Fishing Canadian Waters for Halibut ?

[robodad]

I plan on giving this a shot this year and just curious if any of you have any friendly advice or even tactics or locations to try ??

 I'll be using the Port Angeles area launches primarily.

I just don't want to run into any expensive lessons if I can avoid it, The season begins next month from what I read and I know there are restrictions for size and annual limits.

Anyone know where I can get a tape measure that measures in centimeters lol !! 

[Cap.Silver]

 I might have one for you  it has both cm & inch.
From what I know : no guns aboard
now this is very important : read the Safety requirements for vessels in Canada -here is link ( you should have some extra stuff in case you get checked I think )
and last not least :Wear mexican sombrero while fishing 

[h20hunter]

My understanding is that you MUST know where the boundry line is if you are only targeting US waters and like mentioned before....know the differences in regs because they will intentionally target US vessels in their waters.

[Cap.Silver]

Sorry forgot the link          http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/debs-obs-equipment-size-menu-690.htm

[snowpack]

know laws for what kind of guns are on board (if any).

[Mfowl]

  I could be mistaken but I thought BC changed thier rules on fishing in thier waters. I was under the belief that you must return to a Canadian port after having fished Canadian waters. Years ago we used to go on a halibit charter out of Neah Bay to the Canadian side of Swiftsure. We would spend a day crossing the border prior to our charter to get our licences then spend a long weekend at Neah Bay fishing, used to be a blast. Perhaps they changed that rule back to increase nonresident licencse sales but I haven't heard anything about it. Worth looking in to before planning any fishing trips.   

[robodad]

  I could be mistaken but I thought BC changed thier rules on fishing in thier waters. I was under the belief that you must return to a Canadian port after having fished Canadian waters. Years ago we used to go on a halibit charter out of Neah Bay to the Canadian side of Swiftsure. We would spend a day crossing the border prior to our charter to get our licences then spend a long weekend at Neah Bay fishing, used to be a blast. Perhaps they changed that rule back to increase nonresident licencse sales but I haven't heard anything about it. Worth looking in to before planning any fishing trips.   

It is set up now where you can purchase a license online and report any catch on the web as well so no need to land in a port and deal with customs as far as I know but thanks for the heads up, I will definitely look into this !!

know laws for what kind of guns are on board (if any).

No guns on board !!

I believe all the safety equipment and regulations need to conform to US rules as long as I am not in Canadian waters longer then 45 consecutive days. All my equipment is up to date and in good working order and I have all required equipment on board (I know this because I was checked twice by the WDFW and Sheriff and once by USCG during the salmon derby Presidents' day weekend) 

Wear mexican sombrero while fishing

Does it have to have 15 meters of floating heaving line attached to be legal ?? Maybe I'll email her Majesty just to be sure !! 

[Hunterman]

Best advice I can give is to call WDFG. There have been some rule changes regarding this. I think that I read one time that you have to go by the rules for the Port that you are landing in. So if you launch and land in Port Angeles, to fish Canada, and Washington water are not open at the time, even though you have a Canada license, you could get into some trouble.

I'd give the state a call just to be on the safe side.

Hunterman(Tony)

[robodad]

Best advice I can give is to call WDFG. There have been some rule changes regarding this. I think that I read one time that you have to go by the rules for the Port that you are landing in. So if you launch and land in Port Angeles, to fish Canada, and Washington water are not open at the time, even though you have a Canada license, you could get into some trouble.

I'd give the state a call just to be on the safe side.

Hunterman(Tony)

I think the rule reads that if I catch fish on a Canadian license and the season is closed in US waters I cannot stop to fish in US waters, in fact if I have a Canadian caught limit of fish on board I cannot stop to fish US waters for a limit of the same species and I'm not so sure I could stop to fish any species for that matter !!

Something I will definitely look up, thanks for the heads up !!

[sneakyjake]

I have been fishing Canadian swiftsure for years out of Neah Bay.  In following the rules for both sides we never fish the US side when returning.  We don't goto a Canadian port, we return to Neah Bay.  Customs is done over the phone.  If you want to retain halibut, you must have a paper license.  As of this year, we all have Nexus cards and have our boat registered with customs with every persons name and card number on file.  If any rule changes have occurred, I am not aware of them yet.  The Nexus card is new and is a big deal.

[Crunchy]

Could you dock your boat, put your Canadian caught fish in a cooler in your truck, and then go out and fish U.S waters?

[sneakyjake]

You could, but you might be breaking possesion limit laws.  Besides, when you get back from swiftsure you won't have time to fish.  It is a very long day and you have a lot of fish to clean.  Kings, lings, and halibut.  You  have to leave time for cocktail hour don't you?

[lokidog]

Tagging

[robodad]

I have been fishing Canadian swiftsure for years out of Neah Bay.  In following the rules for both sides we never fish the US side when returning.  We don't goto a Canadian port, we return to Neah Bay.  Customs is done over the phone.  If you want to retain halibut, you must have a paper license.  As of this year, we all have Nexus cards and have our boat registered with customs with every persons name and card number on file.  If any rule changes have occurred, I am not aware of them yet.  The Nexus card is new and is a big deal.

Wonder if you could give me a clue on fishing the US side of Swiftsure, I know most folks that go there are fishing the canadian side just curious if the US side is worth making that trip for ??

[huntnphool]

Last time I fished there they were quite upset that I had a "fish club" on the boat, apparently it was illegal to club our fish.

[lokidog]

Last time I fished there they were quite upset that I had a "fish club" on the boat, apparently it was illegal to club our fish.

Who was upset?  Canadians? 

On our side of the water, as far as I know, it is only illegal to use a gaff on a species of fish that has a size limit, no size limit, gaff away... and after deciding to keep a fish, I whack the poo out of it to help keep swinging hooks out of my fingers.

[RB]

I have charter fished for several years out of Neah Bay and have always bought a paper license even when it was not required. It is now required to by a paper license which you can only get in Canada. Since you are in PA take the Coho across for the afternoon and get one. We always went to Blaine crossed at the truck crossing and hit the Campbell River store about 1 mile from the border.

We will no longer be doing this after last year. The fishing is down no Ling cod and you have to call the Canadian government to let them know you will be in their waters, at least that is what the charter boat has to do. The Canadian draggers have decimated a lot of the good Halibut fishing areas in the last five years. 

[huntnphool]

Last time I fished there they were quite upset that I had a "fish club" on the boat, apparently it was illegal to club our fish.

Who was upset?  Canadians? 

Yes

[lokidog]

Last time I fished there they were quite upset that I had a "fish club" on the boat, apparently it was illegal to club our fish.

Who was upset?  Canadians? 

Yes

So you are supposed to let a 60+ pound fish beat the crap out of everyone and your boat?  Canadian (BC) Fisheries are just as stupid as WDFW often is I see....   

[Rick]

It is now required to by a paper license which you can only get in Canada.

A paper license isn't required everywhere.

There are numerous places you can fish Canadian waters for halibut with an online license.

[robodad]

Well yesterday was a great day to be fishin the weather was sweet, flat calm and the tide was not runnin hard, managed to get over the border and catch a halibut and get the season started started off right !!

Only pic I have

 

[cohoho]

That is the best picture!       

Good eating chickens are always the perfect dinners!

[RB]

Awesome! 

[robodad]

Figure I may as well add the other Halibut I catch in Canada to this thread !!

Caught this one on Sunday around 25#



Caught a tiny one (10#) on Monday the 25th but released it hoping for a bigger one to no avail  No pics.

Got this one on Friday 30# 



Went back out on Saturday and only one dogfish all day long daylight till 5:30pm 

[robodad]

Done early today, started round 7:30am done by 9:00 

 

[h20hunter]

NICE. What did that one weigh?

[robodad]

NICE. What did that one weigh?

Round 25# just right for the BBQ !!

[h20hunter]

Perfect eating sized fish. Nicely done.

[cohoho]

You suck..........      See why did I take this job when I did....  I could be eating Halibut sandwiches for lunch, dinner and breakfast...  Auuuuugh......  Great job Allen...  Make sure those spots are plotted for the weekender - aka ME!!!!

[robodad]

You suck..........      See why did I take this job when I did....  I could be eating Halibut sandwiches for lunch, dinner and breakfast...  Auuuuugh......  Great job Allen...  Make sure those spots are plotted for the weekender - aka ME!!!!

Wish I was going again tomorrow but looks like the wind is set to pick up besides the kids are on spring break so I have to be home with them, I'd take em but they have friends over also so I don't want a  bot load of kids out there with me !!  Maybe next week if the wind and tides are in reasonable condition !! 

[cohoho]

Yea, this weekend doesn't look good for the coast activities, stinks as I had the two days already planned out....  Up for Springers Sat?

[robodad]

Yea, this weekend doesn't look good for the coast activities, stinks as I had the two days already planned out....  Up for Springers Sat?

I will keep that in mind, I may have to go hang out with the family at LaPush for the bus driver gathering but if that gets shot down then I'm all over springer fishin, never done that before !! 

[robodad]

How does this look for a boat name !!

[sneakyjake]

Just got this email,  It concerns the beginning of the post.

Hello,

Thank you for your email.  I believe you are speaking of a Non-Resident Recreational Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licence.  The area you are speaking of only a Canadian resident may fish for or retain halibut under an electronic licence in management areas 23, 121 and 123 as described in Schedule II of the Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations.  If you are a non-resident and wish to fish for halibut in management areas 23, 121 and 123 you must purchase a paper license from a vendor in Canada.  Refunds will not be issued so please ensure your licence selections is correct before you complete your transaction.