Charter Information - Everything You Need To Know And More

The Fishing

Our success depends on providing you with fun and fish, pure and simple.

This coming summer we will once again venture up to this renowned area to enjoy the great Chinook (king) salmon and halibut fishing during the peak season. We will be offering fully guided fishing packages from July 15th to September 1st. Our many years of experience in Nootka Sound have proved time and time again that this is the absolute best time to fish this great west coast location.

Why is Nootka Sound such a great place to visit for your west coast salmon/halibut fishing trip?

• Best salmon and bottom fishing on Vancouver Island
• Calm inlet waters with no swells and no seasickness
• Summer like warm temperatures and no pesky bugs
• Abundant sea life and wildlife (hundreds of bald eagles)
• Convenient location and close to major airports
• Half the cost of more northern fishing destinations
• All trips are scheduled for the absolute peak of the season in Nootka Sound.

Nootka Sound offers three distinct fishing adventures which can all be experienced during your stay.

There is the “inside fishery” which targets the large mature summer Chinook (kings) which are returning to local rivers and the Conuma Hatchery located within the sound.  The Conuma Hatchery has been one of the best producing Chinook hatcheries in B.C. and is largely responsible for the consistent huge abundance of returning salmon to the area each year.  Inside the sound the waters are completely protected from the outer ocean waves and swells.  Here you can fish all day long and think your on some small B.C. lake.   If you suffer from motion sickness or your balance on a boat is not what it once was, this is the place for you!   Fishing takes place close to shore and close to the lodge.   The inlets are narrow and deep and there are many places where the water is more than 250 feet deep, a mere 100 feet from shore.   There are many hot spots to fish on the inside and it is important to have a good network of guides working together with you.  We are constantly communicating with the other lodge boats fishing near us, comparing notes and moving when a hot tip suggests better fishing is somewhere else.  

The “outer beach” fishery also targets large summer Chinook and coho (silver) salmon as well.  After running down the either Tlupana or Tashis inlets the open pacific is reached and fishing takes place along the outer shore of Nootka Island.   The outer beach hot spots are staging and feeding areas for salmon about to enter Nootka Sound and also fish migrating farther south along Vancouver Island.   The majority of the action takes place in shallow waters just outside the breaking shore waves.   Often fish are holding in less than 30 feet of water on the edge of the kelp beds.  Salmon found here are often aggressive and the bites are intense, frequent and long lasting.  Here is where you will often enjoy playing your fish while watching many others battling their fish at the same time.  Along the outer beaches is where you are most likely to see the many family groups of sea otters rafted up and floating on the surface.  Many of the rocks are haul out and sun basking areas for large groups of Stellar and California sea lions.  Grey whales can often be seen close to shore in shallow waters, foraging for food filtered from the seabed.  Transient killer whales hunting for sea mammals are also seen on occasion.   On your trip from the lodge out to the outer beaches it is common to see many black bears foraging on the beaches at low tide in Tashis Inlet.  Tashis Inlet has the highest density of black bear on Vancouver Island.  The “outer beach” fishery is an open ocean fishery with little protection from the swells that frequently make there way ashore from deeper waters.   Anyone not sure about their tolerance level to this motion should come prepared with the appropriate med’s to counteract any potential nausea. 

The “offshore fishery” is just that, offshore.  For those on the more adventurous side the offshore waters offer not only great salmon fishing but also some of the best bottom fishing on the west coast. Halibut, lingcod and red snapper are found on the bottom in large numbers.  Lucky anglers will find halibut over 200 pounds here annually.  There is also a “chicken ranch” for those who prefer the 15 to 20 pound tender ones.  Not far from the bottom fishing holes is a stretch of water called the “highway”.  This offshore location is a contour line that big Chinook seem to follow every year as they migrate to the south.   These fish are a long ways from their native spawning rivers so they are still aggressive feeders, super strong and the best eating salmon you can catch.  During a three day trip to Nootka Sound we will go offshore once, on a day when the sea and weather forecasts are most favorable.   We prefer the best possible conditions when offshore as bottom fishing is done by drifting and “jerking” the gear along the bottom.   You work the rod while standing in the rear deck.  This is much easier to do when the seas are calmer.  As with the “outer beach” fishery you should prepare by bringing and taking any motion sickness med’s if you are susceptible to getting seasick.

After the days fishing (about 4pm) we return to the lodge where your catch can be weighed and photographed.  The other lodge boats also return from fishing at the same time so it is quite fun to see everyone pumped up as their catches hit the dock.  Often this becomes the cocktail hour.  We then clean your catch properly and give you the option keeping your catch chilled on ice or frozen.   Vacuum packing is also available on-site at a reasonable cost.   As are proper Styrofoam fish boxes and box liners for shipping.   After the fish are cared for there is enough time for everyone to relax, have a drink or two if they wish and enjoy some fishing stories.  Dinner is served at 6pm. 

Also, unlike some more northern B.C. and Alaska fishing destinations you can enjoy sunny and warm days on the water wearing shorts and t-shirts!  All this and the all inclusive fishing packages are also about half the price of more distant fly in only northern locations.

Nootka Sound’s remote location combined with the numerous fishy spots keeps the fishing pressure at each location to a minimum.  Even with the weekend crowd’s arrival the increase in boats is hardly noticeable on the water. On the best weather days we often venture outside the sound and explore the more distant offshore halibut grounds or run up the coast to Chinook salmon staging and feeding areas.

All inside and outside Chinook salmon fishing is done very close to shore. In fact often so close that a fly fisherman could cast a fly to shore. On the inside it is common to spot black bears on beaches as they turn over boulders exposed with the falling tides. On the outside you’ll encounter family groups of playful sea otters as they bask on the surface in the coastal swells close to shore. Bald eagles are seen everywhere.

All Nootka Sound fishing packages include full days of fishing (10 hours), accommodations meals and taxes. You’ll stay at “Chinootka Lodge”, a floating lodge anchored in a quiet location within Nootka Sound. The lodge is centrally located within the sound allowing for the shortest boat trips to most of the favored fishing holes. All meals during your stay at “Chinootka Lodge” are also included.

I’M SINGLE AND NEED A PARTNER - If you are on your own and want a fishing buddy to share the cost of a trip please give us a call and we’ll add you to our list of willing fishing partners.  You should be somewhat flexible with time and dates to have the best chance of finding a fishing partner.  Call us right away because chances of finding a partner are best with lots of notice.

Fishing Only - for those not requiring lodgings or prepared meals.
Prices by request for those who only want to hire the boat for full day guided fishing trips.

License Fees

(Prices include salmon conservation stamp)
Resident of Canada	Annual	$28.89
	5 Day	$23.54
	3 Day	$18.19
	1 Day	$12.04
	Senior	$18.19
	Juvenile (under 16 years)	$6.42
Non-Resident of Canada	Annual	$114.49
	5 Day	$40.59
	3 Day	$26.75
	1 Day	$13.91
	Juvenile (under 16 years)	$6.42

Limits

• 4 salmon per day each (of which only 2 may be chinook)
• 2 day possession limit (8 salmon of which 4 may be chinook)
• Halibut - to be announced

Shipping Your Catch

Any fish that you want to have processed we send to St. Jean's Cannery and Smokehouse located in Nanaimo. Almost every fishing resort on the coast uses St. Jean's for processing their customers' catch.

There is a drop off depot in Colwood where I take your catch and where it will be picked up and transported to the cannery that same week. We recommend that you have your catch canned and then shipped to your home by regular mail. Your fish (not exchanged fish) will normally arrive at your home in 3 to 4 weeks. Your canned salmon will not spoil and can be eaten, up to years later. Many customers give some of their canned catch away to friends during the holidays or serve it to their holiday visitors.

St. Jean's offers 3 canning recipes for you to choose from. Choose any proportion of either regular canned, hot smoked canned or Indian Candy canned. For those of you that have never tried smoked canned salmon before I do have samples on board for you to try before you commit to how you want your fish done.

I have forms on board which instruct St. Jean's on how you want your fish prepared, in what proportions and where the fish will be shipped. A credit card number and signature is required on the form and the final invoice amount including shipping will be billed to your credit card. Credit cards accepted are either Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Check out St. Jean's web site at www.stjeans.com.

St. Jean's also offers a complete selection of other smoked or canned seafood and food products that can be purchased.

If you are staying in a hotel that has a restaurant I always recommend taking enough fresh fish back to your hotel with you for a dinner. Every hotel will prepare your fresh catch if you are a guest with them. Add the freshly caught crabs from our traps and you'll enjoy a wonderful dinner that will be the envy of any seafood lover who happens to be in the restaurant.

We only recommend flying your fish home if:

• you are on the same flight with your fish (which increases the likelyhood you will see your fish on the other end),
• you will reach your home within 4 days of catching your fish (which means you don't have to freeze your catch and keep it frozen until it gets to your home)
• and you have purchased the proper coolers that the airlines will accept onboard the aircraft. The airlines will also only accept blue ice packs inside the coolers, no ice or dry ice is allowed.

Your catch must be shipped in such a manner that a fisheries officer can identify them by species, size and number. We carry brochures on board which outline and explain the proper methods for shipping your catch. You are also required to keep your fishing licences with you when transporting your catch. Your licence may be checked to verify that you caught these fish legally and that you are not in excess of your possession limits.

Fish will hold on ice without being frozen for a maximum of 4 days. You must keep the melted ice drained and add fresh ice as soon as needed. Fish transported over more than 4 days must be frozen and kept frozen. Any frozen fish that thaws must be consumed within 4 days, it cannot be re-frozen (unless the thawed fish is smoked, only then may you re-freeze it).

What To Bring

Bringing along heavy, foul weather gear is not required. The boat has an enclosed cabin which will keep you dry and warm. Bringing along a light Gortex jacket (or similar) with a hood is a good option. You can throw it on if you are playing a fish in the rain.

Soft soled shoes are a must, guys please leave the cowboy boots at home! Not only are they hard on the finish of the boat, they are slippery and dangerous in rougher water.

You can bring shorts along but please bring a pair of pants too. You will be a lot more comfortable in pants if fog and a cool ocean breeze appears.

Bring a camera, sunglasses and sunscreen. I have sunglasses and sunscreen on board if you forget. Food is up to the customer and what you bring along will depend on the time of day and length of time you plan to fish.

You should bring along a good sized sealable bucket if you plan to take home any crabs that our traps may catch for you. You can then take home the crabs alive and also have sea water to cook them in. Crab always have more flavor when they are cooked in sea water.

If you have proper fish coolers you should bring them with you. The larger the better, so long as they fit in your vehicle. The coolers will keep your catch fresh and keep your car from smelling like fish!

What is Included

All fishing charters include free; tackle, gear, bait, coffee and or tea, pop, fish cleaning and fish bags. Crab traps are also set and the days catch is yours to take with you.

There is a good pair of binoculars on board for you to use. There are proper non-spill coffee cups on board which you will be required to use. If you arrive with a coffee in hand you can transfer it to one of our cups.

There is also cutlery, a can opener, cork screw, cutting board, beverage cooler and a bottle opener on board.

A sample tin of smoked salmon is also free for those who are considering sending their catch to be processed at St. Jeans Cannery. You can sample this product during the fishing trip. Your catch will also be dropped off at the cannery depot free of charge.

What Is Extra

Proper styrofoam fish coolers with waxed box liners are available on site for those who are shipping their catch by air, on their return home. Coolers without the wax liners are also available for those who only want something to transport fish in, while they are in their vehicles.

We also sell blue ice packs to keep the fish cool during longer flights. Processing your catch at St. Jean's Cannery and Smokehouse and shipping your catch to your home. Processing fees can be found on St. Jean's web site at www.stjeans.com.

Taxidermy service is also available for your trophy fish.

We have a cell phone on board that you may use if needed. A small by the minute fee will be applied for the use of the cell phone.

While we do provide a beverage cooler on board, we don't provide free ice. Ice can be purchased by the bag from the marina prior to departing for fishing. Ice is sold for $2.00 per bag. (cubes or block) You are also responsible for any ice you may require to transport your fish while they are in your vehicle.

There are also various localy made fishing related products that we sell on board. They make a great gift or souvenir of your fishing trip!

Making A Reservation

Once you decide on dates that you would like to fish you can contact us by e-mail or by phone. We will confirm that those dates and times are available.

We will take your name, telephone number, e-mail address, the name of the hotel where you will be staying and can be reached upon arrival and a credit card number (Visa or MasterCard) to secure that reservation.

We will make arrangements to call you at your hotel the evening before your charter. Final instructions and directions will be given to you at that time. A set of directions to the marina and the boat will be faxed over to the hotel front desk for those who require it.

Deposits and cancellation policies are explained on the price page found back at the main menu.

Nootka Sound Fishing Charters
836 Rockheights Ave., Victoria  BC CANADA   V9A 6J4
Phone: (250) 380-7018    E-mail: SSCL@shaw.ca