This journal is about an epic 2 days of fishing with charter: Coastal Blue Adventures out of Nanaimo, Central Vancouver Island ... my home! I had my best buddy, his uncle and my father-in-law with me as well. We were guided by Pete who's the owner of Coastal Blue Adventures.
To start this story I have to begin with a compliment to Pete and his company. The guiding was first class, all his gear is top of the line, from the rod/reels to the rigger and rod mounts. His Mako boat was so comfortable with plenty of room at the back for all 5 of us. I've lost count of how many charters I've been on, as far as comfort, gear and guide this was the best charter I've seen.
Fishing Entrance Island in September
Our charter dates was September 12th & 13th. At this point in the season most of the Salmon have started to make their way to the spawning rivers or estuaries. So this certainly isn't "go time", the best summer salmon timing is July & August (for the big ones anyway). I mention this because my expectations for this trip were mixed. I really didn't know what to expect. For me on my kayak the fishing had already started to slow down in the similar area. All that to say, we were all pleasantly surprised with plenty of action and some big Coho & Chinook Salmon!
Evening Bite
On the first day we did 4 hours for the night bite. And this ended up being the best 4 hours of the 2 days, we had fast and furious action! The water was calm and the weather was perfect. I lost count on how many fish we caught, but we bonked 5 that evening, the biggest was 83cm (33") roughly around 16-18 lbs. Most were mid to high 70's cm fish. So all in all a banger first night.
Day Two rougher waters but bigger fish
The second day we started early in the AM and had a longer fishing time. However, the wind was up significantly and the weather wasn't quite as nice as the day before. However, Pete's boat with the width and size made the choppy waters feel minimal and I enjoyed every last minute!
As soon as we got to the fishing grounds, we were trolling Gibbs spoons and bait and started getting into bites immediately. We got a few quick shakers (small juvenile Chinooks) that were quickly released. Not too long after that I got into a big one, and I'm not exaggerating when I say this was probably the biggest Chinook I've felt all year long. I played it for a short while and lost the fish, it was a heart breaker, especially as I didn't get to see it. But we're fishing 200+ feet down, so it takes awhile to get those big boys up! Anyway, this trip really wasn't about me, it was more for my best buddy Rob (from Calgary) and his Uncle Otto (from K-Town) to get into some Salmon... and they certainly did. We all hooked into some big fish this morning but lost them all! The rest of the later morning was a little slower with some smaller fish mixed in. But it wasn't toward the end of the trip where Robby got into giant. He fought it like a champ as the experience over the past few days got him ready. He landed a thick 89cm (35") Chinook that ended up being a White Chinook. An absolute west coast specimen! We didn't weigh him but he was easily over 20lbs.
Wrap up Dinner
The 2 days were a success. My favorite parts was watching my buddy Rob & Otto catch fish, and afterwards we ate like KINGS! This was a memory I'll have forever. It's not just the fish it's the people, and Pete is a great guy and guide, he does a great job in making the experience top notch for all his guests. If you're looking for a charter in Nanaimo area, I'd 110% recommend Pete at Coastal Blue Adventures.
Video of our Nanaimo Fishing Trip
Below is the video of our trip with Pete. This video is posted on my YouTube channel: BC Fishing Journal. Be sure to check it out and Subscribe. Much appreciation!