Shellfish Weather

With the cool dry weather we are in peak shellfish harvesting season. Most of the good tides are in the evening or even at night. At least for clamming you really need at least a 4ft low tide. I went out for oysters and blue muscles last weekend on a 8ft tide and was able to get my limit easily. If you spot a good low tide that's at night, grab a head lamp and head out. You probably won't be the only person, and it's a lot of fun. One of the first dates I took my wife on was a mid-night clamming expedition. Now 16ish years later we take the kids and had fresh oysters for our valentines dinner.

I'm starting to hear reports about bigger Chinook being caught all throughout the mid Island area. With claims of 15-18 lb. fish in French Creek, Nanaimo, Ladysmith and Howe Sound areas. Bon Chovy spoons, and Yellow Tail Coho Killers are the best lures currently. Pair these with either Bon Chovy or Salty Dog flashers.

The herring spawn is said to be kicking off at the Northern tip of Vancouver Island. This is fairly early, so we might get it sooner than last year down here. Water temperatures are warmer than normal after that warm weather patch we had in late January, so this is speeding lot's of things up. The salmon eggs in the rivers are already hatching which is also very early. 

If anyone hears of spawns south of Seymour Narrows please give me an email at the address below. And as always, if you have a fishing report or a good photo give me an email.

Tips up,

steve@harbourchandler.ca