Fresh Maffeo Sutton Park Fishing Reports

Latest Fishing Photos

Fresh Fishing Reports from Maffeo Sutton Park

May is the Month for Lingcod
May is the Month for Lingcod
May 1, 2025
May is the Month for Lingcod They may be scary looking, but they sure are tasty. In fact, if I had to choose between halibut or lingcod, Iโ€™d pick lingcod any day of the week. Problem is, I have always found them to be a little tricky to catch. So, when I do fish for them, I check tides and tide tables religiously. Once fishing, I work ledges and drop-offs keeping my bait as close to the bottom as possible. The preferred method by many is jigging for lingcod. I like trolling for them using 4 to 8 oz swimbaits. Itโ€™s a lot of work and you must be on your toes since you are constantly bringing gear up and/or dropping it back down. But it can be a very effective way of hooking these โ€œbucket headsโ€ as they are sometimes called. On opening day this year, my group of two and I were greeted by a beautiful sunny morning. Knowing I just missed the tide change on an ebb tide, I choose to fish the northwest side of Gabriola. Trolling two of my favorite 4 oz swimbaits, I watched my depth as I began to work an edge. Once alongside of Gabriola Island near the old Cannery, we finally started having some action. Unfortunately, our customers where Quillback, Cooper Rock Fish, and a very nice Yellow Eye and an undersized Lingcod. We still hadnโ€™t found our prize fish. With about an hour left in the trip, I was bringing up the gear as the depth changed from 160 to 90 feet when I noticed a slight bounce on the portside rod. I grabbed the rod yanking the line off the clip. I quickly handed the rod over to my guest and asked, โ€œfeel any better this time?โ€ โ€œOh yesโ€ was the reply. Five minutes later, we had our first nice lingcod aboard. Oh yeah! If you enjoy eating white meat from the ocean, Lingcod is the way to go. And, with salmon closed until the beginning of June, it is all weโ€™ll be fishing for. As I tell my guests, May is the month for Lingcod.
Continue reading

What anglers said about fishing in Maffeo Sutton Park

We were catching salmon but not the ones we could keep. Check the best times to fish for types of fish you would like to keep. For catch and release fisherman, you are in for treat.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
We were catching salmon but not the ones we could keep. Check the best times to fish for types of fish you would like to keep. For catch and release fisherman, you are in for treat.
Reel Time Fishing Charters & Marine Tours
Reel Time Fishing Charters & Marine Tours
The winter fishing is slower but less crowded and the scenery is amazing with snow capped mountains on the Island and Mainland and whales frolicking in the bay if you are lucky. Dress warmly with layers
Excellent
5.0 / 5
The winter fishing is slower but less crowded and the scenery is amazing with snow capped mountains on the Island and Mainland and whales frolicking in the bay if you are lucky. Dress warmly with layers
Getter Done Charters Nanaimo winter season
Getter Done Charters Nanaimo winter season
Fantastic guide, what an awesome experience. My sons had a great time and we caught a ton of fish! Definitely wasnโ€™t expecting to reel in 18 salmon that morning!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Fantastic guide, what an awesome experience. My sons had a great time and we caught a ton of fish! Definitely wasnโ€™t expecting to reel in 18 salmon that morning!
Getter Done Charters Nanaimo winter season
Getter Done Charters Nanaimo winter season
Make sure to wear a hat or sunglasses, it is quite bright. Because we did a morning trip we wore pants and a sweater, it was definitely a good thing. Dressing in layers / bringing clothes for weather changes is recommended. Make sure you have some snacks just in case, you can get hungry spending time in the outdoors. Water is also a must. Have fun! Regardless of how many bites you get or how many legal fish you pull in, just enjoy the day, it's a great experience.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Make sure to wear a hat or sunglasses, it is quite bright. Because we did a morning trip we wore pants and a sweater, it was definitely a good thing. Dressing in layers / bringing clothes for weather changes is recommended. Make sure you have some snacks just in case, you can get hungry spending time in the outdoors. Water is also a must. Have fun! Regardless of how many bites you get or how many legal fish you pull in, just enjoy the day, it's a great experience.
Lazydayz Charters & Adventures
Lazydayz Charters & Adventures
It was nice to wait until the Chinook were in season so we could take one home for dinner. The weather was great, but layers are a must. Go with a good captain, like Captain Turk.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
It was nice to wait until the Chinook were in season so we could take one home for dinner. The weather was great, but layers are a must. Go with a good captain, like Captain Turk.
Reel Time Fishing Charters & Marine Tours
Reel Time Fishing Charters & Marine Tours Dayton, OH
If you want to keep your limit, go after July 14. But there is a lot of good fun out there!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
If you want to keep your limit, go after July 14. But there is a lot of good fun out there!
Lazydayz Charters & Adventures
Lazydayz Charters & Adventures Toronto, ON
Definitely go in June, the fish are biting like crazy! Nice weather as well.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Definitely go in June, the fish are biting like crazy! Nice weather as well.
Unreel Fishing Charters
Unreel Fishing Charters Calgary, Alberta
In Colorado we don't have fish this big. My son and I caught 8-10 lb fish right at the start. Very fun.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
In Colorado we don't have fish this big. My son and I caught 8-10 lb fish right at the start. Very fun.
Salmon City Charters
Salmon City Charters Denver, CO