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Halibut · Open

Cottam Reef

49.32°N · 124.19°W

Species
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Best score for the day · 10 AM
90/100
GOOD

Now 25 · 10 PM PDT

BEST WINDOW
7 AM-8 PM
Tide ebbing
14-Day Forecast
Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times PDT

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Conditions
Time
10 PM
Now
Score
25
Tough
Tide
11.3 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
7 kn
ESE · steady
Sea state
Flat
0.1 m chop
Air temp
15°
Mild
Weather
Partly cloudy
38% cloud
Hour 10 PM. Score 25 Tough. Tide 11.3ft Falling ▼. Current -1.5kn Ebb. Wind 7kn ESE G11. Sea 0.1 m chop Flat. Air 14.5°.
Why this score
Current
0.2 kn light
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Halibut
Retention open
Daily limit
2 per day
Possession
2 in possession
Size
Maximum 112 cm
Gear
angling, spear fishing while diving
Annual quota
10 per year
Other
Annual limit 10 (Apr 1 2026 – Mar 31 2027). Max size 112 cm head-on (85 cm pectoral/head-off). Possession limit equals daily limit (not twice). Must record retained halibut on licence.
Other species here
Copper Rockfish ClosedLingcod Retention openSilvergray Rockfish ClosedChinook Salmon Retention openOcean Perch ClosedCoho Salmon Retention openCanary Rockfish Closed
Always check with DFO ↗

Source: DFO/MPO · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Halibut is best at this spot

Shoulder seasonShoulder season for Halibut
~1 more week in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season
SPOT PROFILE
DEPTH
2-96 ft
Rock
LAUNCH
Not mapped
PEAK
Shoulder
STRUCTURE
Pinnacle
Outer Exposed

Cottam Reef is an exposed rocky pinnacle off Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, rising through depths from the surface down to about 95 feet. The structure holds Pacific Halibut, which peak from March through August, and Lingcod, strongest from January through March, alongside resident Pacific Ocean Perch, Silvergray, Canary, and Copper Rockfish. Chinook Salmon move through from July to September and Coho from June to October, both taken by trolling anchovy, herring, spoons, or hootchies along the reef's edges. Anglers work the pinnacle for halibut with drift fishing over the rock using whole herring, salmon bellies, or large jigs, dropping down as the current allows. Lingcod respond to jigging with metal jigs and swimbaits tight to the structure, where the rock and outer exposure concentrate fish across the depth range.

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Cottam Reef is one of the spots we track around Qualicum Beach. See every scored spot in British Columbia.

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