BC Coastal fishing 2019 - the countdown has started!

[Ken07AOVette]

140 days to 3rd week of May.

I am looking at May for 2 weeks, July 10 for 2 weeks, August for a week or so.

I am also looking hard into fishing Alaska for Halibut, am doing this without fail in '19.

Plans for the boat are fairly minimal, other than researching a new high windshield which will give me a hard cabin and real door, with actual heat.

Until I get that finished, I am going to be likely finishing the last 3 plastic windows with new Strataglas. I bought a 2000 Honda Generator for heat while out in the rain and cold, hope I don't have to use it. I am redoing the rain cover, liked it but last year was just a first run, I know what to change now.

I am trying to change out the main hold hatch so I can store the generator out of the way, possibly swapping out the trim sensors, other than that is is business as usual for me.

I am thinking of an inflatable for shore excursions and emergency use, with a new cabin it will be very easy but quite crowed right now on the roof.

Garmin has a new live fishfinder/sounder than looks very promising, actually shows fish swimming around under the boat. What we have now is absolute crap, I can see great bottom detail but if a whale swims under the boat nothing shows. Crap for a $3800 fishfinder.

Your winter plans for the boat and summer plans for fishing?

[58thecat]

Keep the tarp on the ol'battle barge until the lake opens up....I learnt a long time ago if you keep throwing money at it she will continue to eat....they are a very needy item kinda like a woman

[justinO]

Seems like a long time away but I can't wait. Hopefully regs don't get hit to hard

[Jamie]

I am concerned about the ability to keep Chinook this year...

I see the central coast guys are advertising that they have the highest keep rates. But I cant find anything official. Those South guys might be in a world of hurt with the whole Killer Whale thing.

Perhaps Serengeti can chime in?

My plans are once again to go out to Haidia Gwaii and stay at Sandspit Adventures. Best deal on the Coast I tell you!!!

[Drewski Canuck]

Word at all the meetings is it will be ugly this year. Even on the west side of the Island where there are hatchery runs.

Poor Fraser returns for Springs and Coho, REALLY POOR Skeena runs for the third year being forecast already.

DFO has this dog and pony show advisory committee of all user groups, and the only user group that can get hammered is the one that brings in all the money to BC: Sport Fishermen. Commercials and FN have priority, and Ottawa is full of whale lovers, so just look out.

A lot of Lodges already got hit hard last year with cancellations up north when the limits where cut back, and I doubt many can hang on for a second year.

Thing is from the Alaska Pollock fishery, The Pacific Salmon Commission now gets the heads from all the by catch that the Pollock fisherman must now keep and are counted against the Alaskan Commercial quota. The data is critical to run predictions through DNA testing as well as marked fish, so DFO is already getting forecast info and it appears bad again this year.

Now that everyone realizes there are too many seals and sea lions, and a cull is underway in the US, we may see some meaningful measures to increase the survival of returning fish. Hopefully Mr. Trudeau and the DFO managers will strap on a pair and follow suit in BC.

Drewski

[justinO]

Yea scary times ahead. A few serious issues need to be addressed ASAP

[Ken07AOVette]

I hope there aren't any friendly fire incidents when some cull/kill happy yahoo's start sending bullets skipping across the chuck.

Hmm... if there is a cull on does that mean we can now carry rifles in the boats? Or is that just a certain group?

Going after trap thieves this year may bring new challenges if they are all packing.