July Fishing Charters for Vancouver?

across777 · Apr-16-2009, 06:40 AM

My sister in law moved to Vancouver so I will be visiting for the first time the first week of July. I'm trying to plan a fishing trip for some family members and I'd love to info on the best options in the area.

Like I said, we'd be looking at the first week of July so it is important to know what is good at that time of year. I love bottom fishing so halibut might be my top choice, but I'd be very interested in salmon fishing too. If there are any combination trips that'd be even better.

Because I will be in Vancouver with my entire family and they have lots of other stuff planned that week, I won't be able to do anything too hardcore, especially as far as driving distance. So I am hoping there are some good options leaving from somewhere as close to the city as possible. We can handle a full day of fishing, but not anything overnight or that will require more than an hour drive.

We're most likely looking for a private charter, but if there are really good party boat options maybe we'd consider that.

Thanks!

Whalebreath · Apr-16-2009, 10:47 AM

No party boat options in/near the city.

Saltwater charters will run about $1,000/day and July is one of the slowest months locally.There are no Halibut close to the city you're a hundred years too late for that they've all been destroyed.

Vancouver Fishing Charters with Bites-On Fishing Charters of Vancouver B.C.

Saltwater Salmon Fishing Charters Vancouver BC Canada, Bonnie Lee Fishing Charters

If you want something different try Sturgeon fishing the Fraser River about an hour's drive outta town can be good fun.

Sturgeon Fishing in British Columbia

Fishing Trips for Sturgeon and Salmon - Fishing Trips on the Fraser River

across777 · Apr-16-2009, 12:02 PM

Thanks for all the info...

Sorry to hear that july is a slow month. Is it so slow that it isn't worth really fishing?

So how far do you have to go to find good bottom fishing? I suppose its possible we could take a drive to a better spot, but it couldn't be any kind of overnight deal or anything.

Thanks!

richmake · Apr-16-2009, 12:15 PM

Unless your willing to take a ferry ride to the island....your opportunities will be limited.
I'd personally go with a giant sturgeon trip with yoor limited time and travel....
To bad though...the fishing is crazy good here on the Island in July
If you need any other info or help...just PM me

ThunderMudder · Apr-16-2009, 05:41 PM

Ditto the island route for July. Either north end of the island or west coast of the island will provide good opportunity for bottom fish including halibut and salmon. Around Vancouver's Howe Sound, July can be decent for salmon, bottom fishing is sketchy particularly with current keep limits. Fraser River or Harrison River Sturgeon fishing is also a good bet. If some decent #'s of chinook salmon are in at that time in the river, you can do a combo trip on the river (check with your guide as a good guide should have a good pulse on the rivers as he'll be on the river almost every day). Salmon fishing on the river is either done bottom bouncing with long leaders or bar fishing primarily (fly fishing for sockeyes (late july on), pinks, coho and chum later in summer and fall). Mainland river fishing rates are almost half price compared to ocean offshore charters. If you decide to take a few days and go to the island, take a min. of 2 full days of charter as one day runs risks of bad weather or an off day of fishing.
If you decide on van isle or mainland river fishing, i'd be happy to point you to some of the areas best guides/charters who will always do more than take clients for a boat ride.

dragonballs · Apr-17-2009, 09:09 AM

it would be worth adding an extra day to get out on the island for some fabulous fishing

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63DPFDcA0aM]YouTube - ling cod fishing in canada[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiQYBr_drQA&feature=channel_page]YouTube - salmon fishing in canada[/ame]

across777 · Apr-23-2009, 07:42 AM

Thanks guys..

Honestly I'm not interested in sturgeon fishing. It sounds fun, but I have never really gone salmon or halibut fishing, so I am mostly interested in that.

I am talking to richmake and I may try to make a trip to fish with him, but I'm unsure if we can pull off an overnight stay on Vancouver Island.

So if we are left with no other choice, is the fishing closer to Vancouver city decent for salmon? I know that whalebreath said that July was a flow month, but is it worth fishing? I am a total salmon newbie, so catching even one decent sized salmon would be a thrill for me.

Whalebreath · Apr-23-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by across777

Thanks guys... So if we are left with no other choice, is the fishing closer to Vancouver city decent for salmon? I know that whalebreath said that July was a flow month, but is it worth fishing? I am a total salmon newbie, so catching even one decent sized salmon would be a thrill for me.

It's your money, always beautiful scenery and fun boat rides even though I don't own a boat I take every chance I can get to pound the water locally it's always worth it to me.

Other places just have a helluva lot more fish.

across777 · Jun-17-2009, 07:25 AM

I'm going to go ahead and bump this one more time...

Our trip is in two weeks. I think I've confirmed that I only have 1 day to fish (no overnight to the islands) so we need to either go out of Vancouver, or go out of somewhere that is no more than a 2 hour drive or so.

It looks like the easiest is to go with one of the charter operations that whalebreath posted. I'm not interested in sturgeon so we will go salmon fishing.

Any further recommendations or comments on vancouver-area charters? Are there any other ports within an easy drive that are worth trying?

Thanks!

Vek · Jun-17-2009, 05:04 PM

I'm sure there might be a few feeder or migrant chinook to catch up that way in July. There certainly would be across the way at Active or Porlier or the cable crossing, which are within reach of Vancouver. Worth the price of a charter? Not really.

On the other hand, there is excellent fishing to be had in the Fraser at times. It's not really my bag, but I'd consider that long before a lower mainland saltwater charter. Look up the name Vic Carrao. Fish for kings.

Whalebreath · Jun-17-2009, 09:34 PM

I was overly negative when I said July was the worst month, the worst month is June and things start to pick up again starting in July.

EDIT-the advice as posted by Vek is somewhat contradictory, if there are fish in the fresh they came from the salt and it's a lot less crowded to fish them from a charter boat @ the mouth of the Fraser than one of the elbow to elbow gong shows/snag fests on the Fraser bars.

bighog · Jun-20-2009, 06:39 PM

Fishing in Vancouver in July can be really good with Coho Salmon on the West Vancovuer shoreline and 20 to 30 pouind Chinook Salmon migrating thru Howe Sound to the Squamish River. The South arm of the Fraser River has been producing Chinook to 30 pounds for more than 2 weeks now. Give it a try as half day trips will run you about $500 for up to 4 persons on a guided boat.

Good Luck

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