05_2025_REELLIFE_digital - Flipbook - Page 37
To Adrian’s surprise,
however, we instead got to
see a pilot whale leisurely
swimming along, its large
tail fully revealed as it
sunned itself.
Adrian has fished these
waters for a lifetime and
knows the best offshore
reefs and underwater
humps to fish, not to
mention the migratory
habits of the Chinook
salmon as they flood into
this region every year.
The passage leading away
from Zeballos, Esperanza
Inlet, is breathtaking in
its scenery. First explored
by the Spanish in 1774
and then by Captain
James Cook in 1778, it is
the traditional territory of
the Nuu-chah-nulth First
Nation, who inhabited
these lands for thousands
of years. The inlet was
formed by glaciers during
the last ice age, and now
attracts anglers, kayakers,
divers, and hikers to the
wilderness area. Wildlife
is everywhere to be seen,
including otters, sea lions,
bears, cougars, and bald
eagles. As we departed
the inlet for open waters,
we scanned the horizon
for killer whales (Orcas),
migrating gray whales,
seals, and porpoises.
Once on the open ocean,
we tolerated the swells
and moderate chop until a
short time later, we reached
our anchoring locations.
Even though it’s about a
thirty-mile run to this spot,
because most of it is in
sheltered waters, it’s an
easy trip. Adrian quickly
set us up on anchor in
two hundred feet of water.
The plan was to start with
halibut, and then after
getting our limits, troll for
salmon. I believe the term
is “easy limits”, and that’s
just what we experienced.
Within minutes of lowering
our bait we caught fish. In
the next hour, we pulled
up our limits of halibut
ranging from 15 to 60
pounds, perfect eating size!
Bigger fish can and will be
caught. Adrian reported
just the previous week’s
customers having caught
one hundred-poundplus-sized halibut. They,
however, must go back, as
there is a slot limit on these
tasty fish. Personally, I was
perfectly happy getting
my “big” and not having to
haul up a hundred pounds
of muscular fish only to
let it back down. Maybe
another time fish… Adrian
pulled the anchor and set
up gear for trolling Chinook.
In Canada ,the preferred
gear is a single-action
“knuckle buster” reel with
a ten-foot rod. “These are
traditional rod setups in
Canada, you won’t find too
many anglers using level
winds for salmon”, Adrian
explained. Over the course
of the next three days, I
grew to love this setup
– the sporting nature of
catching a salmon is greatly
enhanced with this gear.
With no gear advantage
,you must be fast on the
retrieve when the fish runs
at the boat, and be always
ready to remove your
hands when they run (or
you will have your knuckles
“busted”).
Just like the halibut, we
managed to catch our daily
limits without too much
difficulty. The hot gear
was a large flasher with
either a 5” spoon or a whole
anchovy fished “off the
deck”. The bite that deep is
kind of subdued, but once
off and running, these kings
put up great fights, running
at the boat, taking out line,
but ultimately joining our
halibut for dinner. The big
king of the trip fell to Rob,
25 pounds of delicious
springer.
