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Ernie Fedoruk is Vice President of the
Outdoor Writers of Canada and former B.C. Director with
the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association. Winner of
26 awards in the last 16 years, the sports/outdoors
columnist retired from a 48-year newspaper career in
1996. Messages can be faxed to him at (250) 592-7090,
or emailed to efedoruk@islandnet.com
"A man's passion for fishing should not allow it
to interfere with his love of family. But if the glue
binds, then please consider the angler's passion also
a love for family." |
WEST COAST LIFE
Two topics today, one because Tim Pesikaka’s reminder of
West Coast living’s delightful variety, and the second because
Jack Seedhouse, is back from a trip to the Queen Charlotte
Islands (or Haida Gwai) where he experienced chinook salmon
fishing that was as good as it gets. We will first deal with
Seedhouse, lest he and it, the fishing, cool off. A retired
insurance adjuster, Seedhouse has visited most of British
Columbia’s hottest salmon grounds, starting only blocks from
his Victoria home in the 1950s and finishing at Langara, the
northernmost island in the Charlottes.
His second visit in five weeks to Langara in August was to
act as host guide to a party of six friends who checked in
at Oak Bay Marine Group’s Charlotte Princess.
Langara is where I caught my largest chinook (or king),
a 51-pounder, several years ago. (That should tell you how
easy it can be, right?) Seedhouse’s bunch was committed to
five days and four nights on the floating Princess. Within
two days, and while fishing selectively to try for heavyweights,
they had their limit of 12 kings. In subsequent days, the
group brought in its limit of 18 halibut and added lingcod,
yellow eye (red snappers). They also hit into four other species
of salmon, keeping some pinks and chum but releasing a few
sockeye and untouchable coho.
I started out hoping to run four lines, reported Seedhouse.
It was difficult to keep four out. We had countless doubleheaders
and a number of tripleheader hits. After a short time, we
just ran three lines. After 12 pulls, with just two ounces
of weight, we’d have a hit. There was outstanding fishing
everywhere but Andrews Point was incredible. The chinooks
generally were not as large as we are used to catching but
they were plentiful, mostly in the high 20s to the mid-30s
in poundage. As for the beleaguered coho, the silvers were
everywhere, adding greatly to the action with their multiple
hits on the Seedhouse party’s bait. If you would care to trust
the validity of Jack’s experience, as I do, BC salmon are
alive and well.
***
The second issue, one that only now is drawing
importance because of salmon’s lure to BC visitors in past
years, are the multiple choices given tourists who seek something
different in the way of coastal experiences. Saltwater anglers
have always treated the appearances of orcas and great gray
whales as a matter of fact. More often than not, the recreational
fishing crowd cussed the showing of whales because it is believed
they spook and scatter the salmon population.
Now, the watching of whales and grizzly bears
is big business, happily adding diversification to many resorts
who in the past catered only to fishermen.
Canada’s beautiful west coast province has attractions
from top to bottom. And regardless of choice, the rugged magnificence
of mountains and waters stand impressively as the backdrop
to whatever you want to do.
My favorite backyard fishing locales are Oak Bay and Pedder
Bay. Getting started in the early morning, the sight of Washington’s
Mount Baker to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the south
always get the juices flowing.
I am not into kayaking, but thousands are. The thousands
who fish are forever respectful and happy to share the beauty
of Haida Gwai, Desolation Sound, the Gulf Islands, Barkley,
Kyuquot, Nootka and Clayoquot Sounds or the straits Johnston
and Juan de Fuca.
Pesikaka is one of the most enthusiastic kayakers I know.
A friend, he regularly secures his ocean kayak on the roof
of his auto, packs a crab trap into the trunk, takes a mere
five minutes to run to the launching ramp, and can generally
be found paddling waters between Saanich Inlet and Haro Strait.
(After dropping the crab trap in a suitable spot.) An e-mail
from Tim explains why he gave up a good business in Toronto
and retired to a waterfront home 15 or so miles north of Victoria.
Starting a recent cruise, he wondered if he would bump into
"Bob" again. Bob is the name locals have given a friendly
gray whale that has been around since April. His question
was answered immediately. Moments after dropping his crab
trap, Tim spotted a large group of kayakers and, more significantly,
a whale-watching boat heading to a spot where my friend expected
to see Bob.
He took a short, deep-water route and in just under 30 minutes
was sitting on the water with two tourist-laden whale-watching
boats and a local family that intended to do some fishing
until they encountered Bob. While children squealed with delight,
Tim concentrated on photographing the mammal while the magnificent
gray circled and fed along the bottom for about two hours.
Several he times approached less than 10 feet from my bow,
Tim reported. When he was under water I would splash my hands
on either side of the boat to make sure he knew where I was.
There were times that his whole head would lift out of the
water to reveal the long curve of his mouth. His long gray
body had all varieties and sizes of barnacles on it, and his
tail is very white.
He would come up for two breaths of air...and I could feel
and smell his briny spray. It's almost like a sea-sewer smell
. . . not at all romantic.
In time there were so many boats around to watch Bob I decided
to leave. All the boats, I must admit, were very respectful
of a new 100-metre standoff rule but Bob is such a curious
fellow he goes over and visits with most of them.
He left the crowd of watchers, said Tim, because I don't
care for the awful smell of motor fumes and. . . it is better
not to be greedy about these experiences mother nature provides.
Bob may still be there after the tourists have gone and the
kids are back in school.
Having heard from Seedhouse and Pesikaka, perhaps you now
understand why some of us poor people refuse to let go of
our strong desire for West Coast life.
Copyright ©
Ernie Fedoruk retired in 1996 after a 47-year journalism career as an outdoors and sports columnist, has just completed
14 years as director/officer of the Outdoor Writers of Canada,
also was director of the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association
for 11 years. His passion is fishing – to find and to
protect – and insists his greatest contribution as a
conservationist is incompetence.
Ernie Fedoruk Freelance Journalist
1867 Neil Street Victoria, BC, V8R 3C6, Canada
phone:(250)592-4438 fax:(250)592-7090
e-mail: efedoruk@islandnet.com
To purchase Ernie Fedoruk's column for publication, please
contact efedoruk@islandnet.com
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