B.C. fishing resorts will have openings
Dates booked years in advance are now available for last-minute reservations
COVID-19 hasn’t slowed the fish in our rivers, but with the borders closed, it has provided a unique situation: British Columbians may be able to book a fishing package in July and August — peak fishing season.
“This year is absolutely unique in that some resorts, guides, and charters have prime dates available. In some cases, these vacation dates are usually booked years in advance and are now available to last-minute bookings,” says Matt Jennings, executive director of the B.C. Fishing Tourism Association.
Over the coming weeks, Fishingbc.com will be featuring the fishing experiences that currently have availability/vacancy on their website.
“No other place on the planet has the diversity or length of season that B.C. has. Our province also has a significant number of fishing resorts, angling guides, and fishing charters to help cater to every budget of traveller.”
Owen Bird, the executive director of the Sport Fishing Institute of B.C. says, “Opportunities range from day trips to all-inclusive remote fly-in, world-class lodges.”
However, the vast majority of fishing tourism resorts and angling guides and fishing charters are small community-based businesses.
One example is Bear Cove Cottages near Port Hardy, which is run by Shannon and Wade Dayley.
Shannon says it’s the fact “we’re not at the end of the Earth” that draws fishermen to the cottages north of Campbell River.
Vancouverites can fly in to Port Hardy or use B.C. Ferries and drive — four hours — from Nanaimo. Shannon says the fish are biting, but without international guests “it’s a lot less busy on the water.”
Bear Cove Cottages is a sports fishing and ecotourism destination. Each of its cottages contains a kitchen, fireplace, Jacuzzi tub and a deck with views of Hardy Bay.
Shannon’s husband Wade does the operations side of the sports fishing charters out of Bear Cove.
“Every day is as exciting as the day before,” says Wade, who has been fishing in the area for more than 40 years.
“I can provide (guests) the type of trip that they will remember forever … it’s not about catching the biggest fish it’s about the memories they are having catching those fish.
“Whether you are hiking, fishing, walk the beaches or go caving, for the adventure traveller it (Port Hardy) ultimately offers everything they would want in a real pristine location” says Wade.
B.C. is known for its diversity and length of the fishing season.
Bird says: “All of the salmon species pass along our coast through the season. It is possible to catch a pink salmon from the beach on the east coast of Vancouver Island in August or catch a chinook that may be from a river anywhere along the Pacific Rim while visiting Vancouver Island, the central and north coast or Haida Gwaii from now until September. Coho begin to appear throughout the coast from now and until October down around Victoria and Sooke.
“Halibut are a possibility in waters near the open ocean throughout the season and ling cod and rockfish … can be caught easily while jigging for halibut or salmon fishing. And, believe it or not, tuna swim in our coastal waters too. It is possible to explore offshore opportunities for tuna in August and September of every year.”
This unique summer is sure to lure British Columbians out to the fishing resorts they may not have been able to book in past years.