The end of December is peak prawning season in mid-Vancouver Island waters. Some select areas will temporally close January 1st (others stay open so check the regulations) so now is the time to get some prawns for a New Years Eve dinner.
I've had great reports from Entrance Island, Tent Island and Sidney. The reports from Five Fingers and Nanoose are decent. The size of the prawns is very good, with more extra large ones being caught. As always the best traps are Vancouver Island made Bauer prawn traps baited with our Skretting prawn pellets. We do sell the pellets by the big 20kg bag for $120. They aren't on the website, but you can pick them up if you stop by the store. One pro tip is to oil your pellets the day before to let them soak up the prawn oil. The best oil has always been the Copper River brand from Victoria. It's label has changed and its now know as Prawn Syrup, but it is the same great product.
I also had some incredibly good crab reports. This is a nice change as crabbing has been slow for a few seasons now. Nanaimo estuary is the main location for Nanaimo, but any muddy area in front of a river or stream should hold Dungeness crab. For crab bait I always do best with fresh fish or chicken, not spoiled meat. Also defrost your bait prior to use.
The salmon fishing has been good all week when the winds let us out. There are fish everywhere, but the best locations are the deep waters on the East side of the gulf islands. Although I'm still seeing some decent fish getting caught closer in around Five Fingers.
Big glow plugs like Tomic 602 and large spoons like Tomic 780 (BVB Pork Chop) and Freedom Tackle's Green Dot Herring are doing the best.
Glow chartreus needlefish hoochies like NG140R are also working right on the bottom in areas were there are sandlance.
Tips up!
steve@harbourchandler.ca
