Other than going through a couple of tide rips, our passage to Joe Cove was smooth and calm. We entered the Broughtons via Arrow Passage at Fog Islands and set our prawn trap in about 200 feet in Sedgley Cove along with three or four others near a fish farm. We then went through Spiller Passage to the entrance of Joe Cove. On our way we stopped at a little island and the second cast produced a nice little rockfish for crab bait. We set the crab trap in about 60 feet near the entrance to the cove
Once in the cove we found eight other boats but we still had a prime spot to anchor for the night. The next morning we went out to Phillips Passage at Crib Island and fished back through Spiller Passage. Our efforts produced only a rockfish for crab bait and a small dogfish (small sand shark). We motored through Arrow Passage to Retreat Passage and fished around the islands in between, without success.We motored back into Arrow Passage to check our prawn trap. It was empty. We moved it up to the next cove in about 240 feet, then fished a little on our way back through Spiller Passage to the crab trap, also empty with the bait nearly gone. It was, other than a beautiful sunny day on spectacular water, a disappointment.
When we went back into Joe Cove, there were only three boats left and the boats that were moored at the abandon float were gone. We took advantage of the opportunity and moored to the float.
The next morning we drug the skiff up onto the float, washed her up and painted the inside.
That afternoon we motored out, hauled the prawn trap, and found a dozen small prawns, enough for an appetizer.
We fished our way back to the crab trap, and, success! We had six large Dungeness crabs.
Once back on the float we sorted and cleaned our catch and kept the three largest for the pot. The largest was over 8 inches. We gorged ourselves on the very sweet feast and still had enough left over for two lunches.
The next day, Sunday, after the fog cleared, we were headed to Sointula on Malcolm Island. However, by the time we got into Cormorant Channel, the wind had built to about 25 knots or more and we opted to fall off to a better angle to the wind and waves for the harbor at Port McNeill. The closer we got to the harbor the worse it got. More wind and up to three knots of foul current. Even though Teal handles this sort of seas very well, it was nice getting into the harbor and tied down in a slip. It was particularly nice to dry out and have a crab sandwich lunch right out of our own fridge.
We are at Port McNeill for the next day or two. Ferry trip to Sointula Monday morning, laundry in the afternoon, last minute provisioning, internet – wireless at the laundramat, and then on to Port Hardy for a day, then on to the north coast.
George And JoAnne
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© 2006 George Benson. Reproduction of any of the material on this log without written permission from George Benson is prohibited.
