Finally getting back out to Barkley this weekend, first time in 2 months.

Anyone been out lately?

BT

First time going to Bamfield, but only have an 18' Trophy. We want to hit some coho mid Sept. are we chancing it with a smaller vessel? She always has been a good seaworthy boat, but not quite sure what mid Sept will bring weatherwise to this area. Any suggestions? Should we hold off until next summer? Any feedback appriciated. Tight lines gents.

Mid sept should have very calm seas.I have an Malibu 182 . we fished offshore the last couple of days. Tuesday was not comfortable by most peoples standards. If your not comfortable with going offshore then fish inside .There should be lots of coho to catch. Having said that ,by pushing your boundarys is how you learn. just use common sense and your built in survivor instincts . I can recall fishing China creek area for coho in late sept and limited out very fast.

You should be very comfortable in Barkley Sound and the Canal in your Trophy. You will get out there and see lots of smaller boats. The Trophies are like bleach bottles. They just bob around on top. Pick you day and if the swells in the sound aren't too big, venture outside. It seems to me (from my limited experience) that getting outside is easier through Imperial Eagle than out past Beal. For some reason the first 2 miles past the green can is the roughest.

Good luck and enjoy. Watch the fog. That can be unsettling.

also watch the tides, big ebb in alberni will stack the sea up for a distance off Beale. You also get a reflection ( of bounce back ) from ground swell , after a blow, hitting island and the rebounding back. You will notice it noticeably when 2 miles out how the swell can drop down.
tide against wind, I would use the a wider channel instaed of sneaking by cape beal

The reason it gets rough is that green buoy east Edward Kind Island, actually marks Seapool Rocks. Trevor Channel comes up to about 85/90 feet in that area. Creates your own little ‘bar crossing’ right at Cape Beale. It can get down right rough from that green buoy for that two miles until you get back in the 300 feet of water on the outside of it… And, especially coming “in” during the afternoons – you can often ride those swells and sometimes breakers depending on tides, currents, and winds.

Going out - Cape Beale in the morning, “usually” isn’t a problem. Coming in - close to Cape Beale, in the afternoon can often get very interesting, on “any” given day. It will usually settle back down in the evenings.

Unless you like surfing swells (sometimes breakers), Imperial Eagle is much easier and nicer for smaller boats. If you look on your chart you will see Folger Island, Folger Passage (300 feet of water), and Miller Reef. When it is blowing in the afternoons, just stay in Folger Passage (300 feet of water). On most days, you can usually come in anywhere east of Miller Reef without too much problem.

Thanks Guys. Done lots of chinook fishing over the years, but never specifically targeted Coho. Any pointers? Patterns& gear? Don't mean to get off the thread topic so anything Bamfield specific?