Mid-season fishing is living up to expectations with the arrival of plentiful Coho salmon offshore to augment the Chinook action we’ve enjoyed off the kelp beds.  Though we’re seeing some big ones up to 13 pounds, they’re averaging about 6½and we’re getting them from the surface down to 120 feet so it’s an adventure hunting for them!  Most anglers are seeing success on Chinooks in closer to shore in all the favourite spots.  Cape Naden has been productive, fishing shallow through the ebb tide, QCL guests have done very well there recently.  Likewise, the busy water in the rip between Klashwun Point and Shag Rock has turned out some really good Chinook action – with all the challenges that come with fishing a rip!  In the past week we’ve seen quite a few nice Tyees in the high 30’s and some in the low 40’s come to the boat.  These are such stunning fish and we’re especially happy when a guest elects to turn them back in hopes that they’ll return to their home streams.

Halibut fishing has been reliable as always with most anglers taking their limit home.  The regulation change for this season is going over very well –anglers can choose to take either – two fish under 90 cm length or one between 90 and 126 cm length.  That’s a maximum halibut size of roughly 55-pounds for those who like the big ones!  We’re still seeing a few of those 100 pound-plus giants alongside the boat this summer –loads of excitement whenever that happens!

Talk about exciting, how about doing battle with a sea lion over a 75-pound halibut!  That happened to Nancy & Tim L while they were fishing off the Little Peanut last weekend.  Nancy had hooked a pretty big halibut and almost had it to the boat.  They knew it was oversized and were prepared to release it when a sea lion grabbed it by the tail before they got it to the boat!  It was literally a tug of war with the sea lion pulling the halibut around by the tail and Nancy reeling away on its lips!  This went on for a few minutes; the halibut was too big for the sea lion to do his usual damage, especially with Nancy yanking it away every time he released his grip.  Unbelievably they eventually boated the halibut; it was quite alive and the teeth of the sea lion had not even penetrated the skin!  They had to release it but there was no way they were giving it back to the sea lion.  So they put the boat in gear and drove off a few hundred yards in hopes of eluding the hungry sea lion.  But he was right there with them.  Luckily the Fishmaster was close by so they recruited him to distract the sea lion and they were able to release it!  Great job you two! Hopefully the free-swimming halibut got away okay. Crazy stuff happens when you’re fishing!