Bucket list items

[Fishhound]

I have a 30lb+ chinook on my bucket list, as well as a Sturgeon, I have a 18ft Hewescraft Searunner, so a boat is no problem, although not having boated on salt water before and the price of a ferry ride on and off the island, it certainly would be cheaper and safer to hire someone to take me out.

Any info would be appreciated

 

[spring fever]

I have a 30lb+ chinook on my bucket list, as well as a Sturgeon, I have a 18ft Hewescraft Searunner, so a boat is no problem, although not having boated on salt water before and the price of a ferry ride on and off the island, it certainly would be cheaper and safer to hire someone to take me out.

Any info would be appreciated

If the desire is for a 30ib + salmon and you have never been on Salt before-cheapest way is to hire a guide and be specific about what you are after.Probably want a trip to the Island Late july early aug-won't get into a spitting contest about where to go but there are a few and I'm sure others will chime in.

 

[JAC]

I used to own a searunner and I caught lots of salmom and sturgeon out of it. I actual landed my largest salmom ever in my searunner. I would get a buddy or 2 and bring your own boat lots to learn but that's have the fun planning and preping for the trip.

 

[Fish Assassin]

Many fishermen have never caught a 30+ pound chinook, many have never caught a halibut, tuna or a sturgeon. My advise to you is get out there and get more hours hours on the water. Hiring a guide and chasing reports won't necessarily find you your dream fish and complete your bucket list but it may empty your pockets.

 

[tubber]

I recommend Ucluelet to many, but I have never caught a 30lb there in 60 or so days. Lots in the 18-28 range. Skunks are very rare, so I keep going back. Guides will put you on fish for sure, you'll be in a bigger boat, and they would certainly know how to target big fish better than an average Joe, but the cost of trailering, ferries, launching and moorage will still be less if you plan on fishing more than one day.

 

[Island Fish Lifter]

Many fishermen have never caught a 30+ pound chinook, many have never caught a halibut, tuna or a sturgeon. My advise to you is get out there and get more hours hours on the water. Hiring a guide and chasing reports won't necessarily find you your dream fish and complete your bucket list but it may empty your pockets.[/

agreed.

 

[Bobby]

I would agree with spring fever , possibly a guided trip would be the way to go especially if you have no saltwater
experience. And Jac has a great point too take some buddy's pick a location that is practical do your home work
and plan a trip. The advantage of a guided trip I would think is you will probably catch some fish , and gain experience of not only fishing in saltwater but also all the other variables that go with it. Tides ,winds, and all the mother nature things that can come into play. As a kid growing up our back yard was literally the ocean and was taught from an early age to respect it. I as well had the big fish thing on my bucket list , I had caught lots of fish in the twenty something but not that 30 . 4 yrs ago my buddy and I decided to go for it . He has a 19ft harbour craft
we added a a few needed things GPS and a VHF and headed to gold river to fish Nootka Sound . I did all the planning and my buddy prepared the boat . That's how I found this site , there is some really good people on here that are more than happy to share their experience and knowledge. spring fever was one of many people on here that was instrumental in our first west coast experience. This is our 4 th year going and what started off as 2 guys and 1 boat is now 6 guys in 2 boats this year . We stay in Port Mcneill and we have access to both sides of the island to fish. What started off as a bucket list thing is now a yearly event and the fishing is the bonus , It's all about being out on the water with good friends and enjoying the beauty out there . And like I said the fish are a bonus now.

 

[Clint r]

Never caught a sturgeon but did manage a 32lb spring out of the South Thompson river 6 or 7 years ago. Never anything that big out of the Ocean though. Yet. Landing a shark that out weighs me is the top item on my bucket list.

 

[Tailwalker]

If you are short on time to fill that bucket list, then you should hire a guide or at least go to a place where there are still 30lb+ Chinook genetic stock. For over ten years, I went to Rivers Inlet in mid July to early August and was fortunate enough to have landed several 30lb+ Chinook, largest being a 54 lb'er. If you are a do it youself'er, look into Black Gold Lodge. You bring the food and cook your own meals, they supply the boat, gear & bait and instructions. Rivers Inlet is one of few places where the genetic stock for big Chinook are still intact. The cost of Black Gold Lodge is not as much as the other lodges there, at about $2500/person for 5 days (good portion of the expense is for the air fare). I'm fishing Nootka Sound now because it is less expensive for me and I have my own boat. Ferry is $400 round trip, lodging varies, gas is expensive but my party of 3 can fish for $2300 total vs the $7500 I would've spent at Rivers Inlet. The Conuma kings are the ones you would be targeting if you decide to fish Nootka/Esperanza Inlet. Good luck.

 

[J-GLOBAL]

Don't have to go far!
I've fished the WCVI most summers for the last while, and have come back to Vancouver to land some pretty big fish on this side.
My son has fished a lot off of Tofino/Ucluelet for the last few summers and his biggest is 29.

Last season ended with a 38 lb fish off the Cap. Have caught Tyee there and Howe Sound.

Put the time in and learn locally and you should be able to knock that 30 lber off the bucket list in a year or 5.

 

[huntinnut]

Fishhound,



I live in Creston and have pulled my 19foot hewescraft to the Island 3 times now in the last 5 years, and were going again this July. If you can get a couple buddies or family to go and split the costs, the trip isn't expensive at all. It costs us approximatley $2300-2500 total for 8-9 days fishing staying at a campground, so basically $100/day/person. I find it really rewarding to do it myself. I don't post on here alot but in the last 3 years i've pretty much read everything I can from this site about fishing the island and we have had decent success using the 5 or 6 standard setups that are always mentioned again and again on this site for salmon. Our goal is just to have a great time, catch a large variety of fish, and cook some great meals. We havn't specifically targeted large springs, though we do get up early and fish hard. We have generally fished the standard locations within 10-12 miles of Port Hardy, though we have gone farther on really calm days for Hali. Our largest spring so far has been 28.5lb. Having a smaller/lighter boat has limited where we can go at times. Good judgement regarding weather conditions and limitations of a smaller boat is more important than chasing rumors of big fish or trying to go where the guides are fishing, and potentially making a bad choice regarding weather/saftey. We let the weather dictate our plans for the day.

If you expect a 30+lb fish on the first trip, one might be dissapointed. Managing expectations while trying to achieve a goal can definately make for a more enjoyable trip, and eventually you'll get a chance at a big fish. If you want more info about Hardy i'd be happy to help.

 

[sly_karma]

This year's bucket list item is to take my 19.5 Lund up to Princess Louisa Inlet. Planning is well in hand for a July trip, mainly involves LOTS of gas on board.

 

[leaseman]

Sturgeon are easy, especially this year...... pink run.

Later this month is good for dinos, well into April....then Aug/Sept/Oct will be awesome!!