PENT-UP DEMAND
Fishing resorts lure locals
For B.C. fishing resorts, 2020 was a disastrous year. With our borders closed to international visitors and travel restrictions in the province, a lot of resorts closed for the season.
For Brian Legg, president of the West Coast Fishing Club in Haida Gwaii, the challenges of being in a remote location were compounded.
“All supplies have to barged up based on expected volume and that has to happen pre-season, as well as having the contracts for fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters in place,” says Legg. “We lost a lot of money.”
Bookings that were made prior to the closing of the borders, some of them years in advance, have had to be carried forward to 2022.
“The resorts are normally packed with fishermen from all over the world,” says Owen Bird, executive director for the Sport Fishing Institute of B.C.
But he is quick to point out the opportunity for British Columbians to visit places that would normally be booked.
B.C. has world-class lodges and fishing waters that stretch the length of the province. In B.C. there are five species of Pacific salmon, ling cod and halibut along the coastline that circumnavigates more than 40,000 islands.
Most lodges opened with the lifting of COVID -related travel restrictions and the province moving into Phase 3 allowing recreational travel within Canada.
In Haida Gwaii, the West Coast Fishing Club lodge on Langara Island opened in the beginning of July to Canadians.
“For now it's business as usual but with only Canadians at the lodge,” says Legg. “For now it's a wait and see for American residents.”
Legg says there was a lot of pent up demand for British Columbians to get out and do something. The lodge offers premium quality service in a relaxed atmosphere combined with world-class salmon and halibut fishing.
“It's a fantastic lodge and we offer a great experience with ocean tours and seeing Haida Gwaii.”
Legg says their season normally runs late May to the end of August.
“The salt water season is underway and there's great fishing to be had,” says Bird.
Nootka Marine Adventures has opened two of its three lodges. Newton Cove Resort is not opening this season. Moutcha Bay Resort and Nootka Sound Resort are open and are seeing bookings from a lot of first-time visitors.
“Despite the short-term loss of our international guests and temporary closures, we've had the pleasure of welcoming many new local faces for the first time,” says Erin Brizard, the marketing coordinator for Nootka Marine Adventures. “From Victoria to Port Hardy, we've seen a large influx of local islander bookings this year.”
Moutcha Bay Resort is located two hours drive from Campbell River on the sheltered waters of Nootka Sound. Nootka Sound Resort is a floating lodge nestled in the calm waters of Galiano Bay.
Most fishing resorts aren't known for their dining, but Nootka is changing that with the partnering of B.C. chef William Lew (formerly of Notch8, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and Ocean Wise). The resorts offer unexpected luxury with a four-course dinner served with wine every night.
Further north on Vancouver Island, the Bear Cove Cottages outside of Port Hardy stayed open last year targeting British Columbians. Bear Cove Cottages and Wicked Salmon Fishing Charters are owned by the husband and wife team of Wade and Shannon Dayley and provide an all-inclusive salmon fishing destination.
“It's been really good,” says Wade Dayley “We're seeing a lot of first time visitors, a lot of islanders, who have never been up to northern Vancouver Island. The beauty is an eye opener for them.”
When you aren't reeling in a trophy salmon look out for humpback whales, eagles, sea lions and orcas.
Each cottage at Bear Cove has a kitchenette or if you prefer not to cook they have packages allowing you to dine at some of Port Hardy's best restaurants.
In 2022 Bear Cove will be offering all-inclusive luxury vacations in Baja, Mexico, co-hosted with Mark Pendlington of Westcoast Sporting Journal.
The sport-fishing season runs from May to September, “sometimes stretching into October,” says Bird.
Of course with the thousands of lakes, rivers and streams the fishing season in B.C. doesn't really end. There are 80 varieties of freshwater game fish which means the opportunity is here to fish year round, especially around Vancouver and Victoria.
We're seeing a lot of first time visitors, a lot of islanders, who have never been up to northern Vancouver Island. The beauty is an eye opener for them. Wade Dayley, Bear Cove Cottages