Reel Reports

After reading about all the fish being caught at our resorts in British Columbia, I thought it was time we show everyone how it’s done in the Bahamas.

Bert guided these lucky guests into this 70 lb. Wahoo, what a fight!

Congratulations to the Donahue group on their spectacular day of deepsea fishing at the beginning of May. The Belich group enjoyed the same success on their weekend getaway.

Congratulations to Wendy on catching her first bonefish, Happy Hour just hasn’t been the same since that day.

Bert introduced Brett to bonefishing and he is hooked! Pound for pound the hardest fighting fish in the world! Catch more photos from Brett’s trip on Tripadvisor.

Whether you’re fishing the reef, in pursuit bonefish, or going deep sea in search of trophy sized Mahi Mahi, our head guide Bert Adderley (also known as Lover Boy) will show you how to “rip some lips” in the Bahamas.

For more information on fishing at Cape Santa Maria, speak to your reservation coordinator or email the resort at resort@capesantamaria.com.

~ Brook “Island Boy” Castelsky
General Manager, Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort

I am one of the luckiest people in the world. In the past week my job has taken me to Langara Island where I had the great privilege of fishing Cohoe Point during an intense first-light Chinook bite, then I was off to Kano Inlet and the Salmon Seeker where I landed a beautiful 32 pound “chicken” halibut and now this week I’m back home to Campbell River and Painter’s Lodge where the Chinook fishing has been nothing short of spectacular.

This morning’s highlight was Ryan Wilson’s 29.5 pound Chinook (oh so close to the fabled “Tyee” size of 30 pounds) but nearly every boat returning from the AM tide had caught its limit. Neither guides nor guests could wipe the childlike grins off their faces.

It has been a truly great start to the year, so no matter which Oak Bay Marine Group resort is your destination, you are sure to be in store for some wonderful fishing excitement.

Reporting from all over the BC Coast,

~ Dwayne Mustard
Marine Activities Manager, Painter’s Lodge/April Point Resort
Assistant Manager, Northern Resorts

Just in time for a long weekend of out on the water, our friends at the Freshwater Fisheries Society have launched their Fishing Buddies program. They're trying to encourage anglers to introduce someone new to the joys of fishing.  Obviously we think this is a great idea.

No matter which of our resorts you visit, the one common thread is friends and family coming together and sharing some quality time outdoors.  We regularly host four generations of fishermen at once, ranging from first timers to gramma and gramps who've been fishing since 1930.

One of our biggest delights is hearing those first-timer stories.  Without exception people are surprised by how much fun they've had.  We're not surprised, but we're always delighted.

Do you have a good first time fishing story?  We'd love to hear it and maybe even publish it in the Coastal Currents.  If so, send it on to photocontest@obmg.com.

And do check out the Fishing Buddies program, and spread the word.

Have a great long weekend.

~ The Oak Bay Marine Group Crew

Physicist Niels Bohr once wrote that “prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future.” Very true, but that hasn’t stopped the scientists from Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans from sifting through reams of data to put together their fisheries outlook for 2010. Their results will make any fisherman’s heart sing.

2009 was a fantastic fishing year, so we are really happy to announce that the fishing in 2010 is predicted to be just as good, or better. What does that mean for anglers at our resorts? Read on.

Everywhere we fish—the Queen Charlottes, west, east and southwest Vancouver Island—excellent salmon fishing is predicted. We’re coming off three years of cooler ocean temperatures, during which time salmon stocks were able to thrive. The dividends—more fish—are just starting to pay off. For both Chinook and Coho, the two premier species at our resorts, anglers can expect some of the best action in recent memory in 2010.

The good news isn’t limited to salmon. Halibut populations throughout BC are holding stable at high levels. And ten years of conservation efforts are paying off in spades as Lingcod stocks on the south coast continue to thrive.

As serious anglers, this is all great news. Great fishing means time on the water is that much more enjoyable. But it runs deeper than that. BC’s fisheries are iconic and sportfishing is a defining part of our culture. The resurgence of salmon, halibut and Lingcod in coastal BC is inspiring and exciting, and everyone will experience the benefits.

Beyond fishing, 2010 is shaping up to be a banner year. Painter’s Lodge and April Point will host a slew of great events, from the Women’s Derby to photography getaways and everything in between. The Canadian Princess is gearing up for an action-packed summer against a stunning backdrop of rainforests and pristine wilderness. Our northern resorts crew are up to their elbows in refits, making sure everything is gleaming on opening day. And down at the Cape, guests are already enjoying fantastic weather and the breathtaking beauty of the South Bahamas.

After the uncertainty and the tumult of 2009 we’re all looking forward to getting outside and sharing some exciting adventures and big fish stories in 2010. We hope you’ll join us.

~ The Oak Bay Marine Group Crew

Northwest gales have kept our fishing inside Kano Inlet for the last week and consequently Chinook action has been a bit limited. Chris Bridges’ 30 pounder won last trip’s trophy and a 25 pounder is currently the leader for this trip with a day and a half to go. This doesn’t mean that the big ones aren’t still around, it just means that we aren’t presently able to get to the usual spots. The same circumstances apply to halibut fishing although a few of the “chicken“ variety are still showing up on the board.

Coho are saving the day at the moment and they have moved into the Inlet in numbers. While they are not usually accorded the same status as the big Tyees, they are still a great sport fish and a real thrill for our novice anglers. Not bad on the barbeque either!

No significant change in the weather until mid week. Warm and sunny in the Inlet and blowing 30 knots outside.

Captain Ian
MV Salmon Seeker
Queen Charlotte Islands

A new record for the MV Marabell! This 23 lb. Coho was caught at Baily Point in Hakai Pass. Congratulations.

Local Victoria photographer Mike Grace took these stunning photos of the MV Marabell @ Hakai Pass. We think they speak for themselves.

The fishing continues to be strong at Hakai. As can be expected the best times are around the slack tides, but the area offers enough versatility that usually a light current or back eddy can be found by the observant angler. Odlum Point are the most consistent spots for Chinooks and we had five thirty plus fish on this last trip. Coho can be found pretty much everywhere in our operating area. They are averaging about eight pounds, but each day sees one or two over fifteen. The Coho are striking aggressively and can be taken fishing with or against the current.

Ken Beatty

Fishmaster, MV Marabell

Hakai Pass

It’s shaping up to be a great season at Hakai Pass. The Coho bite was on pretty much all day at Odlum Point. Whether you fished right on the kelp at five pulls or went out to the tide-lines at fifty pulls you were almost guaranteed to find fish. Several boats got into Chinooks on the morning high slack, fishing right on the kelp. Jeffery Oh had the fish of the day with his thirty pounder from Odlum. The majority of the bait showing on the surface is needlefish, but many of the fish we cut at the dock have large herring in their stomachs.

One of the Marabell’s old friends, Joe Van Goeye, had a fascinating encounter with a killer whale yesterday. While playing a nice Coho at foster rocks he noticed a large bull approaching his boat. If you have fished long enough you’ll know that typically this story ends with the whale getting the fish and you counting yourself lucky that he didn’t take the rod as well. It was a nice Coho, about fifteen pounds, so Joe reeled in as fast as he could. As he got the fish up to the boat the big bull loomed up underneath and gently took the fish in its mouth. Joe figured it was over but the whale just sat there in the water, holding the fish and staring Him in the eye. Joe is unsure how long the standoff lasted, but eventually the whale just let go of the fish and swam away. After telling me this story Joe and I both wondered what could have motivated this behavior. We both agreed that Killer Whales are extremely intelligent. Maybe the old bull figured that Joe needed the fish more than he did. Or maybe he knew it make for a great story.

Ken Beatty
Fishmaster, MV Marabell
Hakai Pass