Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Campbell River or Ucluelet - Vancouver Island Salmon/Halibut guide recommendations?

Gents,

I know this is a "hunting" forum, but yall are my best source of CA intel. I have a fishing question.

My family will be on Vancouver Island in July.

I'd very much like to do some salmon and/or halibut fishing either in Campbell River or Ucluelet. We're camping at both locations for about 3 days each.

There are TONS of fishing charter boats there. If you can offer up wisdom on who you recommend (or moreover who you wouldnt), I'd much appreciate it.

I'm looking to do an ~8 hr trip or two for me and my 10 year old (a very, very avid fisherman). Not looking to break the bank, but really do want to have a successful trip.

Thanks in advance,

Shane

I think that if you want to include halibut you are much better off on the west coast (i.e. Ucluelet). No idea on who is good, but if you post a question on http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/forum.php
you will get some answers to your question(s).

Check the BC regs on bottom fishing on the east side of the island vs the west. They had put some restrictions on Rock and Ling a few yrs back, on the east side. As far as which side is better, that is a bit up for grabs. Ucluelet is quieter, Tofino is 1/2hr drive north and is has more of the charters, Long Beach is between them.
Oak Bay Marina has 4 hr jigging trips with 20 or so on board of 50ft'rs out of Ucluelet, also have 19ft'rs for charter out of Campbell River.
Tofino has all kinds of small charters, some of them run out of Ucluelet into Barkley sound, some run north. The area is very heavy with tourists in Jul/Aug, book accomodations ahead.

Morning Billy Goat,

FME the fishing is a lot better off the west coast. Ucluelet has a number of people running day trips, Oak Bay for one. I've done those a few times in the past, we usually caught fish.

If you really wanted to knock it out of the park Winter Harbour due west of Port Hardy is a great place to fish for Salmon, Halibut, Lings and cod.

Billy Goat,

I took my family to Campbell River for the first time last August and we fished for Coho and Sockeye with Gary at Coastal Island Fishing Adventures. The boat was good and he seemed to have a reputation for always getting fish. I went with my family of 5 and we all caught fish (pictures of the trip in the thread here: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...9169024/Family_fishing_trip.#Post9169024) Only comment with Gary was that he was hesitant to move somewhere else when the fishing was slow, even though his partner was doing well not far away. I eventually told him that I wanted to move, we did, and we started catching more. Saw some orcas, seals, and family had fun. He does do halibut, crab, and prawns as well, but it is in a different direction apparently. Ucluelet would likely be better for halibut.

PM me if you have any specific questions. We are heading back to the Island this July as well.

SS