Fishing Charters Tofino, Ucluelet
Both Tofino and Ucluelet have a good number of fishing charters to choose from. If you are looking to choose which town to pick from you have to weigh proximity and numbers of fish you would like to catch. Ucluelet has been a commercial fishing town for many years and has become a sport fishing town the past 20 years. It is more of a destination place where people come in for a few days to take out their catch. Ucluelet has the largest amount of feeding areas for salmon along the coast of British Columbia. For consistent numbers of salmon it is one of best places on the west coast because of its has access to most banks of both Bamfield and Tofino. Fishing charter boat sizes average between 24-30 feet.
Tofino can also have some good fishing during stretches of the summer and is popular for 4-6 hour trips for those with many other activities planned. Tofino can have some good coho fishing later in September depending on the year. If you are a single looking to fish and find others to match up with, you may have have more success with Tofino charters. Tofino has a busy harbour with float planes, whale watching boats, taxis and personal boats all with a beautiful backdrop. Fishing charter boat sizes average between 22-25 feet.
Fishing charters in both locations will provide all the gear and tackle for your trip. Canadians can find fishing licenses online and Americans should buy their licenses at a local tackle shop if they want to keep halibut.
Fishing Charters
Salmon Eye Charters – Ucluelet Salmon and Halibut Trips
Salmon Fishing Trips that are action packed and well worth the money. 50lbs a day guaranteed on 2+day Fishing packages Silver-Signature. Watch salmon fishing videos, see a picture blog, and read about salmon fishing techniques on a fishing blog. We have 27-29ft boats with large heated cabins and large
Ucluelet is 30 mins south of Tofino and is one of the hotspots in the world for large amounts of salmon coming to the feeding ground just off Ucluelet. Experience action like you would in very few places. Ucluelet is a destination for salmon fishing where people come from all over the world.
Fish with an experienced guide who has been guiding for 20+ years. Fish in a 29′ boat with a heated cabin, coffee maker and more. This boat is rigged for comfort and pleasure.
Other Details
What should you bring?
Most fishing charters will have the gear necessary to take you fishing. Usually the only thing you need to get is your fishing license and motion sickness medication if you haven’t ever been fishing offshore before. You should also check with your charter to see if they have rain gear. Most charter boats in both Tofino and Ucluelet have walk around cabins which mean there is not as much protection for guests, so make sure you are protected from the coastal weather. Most have toilets, though it is always good to ask about the accessibility and space around the head.
Best times of the year:
The best fishing time of the year is usually June 15 to September 15, though April, May and early June can bring some rewarding fishing.
Fishing Trends:
2016 should be a great year for 4 year Chinook returning into the local Stamp River system in Port Alberni which means that fishing along the shore toward Ucluelet and Barclay Sound should be very good in the later part of the season. Fishing has also been good close to shore the past couple years during June and July. The Columbia River has been producing at record levels the past few years and many of the Chinook pass by Tofino and Ucluelet. During 2015 halibut fishing started to get good in May and seemed to taper off a bit near the end of September. For the past few years halibut fishing generally lasts well in to September, so this was a little earlier than normal.
The catch limits are posted below.
Catch Limits | |||
---|---|---|---|
Species | Daily Limit | Possesion Limit | Min. Size |
Chinook (King) | 2 | 4 | 25 inches |
Coho (Silvers) | 2* | 4* | 12 inches |
Pink | 4 | 8 | 12 inches |
Chum | 4 | 8 | 12 inches |
Sockeye | 4* | 8* | 12 inches |
Halibut | 1* | 2* | N/A |
Ling Cod | 3* | 6* | N/A |
* On West Coast of Vancouver Island only | |||
* Sockeye limits subject to change | |||
Possession limit is amount you can take home. | |||
Combined daily limit of all salmon is 4 and possesion limit is 8 |