BC Spearing Trip: Round 3 (2008)

[Amphibious]

Colin, I have tried contacting Lindsey about the photos, but I haven't heard back from him.

lee

thanks Lee, he has a couple of me holding up that big hawg Quillback with snow capped beaks in the back. would love a copy for the book

Colin I meant Florida, yes.

Best to email Jimdoe, he is the man with the plan down here!

As for Liveaboard:

downsides for all the previous mentioned things. I really like the setup we have at Telegraph cove, but the amount of fish was very disapointing this year. as much as I dislike the idea, some huge closures and tightened limits are going to be needed if the rockfish and lingcod are ever going to come back. sad

 

[feign]

What about the Queen Charlotte islands? No joke. Pack up vans off north vancouver island and ferry across. Get the nautical charts, find walls, possibly get a boat involved, camp, go back in time to the reefs probably 20 years. The fish regs up there tells me something....

limits: lincod 3 with no size restriction, possess 6
rockfish 5, possess 10

 

[Erik]

^ yeah that ^ We Albertans could also go through Prince Rupert.

 

[bcspearo]

Always have wanted to dive the charlottes, hear it's freakin' stellar.

 

[feign]

^ yeah that ^ We Albertans could also go through Prince Rupert.

That is also a good thought. Another possibility for Alberta people is to fly to Comox or Nanaimo, meet up with others and rent a 12 passenger van, pack up and drive/ferry the rest. The only reason being to share ferry cost. The limitation would be amount of gear with the flight. Though by driving the prince Rupert Route, even mainland BC people could come that way instead of going out to Vancouver island.

Lars has a brother-in-law who is native and has land or a cabin somewhere in the Queen Charlottes. I will talk to him about it, maybe we have a connection.

lee

 

[JPPLAY]

Let me know where you are thinking on the Island Lee. I will check out the nautical maps as I know live on the west coast so I got rather easy access to them.
I think the trouble with the Queen Charlotte's is that the only boats that we probably can get access to are owned by fishing lodges which charges an arm and a leg for their gear. If the shore diving is fine then no big deal. It matters also how comfortable everyone is doing longer swims out to reefs.

 

[DeepRN]

Good point James. We'd have to look into these things. Bri and I have a friend that spent a few years on the south Charlottes (Bri's coworker). She'd have potential contacts. We (not too long ago) listened to her talking about an area that has hot springs very close to the ocean's edge.

We definitely wouldn't go hungry

I've heard that the ferry is totally dependent on weather, and is therefore hit and miss. Sounds like people have had to wait for extended periods before crossing (ie couple of days).

 

[Amphibious]

That is also a good thought. Another possibility for Alberta people is to fly to Comox or Nanaimo, meet up with others and rent a 12 passenger van, pack up and drive/ferry the rest. The only reason being to share ferry cost. The limitation would be amount of gear with the flight. Though by driving the prince Rupert Route, even mainland BC people could come that way instead of going out to Vancouver island.

Lars has a brother-in-law who is native and has land or a cabin somewhere in the Queen Charlottes. I will talk to him about it, maybe we have a connection.

lee

Why not just fly into PG, and catch a puddle jumper to Rupert? or drive from PG (7hrs). the ferry from northisland to PR is very very expensive, and slow.

as much as I love TC, QCI could be very interesting.....

 

[bcspearo]

Pacific Coastal Airlines has a flight right into Queen Charlotte city from vancouver too, and there is a car rental at the airport there as well - if you wanted to miss the ferry altogether.

 

[jimdoe2you]

That is probably what I will do since I have a credit with Pacific Coastal Airlines from June when I was unable to go to TC at the last possible second.

 

[Erik]

'threadjack': Jim my gear arrived yesterday, thanks a heap! Very nice!

 

[Fondueset]

It always begins like that. And then the dreams begin...then the blank spots in your memory; the strange tatoos; Soon you wake up by the side of the road naked, with owl feathers in your teeth..

 

[cdavis]

So that's what was in my mouth yesterday. Or was it the day before?

On point, what's the water temp in the Queen Charlottes?

Connor

 

[Erik]

So that's what was in my mouth yesterday. Or was it the day before?

On point, what's the water temp in the Queen Charlottes?

Connor

Probably 8 to 10C that time of year Connor. I'm thinking warm lodge to sleep in.

 

[cdavis]

Very warm lodge. If I'm translating right, that's about 45-50 degrees F. I was thinking maybe I could beef up a 3 mil Elios with some kind of underlayer, but that temp is pretty foreign territory to this southern boy. Anybody out there have any experience trying to make a 3 mil work in that kind of water?

Connor

 

[Amphibious]

If I'm translating right, that's about 45-50 degrees F. I was thinking maybe I could beef up a 3 mil Elios with some kind of underlayer, but that temp is pretty foreign territory to this southern boy. Anybody out there have any experience trying to make a 3 mil work in that kind of water?

Connor

Claire tried, she's one hardcore dive chicky. me, I prefer a 7mm top and 5mm bottoms

 

[jimdoe2you]

Conner, if you are coming this next trip I will make sure you have the right wetsuit to borrow. I have a ton of them. Also this weekend there is a chance Colin and I will be at Blue Spring since they are about to close it!!!

 

[DeepRN]

Conner, if you are coming this next trip I will make sure you have the right wetsuit to borrow. I have a ton of them. Also this weekend there is a chance Colin and I will be at Blue Spring since they are about to close it!!!

Now that's an offer! I'd bite if I were you.

Jim/Colin - if you guys get out together, take/post some photos (the clean ones at least)

 

[Erik]

I've done it in 3mm suit with vests and dry gloves, but really the answer is a good 7mm or 5mm with a vest, otherwise you're hypothermic by day 2 or 3.

 

[Fondueset]

I'd say 5 mil minimum for sure -that's what I had and I got really cold - but still made most of the dives. I have a 6 smooth out top and 6 bottoms now.I think it'll do. Claire did a four hour dive the last day in her 3 mil!!