want to try some beach fishing

[drunker]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and was reading some of the posts. Saw that phearless was talking about beach fishing. would that be fly fishing or gear fishing. i have not seen anyone fishing on the beach in vancouver. but i guess i have been working lots and don't have the time for it. But salmon season is starting for me and would like to know what, if any, differences in river than in the salt.

Phearless, you said that you fly fishing on the beach for bottom feeders as well like rockcod, lings, cabezon, etc, how do you get it far and deep enough to catch those species. sorry for being a noob, i fish regularly on a boat but have to use gear to get into the strike zone. But i have always wanted to do it with a fly rod. i started fly fishing last year and it was a blast, and honestly, my gear stuff has not touched river since.

If you guys could recommend a place around vancouver/richmond area to try fly fishing on the salt, i wouln't mind trying it. Thank you all in advance.

Drunker

[phearless]

Hey Drunker.
There are beaches all over that you can fish.
The mouth of any creek is a good bet.
Try west van beaches.
Crescent beach area can produce.
As for the cabezon etc. small ones are available on the same gravelly beaches.
that you fish for pinks or cutties or coho.
Small flounder pile perch etc. can be found as well.
The thing about beach fishing is it takes a while to get on to each beach. They all fish different.Some like high tide some like low or somewhere in between.
And yes all the beach fishing I talk about on this forum is fly fishing.
Full floating lines are a great place to start. Clear lines, full sink and sink tip are great as well.
If you can get a boat and find some kelp you can have fun with a myriad of species. Kelp Greenling, Ling Cod, Black Bombers etc.

Let us know how you make out.

[drunker]

oh, ok, i will give it a try then. i did see some really nice kelp beds along galiano island but i just didn't think i could catch anything with the fly rod so i don't bother bring it out. but i guess i could give it a try. And for the beach thing, i could go to the mouth of the cap and try it there but most people there are gear fishing. but i will try it this weekend around the islands and stuff. is that where all the cabezons are located. my friend had said that pound for pound, the cabezon is a much better fight than a lingcod. i have not yet caught one but would want to give it a try. thanks dude.

Drunker

[robin]

There are an extensive number of closures for this fishery. Check it out at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish.../default_e.htm

[drunker]

Thanks robin, i had always wanted something like this where all the maps where in one screen. i always check before i go out and i would click back and forth and so on. i was hoping to have 1 map that could have all the RCAs in one place so i can refer to something like that than 10 single pages. thank you.

Drunker

[flyfishforfun]

If you are going for bottom fish, christmas tree flies work well (as advised by Darren from Reaction). If you are fishing shallow areas with kelp or eelgrass, try and get flies that don't snag easily, as it can get annoying after a while. Weed guards are a real advantage. Or, if you tie your own flies, try reversing the wing so it is on the underside of the fly on flies like hakai thorns. This will somewhat protect the point from snagging and the buoyancy of the hair will promote the fly to ride hook up.

I have found that low tide is best for fish other than salmonids when beach fishing. I think (no science to back this up) that as the tide moves up the beach, they spread out over the whole area. Some will stay further out, and some will come right up with te water line. When its low, they are more concentrated within one zone, just out from the water mark and therefore easier to catch.

Good luck! Maybe see you out there!