Poll: Where Would You Settle Down IF You Were Retired And Just Wanted To Maximize Fishing Opportunities????

[Sharphooks]

Hey Guys—-I’ve spent the last few weeks going through Canadian real estate sites looking for a place in BC to move to. The intention is to spend at least 6 months of the year there, possibly becoming a full time resident at a later date

I’ve been looking in Ucluelet and Bamfield etc and recently, started focusing on the Sunshine Coast (Sechelt etc) . I’ve also considered Terrace and Prince Rupert to try and tie in my steelhead habit but I’d prefer staying on the salt chuck

If you guys had full flexibility to make a move anywhere you wanted (kids all grown up and out of the house, parents already passed away….house paid off with minimal financial obligations etc etc) where would you guys chose to go live and why?

My ultimate dream would be to get a house on the water with a dock ——I’ve already seen some of the pricing for the higher end ones and that wouldn’t be in the cards but I’ve also seen some that seem reasonably priced for what you’d get. I’m way more interested in the land and the layout on the water then how fancy the kitchen might be.

I’d be interested to hear about some areas I might not have looked at yet.

 

[kingblazer84]

Campbell River or bamfield or secret cove imo lol

 

[Flashman]

Oceanside Retreat! Lot 1 Robertson Island - Haida Gwaii | LandQuest® Realty

Oceanside Retreat! Lot 1 Robertson Island - Haida Gwaii listed for sale at $849,000 in Haida Gwaii.

www.landquest.com

 

[wildmanyeah]

Real-estate South Island is pretty much lower mainland pricing now.

Really good pluses about Campbell River imo but still pricy but not remote and has healthcare.

Winter harbour seems like a good option. There was some places there that looked real nice.

Port Hardy may scratch your itch as you can still go up north from there like you do.

 

[doug78]

Finding a dock will narrow down your options. Northern sunshine coast might work, Pender Harbor, Halfmoon bay, secret cove. Docks in Sechelt would be on the inlet side.

I'm guessing your expecting to be trailering your boat less and less so that is a consideration. Personally id be after something between Parksville and Campbell river (Comox has direct flights to Alberta). Having access to all four corners of the island would be big for me as id like to fish all the major inlets at some point in my life.

Farther north will give longer fishing seasons, Openings for chinook in prime areas are as late as sept 1 in Vancouver, as you go north it gets earlier and earlier. Less and less bottom fish opportunities as you head south. Well bottom fish opening south of sechelt on the east side...

 

[John Ingram]

Patagonia Or Chile. Huge Salmon that were originally west coast fish and I’m sure
A lot less regulations

 

[kaelc]

I love ukee and Bamfield but the weather can be tough. I'd say Comox, Cowichan, Brentwood Bay, North Saanich. There was a condo with a dock in Campbell River that looked cheap not to long ago. I like the idea of the sunshine coast but two ferries is one to many for me, but you’ll have a boat so to hell with bc ferries

 

[Sharphooks]

Oceanside Retreat! Lot 1 Robertson Island - Haida Gwaii | LandQuest® Realty

Oceanside Retreat! Lot 1 Robertson Island - Haida Gwaii listed for sale at $849,000 in Haida Gwaii.

www.landquest.com

Thanks for the suggestions, Gents. Very helpful! Meanwhile, I just saw this same Haida Gwaii listing last night in my search….I’m heading there next month and might go take a look …. Maybe a bit more house then I’d want and the isolation would be intense but I might go take a look just to see Robertson Island.

Haida Gwaii would def cover both my salmon and steelhead habit but I’d rather sub-contract out the Hecate Strait boat exposure thing to BC ferries….I’ve sat numerous times on the East side of Hecate looking out across to the other side and truth is, I get queasy thinking of making the run there and back alone … I know some guys on this site do that run regularly but not I (said the cat who’s burned through 8 1/2 of its lives already)

Then there’s this place….if I win the lottery I’d be all over it…I get light-headed just thinking just how amazing it would be to spend a winter out there watching the storms come in!!!

 

[pescador]

Your question is pretty broad in nature. There’s lots of rural places where dirt is cheap and fishing is good like Gold River where you can satisfy your Steelhead addiction and you’re minutes from Nootka Sound. No waterfront there though unless you live in the Sound which is pretty isolated. Victoria is expensive, but cheap compared to Washington. I’d look in the Victoria area. Sooke/Sidney are great for fishing and close to amenities. Keep your eye on Esquimalt and View Royal both of which are underrated and have waterfront and docks.

 

[pescador]

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28679760/442-grafton-st-esquimalt-saxe-point?view=imagelist

2 minutes to Esquimalt boat launch.

 

[pescador]

Fixer upper

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28437424/304-bessborough-ave-view-royal-view-royal

 

[pescador]

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28259110/303-plaskett-pl-esquimalt-saxe-point

The dream location

 

[Alex_c]

Salt Spring has a hospital, access from 3 ferries, and property is slightly more affordable than Victoria or Saanich

 

[Gong Show]

You will need health care as you age.
Without that, you are not fishing much.

 

[Aquaholic]

I posted a similar question a couple of years ago about where on Vancouver Island would one move If good fishing was the number one priority. I excluded some of the West Coast areas because they’re just too remote for me and the weather is always on the cool side. I’ll see if I can dig up the link as there might be some suggestions from others in that thread.

 

[Aquaholic]

Thread 'Your preferred place to live on Van Isle for sport fishing?'

Aug 21, 2020

I was born and raised on Vancouver Island so I know it well, on the mainland for a long time now. I am considering my next move, most likely back to the island.

The boundaries are between Sooke and Campbell River. (sorry Port Alberni, although I was born there) Nothing either side of these two points, please.

The boat is to be determined but will be trailerable. (8'6" wide max)

The town should have all required amenities, not too small unless its right by a larger town. (Saltair by Ladysmith as an example, but best sport fishing still applies)

If you were to move back to the island or...

• Aquaholic
• Replies: 67
• Forum: Saltwater Fishing Forum

• 

 

[Sharphooks]

That older thread is really helpful, Aqua—wow, CR gets a lot of votes…

In the meantime, those are stunning spots in Esquimalt and View Royal, pescador, but people sure are proud of their docks…I wonder if those listings will languish on the market or get snapped up? Down here, there’s def a real estate slow-down starting to happen — due to both high interest rates and a gargoyle of an administration nuking the business climate, especially for small businesses like mine

I spent all summer fishing gunnel to gunnel with 150 of my best homies….I’d forgotten how much I hate being in a fleet like that…. That’s part of the reason I’m trying to get further north where there’s a bit more elbow room but u recognize it’s a shorter season up there… I like the idea of CR because you don’t have to burn too much gas to find some peace and quiet but Im guessing the dock thing is tough to find

 

[the force]

Your question is pretty broad in nature. There’s lots of rural places where dirt is cheap and fishing is good like Gold River where you can satisfy your Steelhead addiction and you’re minutes from Nootka Sound. No waterfront there though unless you live in the Sound which is pretty isolated. Victoria is expensive, but cheap compared to Washington. I’d look in the Victoria area. Sooke/Sidney are great for fishing and close to amenities. Keep your eye on Esquimalt and View Royal both of which are underrated and have waterfront and docks.

Is Victoria cheap compared to WA or more specifically Seattle? I’m 20 years away but have thought briefly about the San Juan’s… thinking it was cheaper south of the line.

 

[ab1752]

Francis Peninsula or even outter Pender Harbor with my own boat shed right out front. Yahoo

 

[kaelc]

Is Victoria cheap compared to WA or more specifically Seattle? I’m 20 years away but have thought briefly about the San Juan’s… thinking it was cheaper south of the line.

Seattle is more expensive, then Victoria, probably more vancouver prices. https://www.zillow.com/seattle-wa/h...mxzZKU_goC1lUaAg8kEALw_wcB&searchQueryState={"pagination"%3A%7B%7D%2C"mapBounds"%3A%7B"west"%3A-122.465159%2C"east"%3A-122.224433%2C"south"%3A47.491912%2C"north"%3A47.734145%7D%2C"regionSelection"%3A%5B%7B"regionId"%3A16037%2C"regionType"%3A6%7D%5D%2C"filterState"%3A%7B"sort"%3A%7B"value"%3A"globalrelevanceex"%7D%2C"tow"%3A%7B"value"%3Afalse%7D%2C"mf"%3A%7B"value"%3Afalse%7D%2C"con"%3A%7B"value"%3Afalse%7D%2C"land"%3A%7B"value"%3Afalse%7D%2C"apa"%3A%7B"value"%3Afalse%7D%2C"apco"%3A%7B"value"%3Afalse%7D%2C"manu"%3A%7B"value"%3Afalse%7D%2C"wat"%3A%7B"value"%3Atrue%7D%2C"att"%3A%7B"value"%3A"Dock"%7D%2C"beds"%3A%7B"min"%3A3%7D%2C"baths"%3A%7B"min"%3A2%7D%7D%2C"usersSearchTerm"%3A"Seattle%20WA"%7D

Fixer upper

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28437424/304-bessborough-ave-view-royal-view-royal

I think they must be dreaming, Canadian real estate peaked a long time ago. So much more for sale on the island right now.

Thanks for the suggestions, Gents. Very helpful! Meanwhile, I just saw this same Haida Gwaii listing last night in my search….I’m heading there next month and might go take a look …. Maybe a bit more house then I’d want and the isolation would be intense but I might go take a look just to see Robertson Island.

Haida Gwaii would def cover both my salmon and steelhead habit but I’d rather sub-contract out the Hecate Strait boat exposure thing to BC ferries….I’ve sat numerous times on the East side of Hecate looking out across to the other side and truth is, I get queasy thinking of making the run there and back alone … I know some guys on this site do that run regularly but not I (said the cat who’s burned through 8 1/2 of its lives already)

Then there’s this place….if I win the lottery I’d be all over it…I get light-headed just thinking just how amazing it would be to spend a winter out there watching the storms come in!!!

Great video. I remember it being shared here and it looks like it has been Listed for a year already, I wonder if they have had any offers.