"Good Salmon Fishing"
@ Toquart Bay, Vancouver Island
 Chapter Two: by Zenwaiter : All Rights Reserved/ 2005


The Abbott clan return with the spoils!

Okay, now... where was I in my story? Oh yes. I parked my little Nissan on the beach, next the the campers, and walked down to the dock where the father in law had just returned with Billy and Uncle George. They had about eight fish in the bucket.. Coho and Ling cod.


The 'haul' was big.. weight all under ten pounds.

Seeing the pail of fish, I naturally got excited, and wanted to go out right away. First uncle George cleaned the fish, then out we went in Bill's boat.

The beach you see here is near Uclulet, about a hour sailing to the south. It is called Toquart Bay.


Uncle George cleans the fish. He's really good at it.

Now it's my turn.. so Bill and I head out.


I love the feel of the salty air, and I'm mesmerized by the colour in the wake.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO!

We run out about ten miles, and the waves aren't too bad. We are hoping to get lucky on the next bite.


Billy hauls in the first one, a seven pound Coho. He bonks it on the head, and we troll on.


Bill's little Coho.


Bill's wife gets a shot of us.


The girls in the 'kitchen', prepare the feast.

We ate salmon and cod at every meal. The gals in Bill's family kept us well fed, but also did their share of fishing too. Life on the beach is prime, and time seems to stand still, as the relaxing sound of waves lap up on the beach behind us.



George the expert fisherman knows what to do.

Atfer we ate, uncle George pulled out a special shucking tool, and got to work popping open the fresh oysters that the girls found on the beach while we were out fishing. These were fried over the fire with butter and garlic, what a treat.


Todd from the next camp, bring home the prize.

The night before I left, the kid at the next campsite over, showed off his 28 pounder. "It's my first time fishing", he said, beginners luck we answered. He also had the pleasure of having a huge whale breech about thirty yards from his little pleasure craft, not one time, but thrice! He had photos of the whale jumping straight up out of the water, and another of a monster tail only a foot from the stern, but I couldn't transfer them to my camera. I should have had my lap top with me.

This catch was great, but didn't beat the old guy on our other side, who caught a 38 pound Spring, the day before I arrived.


The next morning early, I headed out for Tahsis, and left Toquart Bay behind.

Chapter Three.. Click Here

 

Jim's Fishing Charters: Tahsis BC