Saltwater Cowboys

Good news and better news! Our season will be longer this year, and finishing up closer to home! Everything is running great, and the fishing in Ukee has been super, albeit a little later than usual, but the "Best Coast" gale-force winds and monsoon rains will be starting soon and I don't want the Grady to get stuck in Ucluelet for the winter. Accordingly, I'll be pulling out of Ucluelet and launching at Salmon Point (between Courtenay and Campbell River) next week so we can ...take advantage of the rest of the Coho and Chum seasons in the Straits. The better news is that I plan to pass on my travel fuel and accommodations savings to my guests, so the daily rates will be just over half of what they are now! Call or PM me for info and rates, then come on out and enjoy our local waters with me. Tight lines, everyone!

While I enjoy spending time with my wife, I do not enjoy waiting for my boat to come out of unscheduled maintenance. As far as my marine mechanic tells me, however, we're gonna be reliably running under full power really soon (Fri or Sat). Gotta pay the bills when all is said and done, but that's not your worry. Let's go fishing!

The rollercoaster has begun! DFO just closed pinks and chum on the inside of the west coast so, as far as I can tell, this means we can only keep Chinook and [wild or hatchery] Coho on the inside (Area 23), Pinks, Chum and hatchery Coho on the outside (Area 123), and everything but wild Coho in the surf zone (1NM from the beachline). Methinks there might be a few confused folks out on the water this summer.

2020 Rockfish and Lingcod regs are unchanged frm 2019. Still no retention on Yelloweye (Red Snapper).

Same boundaries as 2019 for 2020. Should be a good season if we're allowed to take our friends out...

New Chinook regs just came out. Same as last spring/early summer, so the "Best Coast" is still OK for the immediate future. I understand that COVID-19 is making it difficult to plan, but fingers are crossed that we get a grip on it before July: Category(s): RECREATIONAL - Salmon Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada...Continue reading

BC Provincial fishing 'guidance' during COVID-19 (select the "Expand All" tab). Nothing from the feds (DFO) yet: https://www2.gov.bc.ca//fishing-and-hunting-covid-19-updat

Now HERE's a great idea! https://myodfw.com/articles/make-your-own-descending-device

Hooked into a nice Spring, then a Coho takes the second line on the way up! Nicely played fish, guys!

Halibut limits are unchanged for 2020. Effective March 1, 2020 until further notice: - The maximum length for halibut is 126 cm (97 cm head-off).... - The daily limit for halibut is one (1). - The possession limit for halibut is either of: ---- one (1) halibut measuring 90 cm to 126 cm in length (69 cm to 97 cm head-off), OR ---- two (2) halibut, each measuring under 90 cm in length (69 cm head-off). - The annual limit is six (6) halibut per licence holder per licence year, as set out on the 2019/2020 & 2020/21 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. See more

Now this is a different way to fish and cook your catch!

Christmas tree is up! https://www.facebook.com/dave.dufour.16/videos/1884592428243256/

Some pics from the 2019 fishing season.