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After seeing that the strait and the sound only gets an 8 day halibut season this year in Washington, decided to get some annual Canadian licenses to give us more opportunities. This fishery was relatively new to us. We had fished Washington in past years for halibut but never in B.C. before. After reading some reports and looking at some charts we decided to hit up Coyote Bank. Got kind of later start (8:00 launch from Cornet Bay) and had lines in the water by 9:40. First couple hours or so went slow with no hits, bites, nibbles, or anything. Then out of nowhere, WHAM!!! A fish absolutely smashed our bait and started peeling off line. After a fairly short but fun fight got the fish to the surface and speared him. A nice 36'', 22 pound halibut. Nothing huge but I'll take it! The next few hours or so went by slowly also, then again a fish slammed our bait just as we were starting to pack up gear. I could immediately tell it was a better fish than the first fish. After carefully playing him, we got him to the boat and speared 'em. Measured it, looked on the size chart and it was nice 50 pounder! It was the biggest halibut that had ever been in our boat. Packed up and headed back home after that. I was pretty happy with bagging 2 pretty nice, quality fish on our first trip out there in B.C. waters. We were anchored in 107 FOW. Fish caught on glow and glow/white hoochies with salmon bellies as bait. Pro-cure's herring scent was what got both fish.

Mike Carey

4/8/2016 12:27:00 PM

Thanks for the report. How much does the annual cost, and what kind of season does Canada have? Heading over there in June.

JoshH

4/8/2016 2:01:00 PM

I can smell the beer batter and malt vinegar from here! Nice catch!

fishing magician

4/8/2016 3:13:00 PM

Thanks everyone! Mike, the annual license is $112 with the salmon stamp. The salmon stamp is basically like a catch record card in Washington. Without the salmon stamp it is $106. And those prices are all in Canadian so it becomes cheaper with the exchange rate. The season originally opened on Feb. 1 to march 31 and then the season was extended "until further notice" as they put it. They generally close it in September or October. The maximum size is 133 cm and the possession limit is 2, and only one of which can be over 83cm. The other (or both) have to be under 83. check out http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/species-especes/halibut-fletan-eng.html for all the details on the halibut seasons and regulations.

Mike Carey

4/9/2016 6:31:00 AM

thanks!

KING KONG COHO

4/9/2016 6:28:00 PM

Totally like your idea about getting more opportunity! Nice fish BTW! 8 days here and WDFW might slam the door shut at any moment is way too much for me too! Love to fish and Canada is on my radar with the nice exchange rate at the moment! Two trips already booked for Alaska one in mid June and late August but looking into a trip on VI in early August! Hate to say it got to go where the fish are as don't like to rag but WA state at the moment is doing no one any favors...

Johnnie the K

4/9/2016 9:34:00 PM

Quick question: It seems like it's a shorter run from Sequim to Coyote Bank. Why run all the way from Cornet Bay, or are my mileage "guesstimates" off the mark?

John

fishing magician

4/10/2016 10:02:00 AM

Very well put KING KONG COHO. Johnnie the K... your measurements are correct. it is a much shorter run from Sequim to Coyote, but where I am located (Skagit Valley) I would have to drive hours and cross the ferry to get there. So in the end, by launching at Cornet, that is our fastest (but not necessarily the shortest) way to get there.

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