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We've had some great fishing through April and it's getting even better as we head into May. As is typical this time of year, we have a large number of Chinook salmon present in local waters. On the past few trips, it's been common to have double and even triple hookups! These fish are full of energy and are aggressively feeding primarily on herring and anchovies. The average size is between 8lb to 12lb but we've had a few fish in the mid teens to the boat recently. On the upper end, there are reports of the occasional fish in the upper teens approaching 20lbs. We will see the average size continue to increase over the coming weeks with these fish growing quickly. Coho salmon have started to appear in local waters. There are reports of a few early Coho showing up in the Capilano River system which is great to hear. As May progresses, we'll see more of these fish arriving and holding in our local waters. By the time we get into mid June, we should see large numbers of Coho locally which makes for frantic action on the water! When the bite is on, these fish hit almost anything and are often jumping all over the water behind the boat before you can get to the rod. It's a great time. Guests can retain up to 2 hatchery marked Coho per license. Since April 1, the regulations have not permitted retention of Chinook salmon locally. While this restriction is in place, we are bringing Chinook on board to obtain a DNA sample and then safely releasing them back to the water. We continue to await the overdue announcement from DFO (Department of Fisheries & Oceans) that would allow retention of hatchery marked Chinook salmon. Many of the fish we are currently releasing are hatchery clipped fish that have been raised and released from hatcheries specifically for retention. So we continue to wait anxiously for what, by all accounts, should be a fairly common sense announcement from the Minister of Fisheries & Oceans. At FishOnAdventures.com, we've been a long time member of the DFO Avid Angler initiative to collect DNA samples from Chinook salmon for analysis. The intent of this program is to provide scientific data to support informed management decisions for west coast salmon. It should be noted that many other guides we work with on a daily basis also participate in this initiative. Guests joining us on the water can see and participate in this program first hand. Once on board, a small DNA sample is taken from the tail of the fish along with a measurement and a notation as to whether the fish is hatchery marked (clipped adipose fin). Following a quick photo, the fish is safely released back into the water. Collected samples are then submitted to DFO scientists for analysis. It's important to note that without these volunteer efforts from the recreational sport fishery, DFO would have no means of obtaining the critical DNA samples required to understand the migratory movements of Chinook salmon after they leave local river systems as juveniles.
On a separate note, we are pleased to announce that we've had our first dose of the Pfizer shots at FishOnAdventures.com! As soon as we're able to get our final dose, we'll be off to get the jab right away. As always, safety is a priority. And we'll continue to do our part to ensure a safe experience for guests on the water. Now is a great time to book your charter. The fishing is great and the weather has improved significantly making for some amazing days on the water! |
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