So a trip to the north coast off Prince Rupert was intended to be a happy Chinook salmon fishing trip. Timing is everything and we timed it perfectly for 35 to 45 knot winds and heavy seas. Fishing on our intended grounds was out of the question and we couldn't get to the halibut waters so we hung out in sheltered waters and went for some of the excellent ground fish, and yes one Chinook that sacrificed itself for the cause.
The Chinook run normally peaks in mid to late June but it seems this is an off year and the fish are late. Rupert is within sight of the Alaska Panhandle and some of the boats coming back from Alaska were rumored to have done well for Chinook. The commercial boats were out on an early fishery for sockeye on the Skeena and then the Nass rivers. The allowance of an early season fishery bodes well for the upcoming Fraser River run though time will tell as they will start showing up in about three weeks.
Chinook numbers are building in the Fraser and hopefully enough will make their way into the Vedder River which should open in July, so local fishing that is accessible without a boat will start in earnest.
Anyways, the groundfish provided great fillets and when lightly seasoned and fried in butter for several minutes turned into a tasty dish fit for the finest seafood house!
The Chinook run normally peaks in mid to late June but it seems this is an off year and the fish are late. Rupert is within sight of the Alaska Panhandle and some of the boats coming back from Alaska were rumored to have done well for Chinook. The commercial boats were out on an early fishery for sockeye on the Skeena and then the Nass rivers. The allowance of an early season fishery bodes well for the upcoming Fraser River run though time will tell as they will start showing up in about three weeks.
Chinook numbers are building in the Fraser and hopefully enough will make their way into the Vedder River which should open in July, so local fishing that is accessible without a boat will start in earnest.
Anyways, the groundfish provided great fillets and when lightly seasoned and fried in butter for several minutes turned into a tasty dish fit for the finest seafood house!
Turning Groundfish into crabs and prawns is a bit of fishing magic and its good advice to use the left overs after filleting and set out a few traps at the start of the next fishing day.
Crabs were found in 15 to 40 feet and the prawns were down at over 200 feet. I did find out the very hard way just how strong the pincers are on a large Dungeness crab when it grabbed the finger on my left hand and there was no way to get it off. (Excessive yelling and jumping about the boat did not help.) A cooler head searched for the wire cutters and eventually cut the pincer in half and it dropped off into the hold for later processing. My finger is still attached and recovering!
Crabs were found in 15 to 40 feet and the prawns were down at over 200 feet. I did find out the very hard way just how strong the pincers are on a large Dungeness crab when it grabbed the finger on my left hand and there was no way to get it off. (Excessive yelling and jumping about the boat did not help.) A cooler head searched for the wire cutters and eventually cut the pincer in half and it dropped off into the hold for later processing. My finger is still attached and recovering!
So, after all that hard work, a feast of baked potatoes, a good cider, crabs and prawns dipped in butter made for some fine days on the British Columbia Coast! Tight lines.
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