B.C. Deeper Blue Trip 2009

[Erik]

The boat will be set up to accept about 6 divers max.

I'll look again, but I cant see a closure at Haddington Island....

 

[feign]

thanks for setting this up Erik.

crossing my fingers about haddington....

 

[feign]

It looks like Haddington is still closed as a rockfish conservation area, which basically means no recreational fishing.

Fisheries & Oceans Canada - Pacific Region - Rockfish Conservation Areas

 

[Erik]

I'd think that we'd be allowed to look for the legal fish there?

Actually it looks like NO- just found the rules.

 

[feign]

The title rockfish conservation area (RCA) is kind of misleading. Basically, no finfish can be taken. Here is the list of permitted activities in a RCA:

Recreational fishing

invertebrates by hand picking or dive
crab by trap
shrimp/prawn by trap
smelt by gillnet

Here is the link to RCAs
Fisheries & Oceans Canada - Pacific Region - Rockfish Conservation Areas

Lee

 

[Erik]

We should be allowed as we are not endangering rockfish by accidently angling them up from the bottom!
Oh well.

 

[feign]

Excellent point Erik. In fact, by thinning the lingcod population at Haddington we could help the rockfish prosper even more :t

 

[Erik]

Derek has a trailer and is originally from the northern area so hopefully he was a fisherman. He's just getting into dive charters and is all good with what we do. He was surprised to hear the depths we hunt at!
I will call him on Sunday that we get in to TC. I suggest that we meet him Monday AM in Port Hardy and head out towards the islands northwest- that's where we did well last year. TC spots didn't seem too productive IMO.

 

[madprops]

ok it looks like ill be coming! that is if i can meet you guys at the ferry, and hitch a ride with some one up to hardy that has room for me and my stuff??

 

[Erik]

Darcy we'll be loaded up and have a bed set up for the ride so wont have the space in the van. If you're driving to Van, it's only another 4 hous once you're over the ferry. Hope to see you there- it will be one of your best trips ever.

 

[madprops]

crap...... i would be flying to van.

well that puts an end to that tenting trip:head

 

[Erik]

That JMD not reliable enough?

 

[madprops]

it would be a toss up.

well this sucks. i might just go to my moms and do some spearing there pfft who needs friends that know what there doing :blackeye

 

[Erik]

It's worth the drive dude. If you had someone to split costs with you that would help too?

 

[madprops]

It's worth the drive dude. If you had someone to split costs with you that would help too?

yea i really want to come but if i made it there i wouldn't make it back lol

i wish i had some one that wanted to come ill start asking random people :blackeye

and ill beg my mom to give me her car for a week

 

[Erik]

Derek B with the Zodiac will be staying at TC campground too as he lives in Nanaimo. Small world- another friend of mine who lives in Nanaimo that I will be visiting on the way up was talking to a guy at a marine course the other day. The guy stated he was going to be chartering some spearos up in Port Hardy lol. Guess who?

 

[madprops]

my mom broke down when i said all the other kids would laugh at me

how about i meet you guys on the ferry ???

i'm not sure how many days i can come on the boat. ill be lucky if i can come for one!
money is kinda tight

but i'm sure it will be a good time even with no boat.

i'm so pumped

 

[Erik]

It's tough to predict what ferry we can get on Darcy. Saturdays are busy and sometimes you wait in line for a long time. We are hoping to hit the ferry line around noon. I'll have my cel so stay in touch- texts etc.
4 or 5 hours of boat time will be about 100 or 125$/person depending on fuel and tip. Really it's worth every penny, even if you just get on one day. Camping will be about 15$/night or so as well share a spot.

 

[feign]

is Gabe coming?

 

[Erik]

I dont know Lee. I've emailed, phoned, texted, and facebooked everyone that I thought would be interested. Some respond, some don't, and mostly those that do respond can't commit or change their minds.
This will be my last year organizing trips. I've been doing this kind of thing for years, starting when I was a scubadiver many years ago. It's lots of work, emails, long-distance calls, very frustrating and not much thanks, especially when people bail. This year I can eat the bill if nobody shows up, and if I'm on a boat by myself for a few days then I'll do it and enjoy it. I know you're coming out for the first 2 days and I look forward to your company as always. I hope others show up too, mostly because the more the merrier.

I wanted to go to the Charlottes this year but conceded to TC as the place that more people would be able to access, but it looks like it made no difference
Next year I'm going to the Charlottes.