CH Report: Reeling in the Season - June 12, 2024

Hello again from the Clubhouse here at Langara Island! We are up and running, full steam ahead. Here we go with the first report of the season. Most of the staff were in place by May 21, setting the stage for opening day on May 30. I am happy to report we had zero turnover in the guide department and the crew is excited to get going with what they love to do: fish, fish, and fish.

The early season this year is somewhat different than last season. The weather has been wet and the fish are somewhat smaller in size than last year. Most of the chinook angled are 9 to 15 lbs, with most guests grabbing a few fish in the mid-high teens, and a few low twenties hitting the dock daily. The top fish, pictured below, is guide Paul with an early season monster 40 lb chinook caught and released out at COHOE POINT. This fish was grabbed on a large Clendon Stewart spoon, brass and chrome. Paul was calling for cameras, external shots, and flagging Austin over so we knew he had something nice in his revival tub. Nice pic, guys!

That fish is by far the highlight in the area, I have not heard of anything close size-wise.

We did get a tip of an offshore fishery from Shawn down at the OUTPOST where fishing has been hotter early season. Shawn relayed his guides are working way out and deep, 150 on the riggers. Shawn's favorite fishery, lol. So we finally had a day of weather to get out ten miles from the dock on the WEST SIDE. Fishing was fast and furious with all the boats grabbing many chinook in short order, a one-rod fishery. Brent returned in a small weather window on June 10 and grabbed a 24 and a 20 in short order, but the wind started screaming and back in they returned.

I got out there one day with the Lewis group and we had heaps of bites before the wind hit. Pictured below is a typical early season offshore chinook.

I am not going to tell you it’s all gangbusters just yet. Offshore is on fire, yes, but inside there are some lulls, with periodic stable fishing here and there. Old Lucy even napped a few hours on my boat before a bite window opened up, she was out cold!

That said, everyone is catching chinook, and patience and some time on the water is paying off. Pictured below is Ryan with our trip's top fish on boat 4.

COHOE POINT is where we are spending most of the time on the east side, our other spots are not happening just yet. There is a ton of bait in by the fallen tree, and a few humpbacks working in the bay daily putting on a show. Early season trolling in there produced a few nice halibut for me, pictured below is a 37 lber.

DJ had to outdo me on his first tack down the wall, grabbing this oversized 138 cm halibut! Looks like his boat has new power, twin 225 Merc Sea Pros…hold on to your hats!

Today’s fishing was decent at Cohoe, with the low slack tide producing. Brent snuck a 21 lber in, myself a 20, and returning guest star Todd M had a great afternoon shift with two around the 21 lb mark. We found them in tight at the fallen tree, 45 feet off the riggers with the salty dog dummy flasher setup. Shhhh, top secret combo. The southwest wind hit gale force and sheets of freezing rain beat the heck out of us for sure in the morning, it was a very cold shift, lol. At one point, BRENT suggested placing hot breakfast sandwiches in our gumboots, not the worst idea. I brought out a hot water bottle in the afternoon, this might just catch on. Worked above and beyond expectations. A bit goofy, I realize, but this is a winner!

Ok, time to say goodnight. I have a wet dog to put to bed, and I see a very nice day forecasted for tomorrow, so sleep is of most importance. It stopped raining! The wind has died. Game on here at the CLUBHOUSE!

See you all soon,

Mike "Screamer" Tonnesen
Head Guide, The Clubhouse