Canadian Princess Day 1

[Ron]

Canadian Princess Day 1

Im not really not sure what section to put this report in or if indeed you require it on your forum at all as it isn't UK relevant.Please feel free to move to a more relevant section or delete as you see fit.No offence will be taken.


Having been in Canada for 2 weeks I finally managed to get booked on some fishing Charters.I found a company called http://www.canadianprincess.com/ They are a world wide company with resorts that are geared around angling and anglers.In Canada alone they offer 7 or 8 different destinations, owning there own boats and aircraft to get you wherever you want to go and back again….along with any fish you may want to keep. That appealed to me. Having never caught a Salmon or Halibut, I certainly wanted to keep a few if I was lucky enough to get any, for eating!
My trip was arranged. I decided on going to Ucluelet on Vancouver Island as here I could try my luck at catching Salmon from the sea along with a chance of a Halibut and a few other species I have never caught. I could of chosen a destination such as the Campbell River where it basically Salmon fishing but fancied the Sea fishing more.
Now, don’t be under the impression that Vancouver Island is some small Island in the middle of nowhere, it isn’t. It lies off the West Coast of British Columbia and is bigger that the UK! At approx 700 miles long, you wouldn’t want to walk it! Infact British Columbia, just a small part of Canada, could fit ALL the European countries inside her province but she has less than a 10th of the population of Europe! This is a massive country with such diverse weather you couldn’t make up if you tried.
I was to fly from Vancouver Airport to Vancouver Islands Tofino airport on 4th August,a flying time of 45minutes and the time couldn’t come quick enough. My trip included 3 nights accommodation, flights, the fishing tackle (Really nice 12-20lb class rods, Shimano Multiplyer level wind reels) and 3x 7hr fishing trips for Salmon and Halibut total cost was around £350.Accomadation would be aboard and old survey vessel (Canadian Princess) which has been transformed into anglers accommodation. Any food would need to purchased as this was not included in the trip.
I arrived at the airport at 13.00 to check in to find that http://www.obmg.com/ the company that owns the Canadian Princess, have there own check in desks so it is really quick and painless to get you on your way. The check in procedure also includes selling and setting you up with your fishing licences and catch return cards. A lot of the fish here are limited to how many you can keep and have in your possession. Halibut for instance you can keep one a day or have 2 in your possession.2 Spring (Chinook Salmon) can be kept a day. There other types of Salmon that can be kept too. Sockeye, pink and Coho come to mind. The price of a 3 day licence for a non Canadian resident is around $22, about £15 for 3 days. Canadian residents can purchase a ‘Yearly’ licence for not a lot more. All checked in and ready to go,we were led to our plane.



The flight, being only 45 minutes, was over before it had begun. They serve a drink and a snack whilst on the plane. On arriving at Tofino you are greeted by a rep and a coach is waiting for you to take you to the resort, a drive of around 25minutes.





Accomodation is basic with shared bathrooms,showers and toilets.There is a washbasin with Hot and cold water in each cabin. You sleep in a bunk but you each have your own Cabin unless you want to share with friends. They have cabins with ‘Double berths’ for couples.






After checking in and getting rid of my bags,I thought I take a look at the angling boats.I was pleasantly surprised at the craft.Big,sturdy built Canadian boats.Some of 52ft and some of 42ft.All have twin diesels.Most seem to have CAT engines.



They all moor alongside the ‘Princess’ so you just need to walk down the stairs and you are on your boat. Boarding starts at 05.45am for a 6am sailing. Boat allocation is done on a day to day basis.The smaller boats take 14 anglers and the bigger boats 22…..I thought this was going to be a problem but it really isn’t. There are very few tangles with others. The boats are Island wheelhouse style. Each angler has is own fishing station and rod holder and there is a good space between each angler. All fishing is done on the drift with lures.Depths range from 40ft inshore to over 200ft on the offshore banks. The lures are only 4oz in weight but there is little tide here and the lures go down pretty easy if there isn’t a lot of wind pushing the boat along. You need to keep in contact with the bottom if you want a Halibut.The Salmon can be at all depths BUT you need to really need to work the jig to get them. It is hard work but as you will see in the next report it is fantastic fishing and worth while.

Canadian Princess Day 2


Having a reasonable nights sleep, I was up raring to go fishing at 04:15am. A quick shower and breakfast saw me on the pontoon at 05:30am. Today I allocated a space on the ‘Chinook Princess’. Skippered by Nick with deckhands Jesse & Kevin. The ‘Chinnok’ is one of the larger boats carrying a crew of 22. Today however there were quite a lot of ‘No shows’ so we had acres of room. Nick said we would be running out to the ‘Big Bank’ I estimated this to be around 15 miles offshore and with a running time of 1hr 50minutes I was concerned we would have very little fishing time. With the boats due back on the pontoons at 1pm this, along with the return journey left us with approx 3hrs 20 mins fishing time.
There was nothing to worry about, Nick knew exactly what he was doing. From the first drop it was ‘fish on’.






Salmon after Salmon came to net! Each fish was carefully checked. Wild Chinooks are returned immediately. ’Hatchery’ fish are kept. This is easy to work out. The hatchery fish have a fin clipped so can easily be identified. The reason for this is so the wild Salmon are left to breed the next generation. Lets not forget here too 99% of these fish are going to be dead by the end of October. That is what they do, run from the sea to the rivers at 4yrs old, spawn and die. It is the way it is and nothing we do can stop that process. Amazing to believe when you look at how fit they are but that is what happens. Its called Nature. A few may stay at see longer, that’s how the lunkers get to be 40,50 60lb or more but that is not normal, they are Natures freaks. With the boat quickly it’s Salmon limit, I already had at least 10,so plenty for others after I took my 2 fish limit that weren’t catching due to never fishing before I changed tactics. Having never caught a Halibut before I badly wanted one. I wasn’t to be disappointed.
Not a huge fish but at around 20lb I wasn’t complaining!



We were soon our way back. Around 70 Salmon,3 Halibut and a few Lingcod made for a fantastic mornings fishing.





Jesse and Kevin got on with Cleaning and packing the catch away. These guys worked there butts off all day.Netting, sorting out tangles, measuring and checking fish and limits etc. Nick,the Skipper made sure we were always on the fish and getting the drift right….Top man Nick well done fella!
All anglers are given a number when embarking on the boats.This used to keep a tally of who is keeping what and each anglers fish are individually marked with this number. This is also used when sorting and packing the catch.
On the way in,Nick asked if any of us wanted to join him and the crew afor an ‘Inshore’ afternoon trip.This would involve fishing on the reefs for all sorts of things…Why not I thought, got to be done.


Canadian Princess Day 2 Inshore Trip

Having got back on the Pontoon for around 1pm it was time for a spot of lunch and back on the boat for 2.30pm.
This was to be a 4hr trip.Total running time was around 1hr 30min so 2 ½ hrs fishing. If the morning fishing was hectic, this was manic! All types of fish to be caught. Vermillion (Red Snapper) Cavernets, Ling Cod, Black Bass and lots of other varieties that I haven’t a clue what they were. They are all classed as ‘Rock Fish’ and all so am I am told, great eating. Again the crew worked there socks off, mostly getting the less experienced anglers out of the snags. Tackle losses were horrendous for some. Remember we were fishing over rocks and pinnacles with Kelp beds mixed in for good measure. I only lost one lure in 2 inshore trips. You needed to keep the gear moving, stop and you lost the lot.The cost of an inshore trip is extra to your trip.The afternoon trips were $92 (£56) per head for 4 hrs. Expensive? Compared to UK prices yes, but considering you were catching fish continually then probably not. You have to look at it that you are catching fish you would never catch at home so the experience in my mind is worth every penny. Lets not also forget you just ‘Fish’ any gear lost isn’t charged and all the fish are cleaned, filleted,packed away and stored on ice for you. The next time you see them is at the airport all boxed up for you and just needed to be put in the car, taken home and put in the freezer.
On the afternoon trips each person is given a string with a number. You hang your fish on your own string. Again at the end of the day fish each fish is counted against a bag limit although this is advised to you as you go along by the crew. There is Zero chance of going over your bag limit although you are welcome to give any fish you have no use of to someone else on the boat who hasn’t got there limit. I gave some extra Halibut and quite a few Salmon away to others on the trip. Everyone then gets some fish to take home even if it wasn’t your day catching them!

[scottish_and_mental]

lucky bugger

[pingu]

wow thats some session
and a good report as well

dave
have moved into the international / canadian section