About Cottam Point

Cottam Point is a rock drop-off in DFO subarea 14-1 off Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, where the bottom falls away through an outer, exposed stretch of water ranging from 260 to 660 feet deep. The structure holds Chinook Salmon at their peak from July through September and Coho Salmon across a longer run from June into October, with Lingcod concentrating over the rock from January through March. Anglers work the salmon by trolling anchovy, herring, spoons, or hootchies along the drop-off, while mooching cut-plug herring or jigging metal jigs covers the deeper edges. Lingcod respond to metal jigs, swimbaits, and leadhead jigs worked down along the rock, with whole herring, squid, or live greenling as a supporting approach. The same drop-off also brings in Copper and Canary Rockfish, Pacific Cod, and Sablefish holding at depth.