spoons both paired with Salty Dogg flashers.
Tips up,
steve@harbourchandler.ca
2 comments
Hi Ross, That lure is a Savage Gear Sandeel. You can find them on this website. I really like them for shallow, or high current areas. Too light for deep fishing though. My favorite colours are the brown or the yellow ones.
hj steve where i buy a green jig like the one the april 2025 pictures