Reel Time Fishing Charters & Marine Tours

The Importance of Green Spaces and Blue Places

I think we could all agree that we live in some crazy times. The world seems to be in a place of disorder. Many people I know don’t even read the news anymore. Stories of societal fragmentation. War and threats of more war. Inflation and homelessness. A hurting planet suffering from pollution, loss of biodiversity and climate change. It’s no wonder many people wake up in the middle of the night crying.

When it comes to dealing with the troubles of life, many doctors and mental health experts are reminding us that time spent in green spaces or blue places helps improve mental health and wellbeing by reducing stress, anxiety and depression. But it can also do more than that as I discovered one beautiful morning while floating 17 nautical miles off the coast of Ucluelet with a group of 4 anglers.

That day, a day I was supposed to have off, began with an emergency. A charter captain had double booked and was looking for a boat to take out one of the groups. When I found out about it, I immediately volunteered my services. And why not? Another day in paradise!

About thirty minutes later, I met my group. A dad, his two teenage sons and a friend of a family, another teenage boy. By the looks on their faces, I could tell there were some raw emotions still lingering from the mix-up. So, as warmly as I could, I introduced my self and then walked them to my boat.

It was a beautiful sunny morning with just a slight breeze and fairly flat seas. My destination was the La Perouse Bank, a fertile fishing ground I’d spent much of my summer. On a calm day, it’s just over an hour ride in my charter vessel.

Leaving the Ucluelet channel, I powered up and onward. However, twenty minutes into the trip, the dad came steaming into my cabin and asked “Where are you taking us?” “We’re heading offshore” I replied, “to a place called the Big Bank.”

The suggestion did not go over very well with him. Still reeling from the issue of being double booked, he yelled “stop the boat!” Surprised, I slowed to a stop. “I specifically told the other captain that I did not want to go offshore when I booked this trip” he said. “But that’s where the fish are right now” I replied. “I don’t care he said emphatically. “I don’t want to go any further.”

Lucky for us, we had stopped on another bank off the west coast of Ucluelet called the Amphitrite Bank. It’s a fishing bank that can be very productive at certain times of the year. But it wasn’t that morning. After almost ninety minutes of fishing, not a single bite.

Finally, one of the teenage boys quipped, “Come on dad, let Turk take us to the place he had originally planned. It’s got to be better than this.” The dad looked at me and asked, “How long will it take”. “Another forty-five minutes and we’ll be dropping lines” I told him. “Ok,” he sighed to the cheers of the boys, “Let’s go.”

On our way out, a very thick fog began to settle in, typical of many August trips to the La Perouse Bank. In fact, by the time we got there, the sun was completely blocked out by a thick layer of mist. That didn’t dampen my spirits though. Back then, the Big Bank had never disappointed me. And today was no exception. Within minutes of dropping lines, we had the first fish to the boat, a beautiful mid-teen Chinook salmon. Within an hour or so, we had enough.

Turning to my group, I suggested we try catch a few halibut. “Sure!” they all agreed excitingly. So down to the bottom we went, dropping lines to almost 200 ft. The action was slower which allowed me to find out a little more about my group. This is a part of chartering I love. Like fishing, I enjoy discovering who my guests are, where they come from, what they do or what gets them excited about life.

While trolling slowly through the thick mist, waiting for our first strike, I discovered that my group was from the mid-west of the USA. The dad was in the insurance business and the boys were all close to finishing high school. I also discovered they were all quite passionate about their Christian beliefs. In fact, the teenage friend of the family was someone the jokingly referred to as “the missionary kid”, someone whose parents were missionaries abroad.

As we continued our hunt for halibut, I can still remember how animated the boys where about their belief in God. I can also remember wondering if my face was showing just the slightest bit of hesitation. By the sounds of things, there was certainly some differences in our understanding of the Divine. Not that it really mattered that day. Keeping an eye on things as the conversation continued, I saw that oh familiar sight, a slight tug on the port side rod followed by another. Grabbing the rod out of the rod holder, I yanked hard. Yep, there was weight there. “Fish on,” I said as I handed the rod to one of the boys.

If you have never pulled up a halibut up from the 200 ft, the common phrase is “it’s like pulling up a barn door.” In other words, it’s simply pulling up a lot of dead weight. And it’s a lot of work as my teenage boys discovered. Pulling and reeling, they traded turns on the rod when, at last, after what seemed like eternity, we had our first halibut aboard.

Shortly after, the other rod went off. After another long stint of pulling and reeling, we had halibut number two onboard. Bleeding and placing the fish in the cooler, I was ready to drop the line again when I heard one of the teenagers cry, “Turk, please, not again. My arms are so tired from reeling, I don’t even know if they are attached to my body.”

We were all having a good laugh at this when suddenly, the sun began to break through the morning mist. To this day, I’ll never forget the moment. The sky all around us was aglow with a golden hue. And it was quiet, almost ghostly quiet. I slowed the boat to a stop and turned off the trolling motor. Bathing in the warmth of the sun as it was burning off the morning mist, water lapping gently against the side of the boat, I stopped everything I was doing and just stood still, mesmerized by the peaceful tranquility. And I wasn’t alone. My whole crew had stopped to and were taking in the magic of the moment.

Minutes later, after we all started breathing again, I looked around at my guests and said “wow, we need to celebrate.” So, we did, by sharing a communal meal. The boys jumped into action digging into the coolers and arranging a feast of buns, meat, cheeses and grapes on several of the cooler tops. Then, once we had all been seated, with food and drink in our hands, we cheered, or as they suggested, gave thanks. We then ate and drank, each of us enjoying each others presence in the presence of divine wonder. It was an unforgettable moment of joy and peace.

In today’s world of cruelty, chaos, and confusion, I often think of that amazing time on the Pacific. A trip that begun with some high negative emotions was eventually calmed by the awe and wonder of nature at its best. But there was something else I learned about that trip. Though we did not all share the same ideas or beliefs, our differences that day were transcended by a shared experience. Somehow, in that moment in time, we had become connected with each other and the world around us. And it was all good!

The future of recreational salmon fishing in BC is at a critical moment.

After five years of discussion, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is now in the final and most important consultation stage of the Salmon Allocation Policy review. The decisions made now will shape salmon access and recreational fishing opportunities in British Columbia for decades to come.

The current policy, created in 1999, recognizes salmon as a common property resource and ensures that recreational fishers retain priority access to Chinook and Coho after conservation needs and Indigenous Food, Social, and Ceremonial fisheries, but before the general commercial fishery. That long standing balance is now at risk.

DFO is considering proposals that would remove the principle of common property and strip priority access from the recreational fishery. If implemented, these changes would reduce public access, remove predictability around fishing opportunity, put additional pressure on coastal communities, and destabilize an activity that generates nearly $1.3 billion in annual revenues and supports more than 9,100 direct jobs across BC.

If you care about fair access, healthy fisheries, and the future of recreational salmon fishing, now is the time to speak up.

Please visit fishingrights.ca to review the background materials and learn how these proposed changes could affect you, your family, and your community.

Then take a moment to submit your feedback to DFO before January 23, 2026.

Email your comments to:
[email protected]

Your voice matters. Public input during this stage can help protect common property rights and ensure a fair, balanced, and sustainable future for recreational fishing in British Columbia.

Happy New Years to all of you who follow and have fished with us over the past years. With the boat recently launched, let the new adventures of 2026 begin🙂

May is the Month for Lingcod!

They may be scary looking, but they sure are tasty. In fact, if I had to choose between halibut or lingcod, I’d pick lingcod any day of the week. Problem is, I have always found them to be a little tricky to catch. So, when I do fish for them, I check tides and tide tables religiously. Once fishing, I work ledges and drop-offs keeping my bait as close to the bottom as possible.

The preferred method by many is jigging for lingcod. I like trolling for them using 4 to 8 oz swimbaits. It’s a lot of work and you must be on your toes since you are constantly bringing gear up and/or dropping it back down. But it can be a very effective way of hooking these “bucket heads” as they are sometimes called.

On opening day this year, my group of two and I were greeted by a beautiful sunny morning. Knowing I just missed the tide change on an ebb tide, I choose to fish the northwest side of Gabriola. Trolling two of my favorite 4 oz swimbaits, I watched my depth as I began to work an edge. Once alongside of Gabriola Island near the old Cannery, we finally started having some action. Unfortunately, our customers where Quillback, Cooper Rock Fish, and a very nice Yellow Eye and an undersized Lingcod. We still hadn’t found our prize fish.

With about an hour left in the trip, I was bringing up the gear as the depth changed from 160 to 90 feet when I noticed a slight bounce on the portside rod. I grabbed the rod yanking the line off the clip. I quickly handed the rod over to my guest and asked, “feel any better this time?” “Oh yes” was the reply. Five minutes later, we had our first nice lingcod aboard. Oh yeah!

If you enjoy eating white meat from the ocean, Lingcod is the way to go. And, with salmon closed until the beginning of June, it is all we’ll be fishing for. As I tell my guests, May is the month for Lingcod.

Another Day in Paradise!

It doesn't happen every trip but this morning it did. Great weather, superb fishing and whale sightings. Fishing for Chinook salmon has been surprisingly good considering all of the herring (bait fish) that are currently in the area. In fact, it may be the best I've seen in years. The fish are also larger than average for this time of year. Of the 5 fish we hooked in less than three hours, 4 were close to the mid teens (12/13 lbs or 5 kgs ). Crabbing also remains fair to good as well. With just over a week to go before the Chinook salmon season closes (April 1st), now is the time to get out there and enjoy the amazing scenery, awesome fishing and hopefully..., some warmer weather :).

Adrenaline Rush, Salmon Fishing, Nanaimo B.C.

The adrenaline rush for me usually starts the night before. After all these years, sleep still comes slowly as I lay awake contemplating where I’ll be going and what I’ll be using.

Awakened by my alarm the next morning, I am greeted by a bright orange sunrise. Oh ya, another day in paradise! Dressing in my winter woollies, I grabbed a coffee and drove down to the docks where my trusted steed awaited. Thirty minutes later, I was on my way with four enthusiastic quests eager to embark on a new adventure in life.

After dropping a crab pot, we motored out to the fishing grounds. Ten minutes in, we had our first fish to the boat. Just shy of the legal limit, we released it and doubled back. When the rod went off this time, I knew we were into a better fish. Handing the rod over to an experienced angler, it was smiles all the way in. A beautiful 75 cm Chinook. “Largest fish so far this season” I said to my group. What I didn’t know…, it was about to get better. A little over an hour later, the port side rod went off. I knew it big when it hit, popped the clip, and was off on a tear. “Fish on” I cried!

With the rod doubled over, it was the usual deep down head shaking madness followed by a short run halfway to the boat and then another short run beside the boat. Finally, she was in the net. Wow, a beauty measuring 76 cm’s. “My heart was beating like crazy” said the women once the fish was aboard. Yep, I thought to myself. Its something I have often heard my guests say after fighting one of these incredible fish. They truly can be an adrenaline rush.

We boxed one more fish that morning before heading back to retrieve the crab pot full of Dungeness. What a day! What a gift! As their first Westcoast salmon adventure, it was an exhilarating experience. I am sure it will not be their last.

A Pot of Gold and A Cooler of Fish

More and more, I hear my guests talk about the beauty of British Columbia when they see it from the water. This past Sunday, January 12, it was the stunning skyscapes that captivated us. The forecast had been for a sunny day with light winds. A favorable combo for my 4 guests who hailed from Saskatchewan. Instead, it was windy with a unique mixture of storm clouds above us while to the east snow-covered mountains gleamed in the clear skies of the morning sun. Unsettling yet stunning at the same time! We even managed to see a rainbow (you can just make it out in the first photo). And you know what they say about rainbows, there is always a pot of gold on the other side. We were not disappointed!

The action that morning started off slow. Nothing for the first 45 minutes. And then, almost as if someone turned on a switch, the bite came on. And what a bite! Winter chinook fishing in January typically means weeding through several fish before hooking a good one. Not this time. Most of the fish were well over the legal size limit. We even landed two that topped the tapes at 70 cm. Astonishingly, only two and a half hours into the trip, we had a cooler full of fish. Then, as abruptly as the bite turned on, it turned off again. No matter. A good time was had by all!

It's been said that nothing lasts forever. But that morning, we left with amazing memories. Much needed medicine in a world of change and challenge. My guests assured me they’d be back for more.

The 2025 Season Begins for Reel Time Fishing Charters & Marine Tours

It’s a new year which means a new season for Reel Time Fishing Charters & Marine Tours. And for the first time, our first charter was New Year’s Day. With recent reports of good Chinook fishing and favourable conditions for the afternoon (windy and overcast), we set for a few of my favorite hotspots, Horsewell Channel and Neck Point.

Eager to drop the first line, I forgot to set the tension on the starboard side reel. Result? A major bird’s nest…aargh!!! After a few unsuccessful attempts at untangling it, I went over and dropped the port side line before returning to the mess. To my astonishment, it didn’t take more than 60 seconds before my guests were excitingly pointing at a bouncing port side rod. Fish on!

The action was consistent for the remainder of the afternoon. Unfortunately, the fish coming to the boat were all between 59 and 61 cm, just shy of the legal limit. Finally, just past Neck Point, we hit a good one that measured 65 cm. Later that afternoon, in front of Clark Rock, we lost the best fish of the day…, the big one that got away! All in all, a great afternoon on the water with lots of action.

Driving home that afternoon, I was reminded again of how fortunate we are to enjoy such an amazing resource. The beauty of the rocks, beaches, islands, forests, snow capped mountains as well as the rich variety of marine life just never gets old for me. I love this place. And I relish the opportunity of revealing the wild wonder and beauty of BC’s west coast to our guests for another year.

As another season begins, I invite you to join us on one of our fishing adventures or marine tours. Or simply follow us on Facebook or our blog section on our website (www.reeltimewestcoastcharters.com) for regular updates on fishing conditions.

Winter fishing at its best and its only getting better! Good times aboard Reel Time Fishing Charters and Marine Tours.

Chinook Salmon: They fight good, taste good and look good. In addition to the bright silver, purples and greens, the tails on these fish have the most stunning colors and patterns. Another reason we call them the "king" of salmon. Anyways, some really good fishing going on in and around Nanaimo these days. Our winter trips are discounted and we are giving away free Reel Time toques and entering our winter guests into a draw for a free 4 hr. charter. The offer and the season for winter chinook salmon ends April 1st, 2024

Win A Free 4 Hour

This year marks the 10th year Reel Time Fishing Charters & Marine Tours has been in business. To celebrate this milestone, Reel Time is giving away a free 4 hour fishing charter. Those who book a fishing charter with us from the January through March 2024 will have their names put into a draw. On April 1st, we will pick one name from the hat and announce the winner on our page.

Additionally, a big thanks goes out to all of you who have made this dream of mine possible. The last 10 years have been unforgettable. Thank you 🙂

Turk