About Cottam Reef

Cottam Reef is a rocky pinnacle in DFO subarea 14-2 off Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, rising through an outer, exposed water column that runs from the surface down to about 95 feet. The rock structure holds a strong groundfish community, including Lingcod, Pacific Ocean Perch, Silvergray Rockfish, Canary Rockfish, and Copper Rockfish. Lingcod peak from January through March, when jigging metal jigs, swimbaits, and leadhead jigs over the pinnacle produces well, with bait fishing whole herring, squid, or live greenling as a supporting approach. Chinook Salmon move through from July to September and respond to trolling anchovy, herring, trolling spoons, and hootchies, while Coho Salmon run June through October and take hootchies, trolling spoons, bait strips behind a flasher, and small plugs. Working the edges and rising contours of the reef keeps gear near the structure where these fish concentrate.