[Rib]

Hey Guys and gals...

I am headed over to Gambier Island for a week or so in early June, I should have access to a boat, and am wondering what opportunities might be available to me fishing wise while I am there...

I have some experience fishing the chuck, although it has been a long time...what I am most interested in is where I might go for salmon, maybe some bottom fish, and what methods I should use...

I don't want to travel far in the boat, so anyone with specific local knowledge that would be willing to help, would be much appreciated...

Thanks,

rib

 

[roscoe-pco]

sorry can;t help Rib see I'm in the same predicament, never fished much in the chuck, not sure where to start or what to use, that's a big ol lake out there.

 

[bigjay]

Rib,
I have a book that has all the spots in Howe Sound... it is old, like 1955. However, if you want it you can have it.
Have fun, Jason

 

[troutchaser]

Don't know anything about the fishing but what a beatiful spot. My sister-in-law as a cabin on Gambier and its a sensational locale. Have fun, and if you don't end up fishing a ton this is one place you should be able to get by without for a week, especially if its sunny. Jealous.
TC

 

[Rib]

Sweet! Good to hear Gambier is such a beautiful place...I'm looking forward to it! I recieved a pm from someone who knows the island pretty well, and salmon rock, hutt island and gibson's gap were mentioned, can anyone elaborate on these areas?

I'm not certain I'll have downriggers or even a depth sounder, we'll see what we end up with...hopefully some of you could add some very specific areas that should hold salmon...I could mooch as well I suppose, but if I don't end up having a depth sounder to work with, it could be hard to zero in on the fish...

Thanks for all the responses guys, keep em comin'... :thumbup:

 

[Pippen]

Rib......

Where on the island are you going to be? I can recommend some good prawning spots around the North side of the island if you were interested and there is good bottomfish fishing where you can keep an eye on your trap(s). You may want to check for openings though around the time you are there.

As for salmon the previously mentioned spots 'may' be okay, but it is kind of hit and miss around that time of the year. Fishin'magician may be a bit better to ask around that time of year. Not sure how it may be around Bowen or off the southside of Bowen (which is a pretty quick run), but without riggers you may find things tough. BigJay is the man when it comes to mooching and he has helped me out with ideas to use across the gulf around Thrasher Rock.

Drop me a PM and I can give you some ideas if you are looking for more advice.

"If" you happen to head over to Gibson's at all for a beer.........be VERY careful for the SMOG's!! :naughty: Single Mothers Of Gibsons! They can be an unruly crowd and very very scary!! :

I spend a lot of time in Howe Sound boating and on both Gambier and Anvil so ask away!!

 

[Rib]

Thanks for the warning there pippen...LoL...single mothers eh...? ;D I'll do some reading here and check out a map or two and get back with some more questions...

Speaking of reading, Bigjay....would love to get my hands on that book, but not sure how we'll do it...let me know any ideas you might have and we'll work something out...

 

[Rib]

Ok, so it looks like by the scouting trip, that we'll be likely fishing around Hutt Island...anyone have first hand experience fishing in that area?

I am getting the impression that we'll have to be trolling 80-150 ft deep with hoochies, spoons or anchovies...on the ebb tide...

 

[malvarez]

I can offer you a little bit of information - I was down in that area two days ago. Unfortunately, I too am new to fishing the salt chuck and am just getting the hang of it. Here's what I can tell you:

- Hutt Island area is very pleasant - you're nicely sheltered and while you get the hang of your gear and trolling around, this is a nice place. If you're trolling, I'd suggest staying to the north side (i.e., Collingwood channel). I did get one "rigger ripper" hit off there but didn't get to set the hook. Lots of bait on the sounder and marked lots of fish.

The inside of the Island is very nice too, but watch out for the bottom, it really comes up. I picked up two small ling cod and a rock rish in there (all released nice and gentle), but it's tight maneuvering.

If you're not going to troll, then I'd suggest trying some mooching off the either the south or north tip. From the sounder there's good structure there and lots of bait showing. Pretty easy to set up - pick up a some 3 - 4 ounce mooching weights (aka "bananas" with swivels on either end) and some herring (I buy the pre-tied rigs since I'm pretty lazy). Toss the bait to the bottom, reel up a couple cranks and float with the tide....very relaxing way to fish. You could also try tossing some buzz bombs I guess.

- Tunstall Bay - a little further down the channel and there were half a dozen boats working the nice wide open bay in about 175 - 200 ft of water right out to the cape on Georgia Straight. Lots of bait around, but no fish. Nice place to fish though (although, they're all nice places to fish, some are just nicer than others).

- North Side - last summer I went a couple of times up off the north side - troll the beaches at McNabb creek up to Defense Islands and back down. I did hook a couple of smallish coho in there later in the year, but no springs. It's a bit of a run, but looks promising - I heard it was quite good a couple of months back. Mooching off the Defense Islands is reported to work quite well.

Next time I go, I'm going to try the north side of Keats Island out to Gower Point - friend of mine fishese there and does pretty well.

Not sure if advice from someone who didn't land anything helps....but there you go.....

 

[Rib]

Thanks malvarez...some great advice there and much appreciated... ;D

Oh and welcome to the forum too...

 

[Pippen]

Thanks malvarez...some great advice there and much appreciated... ;D

Oh and welcome to the forum too...

Malvarez.......as Rib said welcome to the forum. Great post to join the fray with!! :thumbup:

 

[brendanS]

welcome to the forum
rib I was up there on the longweek end to test the boat were you the guy that was towing the boston waler up thehill in new brighton bay?

 

[Rib]

Nope, wasn't me...I'll be heading up there monday-wednesday, then back to the city to move thursday-friday, then back again to Gambier...we'll have a zodiac with a 60 hp, probably going to drift with the tides off hutt with a slow power mooch with cut plugs and maybe some jigs to boot...

Did you fish at all while you were up there Brendan...?

 

[Rib]

Another question for you all...

Do you guys think my sage 3113lb will be alright for mooching out there...? I'll have an old Diawa mooching reel as well...

I also could go with my backup river rod...a 10.5 ft lightwieght shimano set up...

Any input would be appreciated,

thx,

rib

 

[coho_killer]

Rib how ya doing bud? If i happen to see you befor you go to gambier i have a few jigs that are deadly just off the botton for salmon and bottom fish! Work is killing me been so busy but i have a week off from this friday till next so i'm off to tunkawa lake for some much needed R&R! Other than that i'm doing good in regards to your last pm a few weeks ago from ya! I'm gonna need a new setup for the fishout in july! What is the exact day of this event? The longweekend is out for me i'm off to the island for a b-day and fishing trip around sydney!

C.K.

 

[Rib]

Hey ya CK!! I'm doin' well buddy...I'm off for Gambier now, then moving for two days, then off to Gambier again for two more days...Good luck on Tunkwa there big guy! See ya all in a about a week or so...I'll post some pics when I return...

:beerchug: