It is all well and good to talk about the great migration of Pacific herring into local waters on their annual spawning run, but it can be a little disconcerting when you can't find them.
The latest figures I have heard on the size of the run is it is estimated to be about 125,000 tons, give or take a few thousand. In terms of individual fish it would equate to something in excess of 12 to 15 billions.
My level of frustration is easily relieved, but this is certainly not the case of the men and women who make a major portion of their yearly income from the runs of these small fish – the people who catch them with gillnets, seines and the people who process the fish after they are caught. In the absence of herring I found much to watch in the brant migration and sea birds in general.
Last Thursday I set the day aside to check out the beaches between Royston and Qualicum Bay for spawning herring. It was one of those windy, stormy days with constant bursts of rain which have been so much a pattern of our weather these past few weeks. If you are new to the Valley or an old-time resident I suggest a good cure for this stormy weather and fishless days is to spend a day working along our coastline from here to Qualicum or beyond. Weather will not be factor as far as wind and rain are concerned because most of the time you will probably spend in the car driving from one vantage point to another looking for signs of a roe herring spawning run.
I would suggest you keep dogs on a lease or better still leave them home because dogs disturbing feeding brant and sea birds are not welcome. Good rain gear, knee boots, warm clothing, camera, and binoculars should be your primary equipment. A nice hot thermos of tea or coffee adds much comfort while scanning the beaches for signs of activity.
My information on the fishery is sketchy, but from what I have heard most of the fishing will be with gillnets, starting in the Qualicum Beach area and south to Nanaimo, to harvest the larger fish. I suggest here will be a direct correlation on markets from Japan, for the herring roe, which is an expensive delicacy that will be negatively impacted from the tragedy of the earthquake and accompanying tsunami.
Depending where you live I suggest you begin your day at either Goose Spit in Comox or the Marine Drive waterfront in Royston. If you find an active spawning area there will be thousands of feeding gulls, eagles and quite possibly an active fishery in process. It is an exciting wildlife feast and feeding orgy where the great Stellar sea lions, California sea lions and harbour seals all compete for their share of the bounty. When you mix the birds trying to get their share and the all animals gorging on the sex-driven millions of herring bent on pro-creating their species, it is a memorable wildlife spectacle.
My second beach point was along the Union Bay waterfront. From here I moved south to the Buckley Bay waterfront where the wharf is located. I pulled up and spent quite awhile watching about 50 Stellar sea lions hauled out on the log rafts in the bay. They looked fat and content, but outside of much barking and grunting they gave no indication of a recent herring spawn. I wonder how these guys get off without complaints under a noise bylaw from their constant barking, roaring and grunting.
My next stop was the Deep Bay waterfront which was devoid of birds and seals. From here I moved to the Bowser waterfront and then on to the mouth of Nile Creek where I saw my first evidence of a spawn – namely a large flock of content gulls resting on the beach. But still no herring.
My final stop was the wildlife viewing platform at Qualicum Bay where I found foraging gulls, oyster catchers, and eagles, but no herring. I retraced my route home, but still no spawning herring.
If you are new to the Valley part of your initiation as a West Coaster should be taking time to worship at the shrine of Pacific herring spawn – it is a wonder of nature.
Ralph Shaw is a master fly fisherman who was awarded the Order of Canada in 1984 for his conservation efforts. In 20 years of writing a column in the Comox Valley Record it has won several awards.