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[rob.l]

In July/August, I want to knock off another item on the old Bucket list.
Its time to spend some cash on a trip for me...
Who would you recommend going to for a fishing charter/ Lodge/ Fishing Resort on Northern Vancouver Island.
I don't have a ton of money. So Langara is out...

Thanks
Rob

[firstlight]

dohh,my mistake.

[Sam Salmon]

Duval Point Lodge near Port Hardy is a worth wile operation and you can save money by bringing/cooking your own food/doing your own fishing if you want or go guided check out the options.

I've got a whole bunch bookmarked but have a busy day tomorrow I'll try to post some more tomorrow night.

[rob.l]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Any ideas would be great.
I was thinking Winter Harbor as one. Ive heard of a guiding service called "The Outpost at Winter Harbor"
Need to compare pricing though..

[Sam Salmon]

There's a bunch of places in Winter Harbour, have never fished there but have heard good things about the place.You probably have them all bookmarked already so I'll leave that.

Fishing Outside is always going to better than Inside with the exception of two outfits out of Port Hardy that run to the top of Vancouver Island.

http://www.coastwidesportsfishing.com/index.htm

http://www.serengetifishingcharters.com/
Those guys are more expensive but burn a lot of gas to get you to where there are more fish.

Another Inside place run by the old St John's Lodge crew http://www.pacificoutbackresort.com/

Boat rentals downtown Port Hardy http://www.hardybayfishing.com/index.htm

Fishing was sh!t hot off WCVI last year so consider going with an outfit out of Ukee or Bamfield you need someone with a big enough boat to get to the offshore banks and stay there (depending on the weather).

You can save money again by camping or sharing a cabin Bamfield in particular has lots of place like that

http://www.poettnook.com/welcome.html

http://millslanding.com/
Mills Landing also has a boat for rent

http://www.seabeamcanada.ca/
also rents boats

http://www.tyeeresort.com/

http://www.crowncharters.ca/

http://rockypointcharters.ca/

http://www.islandfishcamp.ca/

Ukee is an easier drive but accommodation is more expensive outside of camping, some great guides though.

http://www.westcoastfish.com/

http://fishmyster.com/

http://www.justfishn.com/

Tahsis is a helluva drive but some topnotch fishing offshore.

http://www.jimsfishing.com/

http://www.westviewmarina.com/

I've heard Nootka Sound has become quite crowded haven't fished there for a while lots of choice though.

Again-to save money avoid any place that offers deluxe meals, yadda, yadda, yadda you don't need it just a clean quiet place to sleep and cook.

Be sure fish cleaning is included in the price of whatever (it's not @ Duval but that's the cheapest option) if someone is charging a grand plus a day they'd better clean the fish/vacuum pack the fillets and freeze them.

Try emailing Iron Noggin who posts here he guides out of Ukee in the summer so he might be able to offer some suggestions.

Any other questions Fire Away!

[rob.l]

WOW!!!
Thanks!!! I'll work my way through the list. I appreciate the time you put into this.

Rob

[aquapaloosa]

There is also camping at the Green Point in the National park but the key is when you book.  You have to book this stuff in advance...the farther in advance the better.
Tofino is generally expensive accommodation wise.
The best bang for the buck is fishing on the princes boats.  It is not the ideal fishing scenario but it usually makes for some good stories for keeps sake. 
Since it is a bucket list trip, book it during small tides and as close to or during the first 2 weeks in august.  I'll bet you get some huge slabs then out of ukee.
I highly recommend getting a private guide boat.  Try getting some friends together to split the cost.  I thing some of the boat will take up  to 5 people but I think four or three is more realistic. 

You could search "princess boats" on this site to see some stories about fishing on the princess boats.

Tight lines!!

[IronNoggin]

... Try emailing Iron Noggin who posts here he guides out of Ukee in the summer so he might be able to offer some suggestions.

Given the explosive fishery off the WC last season, I was kinda wondering about the focus on the North island. Supposed there was some other draw I guess...

This past season was amongst the best I have ever seen off of Ukee. We started off early with 30 pound springs in MAY! Unreal! That carried through well right into mid-August. There were a lot of fish around, more than enough to satisfy the hungriest of anglers, and a good many of them in the LARGE category. Numerous 40lb plus fish wandered across the docks at the end of many days, and a handful of 50's to boot! While engaged with the plug (commercial troll) fishery, I personally handled 17 that were well over 50! 
And the halibut fishing was rather good through the entire season.

Chiefly the springs were US passage fish. It appears they are doing an excellent job of increasing their run strengths. Wish the same could be said for our "management" regime. Most years, as last, we rely on local (Canadian Origin) springs to fill out the balance of the season from around the 3rd week in August on. This past season their showing was dismal. There were a few there, but you certainly had to hunt for them!
Thank The Goddess for coho! At times a serious nuisance (when targeting springs), at others providing one MEAN amount of FUN! By late August they were there in serious numbers, and the surface action was more than explosive! Their sizes were impressive too - managed to tag the largest one I have ever seen last season - 28 pounds and change! A REEL WOWSER! 

Given the US run predictions up for this coming season, all indications are that it will likely be as good (or even better!!) than last season! THAT is EXCITING news, and I am right looking forward to getting in on the action!

There are quite a few good options out of Ucluelet, Tofino and Bamfield as well. Of course I am somewhat biased towards Ukee as I operate out of there. Most of the better guides I know are already taking bookings, and some are well over 1/2 booked already! Now wonder considering the fantastic fishery of last year!

Feel free to shoot me a PM or Email should you want some localized information and/or the names of a few Great guides! 

Cheers,
Nog

[Sam Salmon]

book it during small tides

Good point that can make quite a difference!

[island boy]

i've been to the seabeam alot. great guide name seaton allways in the zone. cheap affordable place to stay and have a good time. check them out.

[aquaholic]

Duvall Point Lodge is a great place, I know some guys that work there and they fish right in front of there lodge, I fish there tons in the summer and the fishing is pretty awesome. Great bunch of guys.

Another great lodge is called sunds, Im friends with one of the top guides for that company, He also does his own charters.

http://www.sundslodge.com/

The top guide for that lodge has done some Television shows as well, He knows his stuff if your intrested in contacting him let me know i can set you up directly to him.

[rob.l]

Thanks for all your ideas. We are now thinking around Bamfield area as the drive north is too much.
Looks like I have a lot of work to do just to pick one..LOL

IronNoggin I sent you an email in regards to your own Charter.
Thanks
Rob

[Sam Salmon]

you need someone with a big enough boat to get to the offshore banks and stay there (depending on the weather).

I quoted myself because that's important-returns inside Barkley sound have been poor these past few years.

There are still guys offering cheaper trips to the same old places but since there are a lot fewer fish inside you might just end up washing tackle/ listening to someone's stories of 'you shudda bin here 10 years ago Eh! ' and kicking yourself when you see what people are bringing in from offshore.

Choose wisely.......

[aquaholic]

I was in Port Hardy and Port Mcneill for the better part of a month last summer, We fished Duvall Point and Backside of Malcolm Island ex.. Bere Point,Lizzard Point, and the slide area, on a average day between 2 of us using anchovy teasers,bait busters,hootchies etc we were getting a good 25-30 coho each and up to 4-5 Nice sized chinooks along with some sockeye, even our limit on halibuts when the days we were tired of hooking salmon we would bottom fish, I know the west coast side is going to have more fish but the inside is pretty good if you know when and where to go.

We would have mulitple rods bouncin at the same time before the riggers were set to the desired depth, most of the time the coho were on trying to get below them for the springs.

I mainly fish the inside and i wouldnt be passing it up. if you can get a trip to the outside go for it, make sure you can handle big rollers bring the gravol to calm the stomach.

I have been fishing the inside for a good 6 years now, and some years are better than others, but its not a waist of time

everyone has there own opinons and rightly so, but i fish the inside and im telling you the fishing can be just as good if not better on some days than the westcoast.

I have fished the westcoast and got skunked on a few trips, come to the inside and hammer fish pretty much all day

split up your trip inside one day outside another day.

[Sam Salmon]

Poor choice of words on my part-when I said inside I meant inside Barkley Sound as OP has said he's thinking about Bamfield.

I agree Coho @ Port Hardy can be crazy and it's an easy place to fish.