I have been skunked on charters near Sooke and Victoria a couple of times. Other times I have landed fish that are too big to legally keep(30ish Lb wild spring off the bluffs last year only two days before wilds opened up) and other times during pink years only gone home with a single pink each for only three of the four guys in the boat. I've also been skunked while out on my own or with buddies in our own boats. To say these things don't happen would be a lie. It can be really spotty here, and can happen to the best guides/rec fisherman. You just kind of hope it doesn't happen to you!
I am always seeing other happy groups of people limiting out on some charters' Facebook pages while I have gone home empty the day before, but what charter is going to post a bad/skunk day? None of them! The next time I do fork over my hard earned cash on a charter though, I think I'll really make a trip of it and go all way out to Port Renfrew, or Bamfield and take the family camping as well. You just have to keep reminding yourself that a good day on the water limiting out or close to it, can pay off a few very disappointing skunk trips.
I wonder just how many people buy fishing licenses every year, fish regularly, and still wind up with no halibut(too many dogfish to count) in a season. I can't be the only one lol...