Hello Everyone.

My brother will be flying in from Australia for a couple of weeks on July 1st.

We were initially gonna fly out to SE Alaska and rent a cabin and skiff and fish some calmer, protected waters around Coffman Cove.

However, we just thought that maybe certain parts of Vancouver Island can provide us with a similar if not better experience.

The main problem is that I have very little knowledge about Vancouver Island or any other BC saltwater towns.

Im looking for a cabin + skiff rental. Im a bit of a safety freak (sissy) so I would only want to venture out on a decent sized skiff within fairly protected waters. I would like to target Halibut and Ling cod. We do have a fair bit of boat experience but I'd rather be safe.

Does anyone have any suggestions about which towns to look at?

Port Hardy might be one, but how is the water around there? Too crazy?

Ive also been out of Telegraph cove, but the fishing was very poor in Sept. We caught 1 30lbs halibut between 3 of us for 7 days straight and the cohos had not arrived yet. It was pretty bad. But maybe July is better?


thanks a million in advance.

P.S. Does not have to be on Vancouver Island. Any B.C. town for DIY would be great.

thanks

ANybody?

Years past I would have recommended Duval Point Lodge near Port Hardy but reports since the ownership change are overwhelmingly poor.

This places in Port Hardy rents boats and area waters are fine for smaller boats-I assume you have a GPS what with your safety fetish.

But in other places what you're looking for-cabin & skiff combined-isn't all that common here everyone wants you to pay for a charter and most want to troll for Salmon not bother with bottomfish.

The exception would be a place like Seabeam Resort near Bamfield but as poor as fishing has been in Barkley Sound these past few years I hesitate to recommend the area for Salmon, Lings might be OK but for Halibut that's late in the season unless you're offshore.

Another option would be to rent from Salmon Boats.ca in Port Alberni and haul the boat to somewhere like Port Renfrew where you can rent a place like Renfrew House.

Local waters are relatively protected and on a good day you could run out to Swiftsure Bank for Halibut.

I just got new eyeglasses and am quite tired will do a search of my bookmarks tomorrow if I can think of anything to add will post back.

Have you looked @ what you're thinking of spending just to catch a few Lings & Halibut?

Most here wouldn't bother without a good chance of loading up with Spring Salmon.