Got a Question, Here's the Answer Board

Frequently asked questions:

1. Q. You have quite a boat there compared to the normal 25-27 ft. charter fishing vessels. What do you charge per day?

A. It depends on what you want to do and for how long. You can get all that information in our Charter Info. (Click on Charter Info.)

2. Q. Do you ever have room for just one person on a fishing trip?

A. Yes, I quite often have groups that lose one of their members due to illness or some personal crisis ( "daughter getting married that weekend..."). I (joking here) call these my "orphans" and when one of the party "masters" have a problem they call me and ask me: " Do you have anybody in the orphanage??" And I put them together. It has worked out quite well on several occasions. The "orphan" has to understand that the dates are non negotiable as the group inviting them along have their dates all set up.

3. Q. Can I bring my kids?

A. You sure can and as you can see by my family pictures in my albums... the boat is perfect for families and I encourage you to bring them on one condition: that you have care and control over them at all times while they are on board. The wheelhouse, steering, controls, and navigational equipment (computer) are all out in the open cabin area and one little finger could be quite disastrous if one little finger pushed the wrong button!! I do have special family rates so that you can bring the kids along. After all, if we don't take our kids fishing, after awhile we guides will all be out of a job!!

4. Q. Do you take Visa?

A. I used to and I guess I could get all that stuff going again, but cheques, including American cheques work just fine. Cash is hard to deal with unless you are paying when on board. Generally all trips are paid for in advance unless you have been with me for a few times.... then all kinds of arrangements are possible.

I'm sure I could work out some sort of arrangement with Quarterdeck Marina so you could use their Visa. They could issue me a credit on my account, or some other arrangement.

5. Q. What happens if the weather goes bad on us ?

A. We have a "Windy Day-Check" (Click on Reservations)

6. Q. When is the best time to go fishing?

A. We can tell you within two weeks on when the peak of the runs are so it will be dependent on what species you are after. Our fishing calendar might help you.

(Click on Fishing)

7. Q. Can I assist with chores?

A. Certainly, just helping out like washing the dishes, the little housekeeping chores that need to be done and don't happen by themselves. Working as a crew together makes things go very smoothly. Most of my groups help out steering ( with me still watching what we are doing!). They love the opportunity to learn how to navigate a fair size vessel and I automatically teach seamanship as we go along. I often let someone with previous boat ownership experience help at the helm so I can get dinner in the oven. It all "works out." Keep in mind that I, as captain, must be "in control and command at all times." I am sure you all appreciate and expect that to happen.

9.Q. I would like to just take my wife out on a trip, do you ever just take two people?

A. Yes I have. The price per day for the boat remains almost the same price as if there were four of you so it is more expensive for just two people. I deduct $40.00/day/person food allowance from the normal rate. I get a few enquiries a year about this and I have often paired a couple of fishermen together but I suppose I could try pairing couples together. Day trips would not be any problem doing this, but overnight trips are a little more intimate given that there is only one area that is more or less private from the main area for sleeping quarters.

10. Q. Fishing licenses..... Where can we get them and what do they cost?

A. A resident license cost $16.96 plus $6.36 for the stamp for a 5 day trip. Non Resident , double that. Quarterdeck Marina in Port Hardy sell fishing licenses. Make sure you pick them up before they close which is usually around 7:00 p.m. each night. If you are driving up island you might stop in and check out "River Sportsman Store". They have a beautiful log building on the Campbell River and the highway north to Port Hardy goes past its door. It is worth the stop. Great displays of wildlife and very helpful staff in that store. If you miss it on the way up, just turn around at Daigle's Boat shop and head back in to Campbell River. MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR LICENSES FOR THE RIGHT DAYS THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY FISHING WITH US.

11. Q. What do I need to bring?

A. (Click on What to Bring)- hit print and use it as a check list.

12. Q. How do our days go?

A. Day# 1. Usually you arrive at the wharf in the afternoon and we do an orientation to the Silver Fox. After supper we go over the safety aspects of our vessel and fishing gear before setting up the beds and retiring for the night. Day #2 If we are on a fishing expedition we start very early in the morning with a quick breakfast on the way out to the fishing grounds which are usually close by. We normally put in about 10 to 12 hours fishing and traveling. Lunch is a popular self serve smorgasbord (Click on Food). I look after the dinner each day. Days 2-3-4 are similar except we usually finish our trip early in the afternoon to allow those who have to travel back down island, the necessary time to do so in daylight. On Fly-N-Fish trips we normally have a fairly experienced crew with us and skip a lot of the orientation process and just do a quick review of any changes in the safety gear. We usually are fishing within an hour of your arrival by plane. By living on board you get lots more time on the water than the normal charter or lodge type fishing trips. The only complaint I often get is that the days all went too fast!