Vancouver Island Salmon & Halibut Fishing

Vancouver Island Salmon & Halibut Fishing

Saltwater Fishing Excursions

Venture out with your private party aboard one of Clayoquot Venture’s fully equipped and professionally guided 22-26 ft offshore vessels. Chrome bright Chinook and Coho Salmon, as well as powerful Halibut and Bottom fish make up the bounty of these unforgettable excursions. The Tofino area is situated on the migration path of most major Salmon runs, along with a vast underwater shelf that provides ample baitfish and habitat for Halibut and Bottom fish.

A fishing excursion with Jay’s Clayoquot Ventures is an excellent way to promote employee and corporate relations.

Peak seasons are May through October

$110 per hour

Full Day (10 hours) $995

Inquire about Spring & Fall special rates

Morning departures-6 hr minimum
Afternoon departures-5 hr minimum

4-person maximum per vessel
(Some vessels accommodate 5 - Add$10/h )

All bait and premium tackle included

5% GST, refreshments, personal fishing license(s) and optional gratuities not included. Fuel surcharge may apply.

Inshore Saltwater
Light Tackle Fishing Excursions

Experience an exhilarating battle with truly “Wild” Pacific Salmon, while enjoying the scenic and pristine landscape of world famous Clayoquot Sound. Clayoquot Venture’s 18-22 ft. inshore vessels are perfectly suited for fishing the near-shore “Hotspots” among the islands and reefs that create prime habitat for aggressively feeding Salmon.

Let one of Jay’s enthusiastic and highly skilled guides show you what it takes to get “Hooked”.

Peak Seasons are June through October.

$95 per hour

Full Day (10 hours) $850

Inquire about Fall special rates

Morning and afternoon departures available.

Five-hour minimum

3-person maximum per vessel

All bait and premium tackle included

6% GST, refreshments, personal fishing license(s) and optional gratuities not included.
Fuel surcharge may apply.

For your Vancouver Island fishing adventure, venture out with your private party aboard one of Clayoquot Venture's fully equipped and professionally guided 23-25 ft offshore vessels. Chrome bright Chinook and Coho Salmon, as well as powerful Halibut and Bottom fish make up the bounty of these unforgettable excursions. The Tofino area on the west coast of Vancouver Island is situated on the migration path of most major Salmon runs, along with a vast underwater shelf that provides ample baitfish and habitat for Halibut and Bottom fish.

Vancouver Island Salmon & Halibut Fishing

The fishing outlook for the 2007 Salmon and Halibut fishing season in the Tofino-Clayoquot Sound area, on Vancouver Island’s west coast, anglers can expect great fishing opportunities again this season. Some of Vancouver Island’s best early season fishing action for Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon and Halibut takes place among the baitfish rich banks offshore from Tofino B.C., with numerous Chinook Salmon in the 18- 35 lb. class, and Halibut averaging 20-60 lbs. Coho Salmon start off early as 3-5 lb. “Bluebacks” and rapidly grow into tackle testing 8-18 lb. salmon by mid. September.

Most of the early season Salmon and Halibut Fishing in the Tofino B.C. area occurs a short distance off the Vancouver Island coastline at Portland or Raphael pts (4-6 miles), as well as the Hiesen bank (8-10 miles) in 145-200 ft. of water. Pacific Halibut are consistently found along these same banks, attracted by the vast schools of Needlefish, Herring and Sardines that have helped slow the Chinook salmon and Coho Salmon from their migration down the coast of Vancouver Island.

As the 2007 fishing season progresses to early summer, the Tofino B.C. area will once again see a strong return of Chinook and Coho Salmon to both inshore, and open offshore waters along the Vancouver Island coastline. This time of the fishing season often provides reliable Bottom fishing, as well as inshore Salmon Fly fishing and light tackle fishing opportunities that continue through late September. The Tofino-Clayoquot Sound area has been labeled as Vancouver Island’s premier local for the exciting growth fishery of saltwater fly fishing for Salmon. We most often use a fast action 8 wt. Fly Rod and an anodized large arbour Fly Reel loaded with 300-600 gr. Sink tips to fly fish for Chinook and Coho Salmon in the Tofino B.C. area.

The diverse habitat of Clayoquot Sound, with a myriad of Reefs, Kelp beds and Islands offers the ideal setting to cast or Bucktail (surface skip fly) flies for Chinook and Coho Salmon, and various species of Rockfish.

The last stretch of the summer fishing season on Vancouver Island’s west coast will provide the best fishing opportunities for Chinook Salmon in the “Tyee” class, with the 2007 outlook for hatchery origin Chinook Salmon forecast to be abundant. The many islands and reefs that scatter along Vancouver Island’s outer coastline are the traveling and feeding corridors for maturing Chinook and Coho Salmon. Consider fishing the Tofino area Hot Spots like Wilf Rock, Blundan Island or Tree Island. During the past few years, the offshore areas along the Vancouver Island coastline have consistently produced the “Slabs” as well during this time.

Like many other areas along the Vancouver Island coastline, Anchovies or Medium Herring trolled 6-7 ft. behind a flasher will often be the gear of choice for fishing Chinook and Coho Salmon. Many anglers have also been relying on 7 inch Tomic plugs, and spoons like Oki’s Titan, or Gibb’s Gator in glow patterns. This method is extremely effective for Halibut fishing as well for the Tofino B.C. area.

The late fishing season months of mid September through late October on the west coast of Vancouver Island deserves strong consideration, as there are great fishing opportunities for the largest Chinook and Coho Salmon of the season. Vancouver Island anglers visiting the area to experience this great fishery do not require a large boat or to travel great distances. This time of the year still provides great offshore fishing for “Feeder” Chinook Salmon, Halibut and Bottom-fish, as well as a strong outlook for Chum Salmon, usually starting in October.

For local Salmon and Halibut fishing information, fishing charters and the appropriate gear requires, stop by and see us at Tofino’s main fishing resource, Jay’s Fly and Tackle. For the various fishing packages that we offer for Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Halibut and Steelhead fishing, please refer to our fishing packages page on this site.