Hey Biffchan, thanks for the advice but unfortunately Cheticamp is about a 6 hour drive away from me (as is the Miramichi - Black jack) so a cheap days fishing becomes extremely expensive on the gas front. I know there are bottom fishing charters closer to me and I will get around to giving them a go - cheapest I've found so far is about $45 for a half day. However, I think I would prefer to save up for one of the Shark fishing charters! The World record Shortfin Mako came out to one of the local charter boats and weighed in at about 1100lb's! Now were talking.
The Salmon out here are around, but not in very big numbers or size (certainly compared to BC) on one of the local forums the guys are cooing about 5lb salmon! Hmmmm??? And you can only fly fish for them, which isn't a terrible thing, but when you own 15 different fishing rods, including 2 trout fly rods, going out and buying some salmon fly gear may be a tricky one to get past the wife.
Oh well, I'll just have to keep on with the Striped Bass fising here. That sems to be my best (and cheapest) chance of a decent fish, the Canadian record came out from a river near here at 54lb. That'll do!
Tight lines
David