Anglers fishing from small boats for Kob have also been quite active in
Die Poort, Gaatjie and Melk Bay areas.
If the good weather conditions continue, Kob and bank fishing should be
productive this weekend.
I have included a complete report in this week's column which I
received from Professor Hennie Heyns about his fishing trip and holiday
in Canada, which I believe readers will find both interesting and
informative.
Professor Heyns is an avid fisherman and regular reader of this column
and he thought readers would enjoy reading about his experiences in
Canada.
He recently returned from his annual fishing trip and visit to his
daughter in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada and also visited
the Queen Charlotte Islands south of Alaska as well as Alaska itself,
where he did quite a bit of fishing.
According to Professor Heyns, what was almost as exciting as the time
spent fishing was the seemingly endless options one has when it comes
to choosing one's British Columbia fishing destination.
Thousands of lakes
With thousands of kilometres of coastline and more than 25 000 lakes
and literally thousands of kilometres of rivers and streams as well as
the ocean, the angler is really spoilt for choice as far as fishing
spots are concerned.
No matter where one goes in the province, one is surrounded by
spectacular natural beauty that makes British Columbia (BC) a
world-class vacation destination.
It is easy to understand why sport fishing, which offers unparalleled
experiences to anglers from far and wide, is a way of life there.
For freshwater anglers, BC offers a wide variety of fish throughout the
province, from right in town to the furthest and most remote areas.
For salt water anglers the waters of BC and specifically those of
Prince Rupert, Queen Charlotte Islands and Alaska is a place where
eagles, bears, whales and fish outnumber people and where fishing is
both a job and a recreation.
Professor Heyns said imagine yourself aboard a fully equipped charter
boat on the Pacific Ocean, especially in one of these areas, feeling
the salt spray and sea wind as you wait for the first strike on your
line. Imagine before your first cast, admiring the breathtaking vistas
along the Cheena River or a glasslike mountain lake deep in the
haunting wilderness with not a soul in sight.
Fishing experience
This is the fishing experience awaiting you in Prince Rupert, Queen
Charlotte Islands and Alaska.
The waters around these areas are rich in nutrients that support an
abundant resident fish population.
The waters of these regions are a primary rearing area and is located
along a Salmon migratory route south from their northern feeding
grounds and is an excellent starting point for a salt water fishing
adventure.
The local waters support abundant populations of all five Salmon
species, Halibut, Ling Cod, rock fish as well as crabs and prawns.
The powerful Sheena River and its tributaries alongside Prince Rupert
and the regions has an international reputation for outstanding fishing
opportunities and is a beautiful and very popular destination for
visiting anglers.
Professor Heyns reported that he had a brilliant fishing holiday with
fine catches of Salmon and Halibut as well as crab.
Concerning the general conditions for fishing for Salmon and Halibut
the recreational fisherman, native fishermen and commercial fishermen
all had a bumper season.
He said that the Coho Salmon was not as big as on previous occasions,
but the Spring Salmon were larger and more abundant than previous
years.
Unusual
He added that it was a bit unusual to catch them this time of the
season as they were usually caught at the start of the season (from
June to July).
The crabbing season was however, once again excellent and crabs were
abundant, so much so that Professor Heyns was able to eat crabs every
day and apart from the crabs he caught himself, he was also supplied by
other recreational anglers, friends and professional fishermen who were
patients of his son-in-law - who is a medical doctor in the area.
