From the 1,900′ summit of Mount Maxwell on Salt Spring Island, my wife and I looked out over dozens of emerald islands spread out all along the southern horizon. With their forested slopes and rocky shores, these islands are the broken edge of the land, where a continent buckles under an ocean. I opened my sketchbook and drew each hill and bay, and each shadowed shore rising from a silvery sea. We had caught a glimpse of British Columbia’s Gulf islands while aboard the ferry on its hurried passage from the mainland to Vancouver Island, but as I drew the outline of each island I couldn’t help but yearn to trace their contours in my own boat, following my own route on my own schedule.Three years later I slid ROW BIRD, my 18′ Iain Oughtred Arctic Tern, into the waters bordering the town of Sidney on Vancouver Island. I was launching very late in the day—I’d just finished a 200-mile drive from my home in Portland, Oregon, followed by the two-hour ferry ride—but I didn’t mind. Ahead of me I had a week to cruise among the islands I had drawn from the heights of Mount Maxwell, now visible, 8 miles to the north and looming over Sidney’s shore. The southern Gulf Islands, scattered to the east, promised an ever-changing horizon along with the pleasures and challenges of new anchorages.
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Great trip in familiar waters, Bruce! Glad it worked out and thanks for telling us the tale.
I really enjoy reading accounts of trips such as this. Thank you for sharing.
Now that I’ve “swallowed the anchor ” I really enjoy these accounts. Keep them coming!!
Thanks. Your narrative and video were candy for this 87-year- old armchair sailor.
Bill Serle
Another 87 y.o. here. I have kayaked in the area you describe, plus numerous trips on Vancouver Island’s west coast. I like fishing in the kelp beds because they form a habitat for rockfish (copper, calico, quill back, black, etc.) ling cod, and kelp greenling. The latter two are related (“greenling” because their flesh is pale green before cooking). Kelp greenling are a beautiful fish, resembling trout, down to the rosette spots along their flanks. The flesh is fine-grained and delicate in flavor, like Dover sole.
Besides the fishing prospects, tying off to the bull kelp keeps you from being moved around by wind and current. I always tie off with a slip knot so I can skedaddle out of there if conditions should deteriorate.
I never use bait, but always jig with a Buzz Bomb. Fish don’t seem to care what color or pattern the B.B. has, so I favor the ones that I find pretty or attractive. It seems to be the jerky, dancing movement, like an injured baitfish, that gets strikes. I have had black rockfish chase a Buzz Bomb right up to the surface. Unlike the others, that species inhabits the whole water column, and they tend to run in schools, so you may catch several within just a few minutes.