WHERE REAL FISHING STORIES BEGIN! The best things in life are the people we care about, the places we’ve been, and the memories made along the way. Welcome to Reel Obsession… Zeballos BC Imagine rocky mountains towering above crystal blue Pacific waters, sandy beaches with magnificent rock formations, spectacular wildlife, and fishing that is second to none! That’s what you’ll find at Reel Obsession Sport Fishing on the west coast of Vancouver Island. We’re heading into our 24th year of operation, and you don’t have to look too hard into our background to realize that our dedicated team goes ..read more

The Nanaimo River hatchery was initiated in 1978 to maximize benefits to the local fishers and restore Nanaimo River chum, coho, and Chinook stocks. In this video, I talk about the Nanaimo River Hatchery on Vancouver Island, and interview Brain Hermann, Assistant Manager. We discuss the current state of the hatchery, its stagnated funding from the 90’s, and its challenges to maintain operation. The Nanaimo Hatchery is unfortunately not known to many, despite the hatchery’s importance to the ecosystem and locality. Nanaimo River Hatchery Contact Information Partner group: Nanaimo River St ..read more

This article is written by Dr. Richard Beamish, an Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia recipient, and an internationally respected scientist and salmon researcher. Background There are unprecedented changes occurring in the population dynamics of Pacific salmon across their north Pacific distribution. The BC commercial salmon fishery has collapsed with recent average annual catches only a fraction of those from 1970-2000. The collapse of the commercial salmon fishery in British Columbia with the colours representing the different species. (Data Source: North Pacific Anadromous Fish C ..read more

Your ultimate anglers experience lies within Newton Cove. Located at the tail end of the Espinosa Inlet, Newton Cove sits 5 minutes from offshore fishing opportunities. Time is valuable in life and especially when it comes to fishing. Having the ability to turn the corner and have direct access to the offshore waters is something that truly sets Newton Cove Resort apart. Let us do the work for you with our All-Inclusive Packages. Featuring guided fishing, gourmet dining and luxury lodging. From a 4-Course meal at dinner to fireside apps during the evening, we’ve got everything covered. Learn m ..read more

There is a David and Goliath struggle going on between Port Renfrew, a small coastal hamlet on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island with less than 500 permanent residents, and the Department of Fisheries (DFO) bureaucracies in Ottawa and the Pacific Region. The issue is over what the community sees as punitive and unsupported angling proposals for 2024 intended to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs). Chris Tucker, Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce President Port Renfrew depends on recreational angling for a significant portion of its economic activity. Its loss, according to Cha ..read more

The Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) has announced the winner of the 2024/2025 Salmon Conservation Stamp Art Competition. Chosen from 19 entries in this year’s competition, Dale Cooper was awarded first place with his submission titled Pursuit. The acrylic painting will be featured on this year’s Salmon Conservation Stamp, a required purchase to catch and keep any Pacific salmon caught in British Columbia’s marine environment. Curtis Atwater was named runner-up, and Donnie Hughes took home third place in the contest. PSF warmly congratulates all 19 artists who took part in the competition ..read more

On February 27, 2024, over 300 anglers, angling industry stakeholders and others attended a town hall meeting in Langford to discuss their concerns and frustrations with salmon fishing regulations, and closures that are economically and culturally impacting local communities known for their world class salmon fisheries. The meeting was led by the South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition (SVIAC), which is a non-profit advocacy group founded in 2012, “Dedicated exclusively to ensure there will be abundant fish, a healthy productive habitat, and thriving public fisheries in our region for generat ..read more

On February 21, 2024 in Victoria, BC., the Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Hon. Diane Lebouthillier, publicly congratulated the Nature Trust of BC (NTBC) for the endorsement they received from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) because of their Enhancing Estuary Resilience in Coastal BC projects. From L-R: Wes Shoemaker, Jonathan Wilkinson, Steven Henstra, Larry George (Photo DFO Media Relations) This recognition is prestigious and recog ..read more

2024/2025 Draft Fisheries Plan Background On February 13, 2024, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) released the Northern and Southern BC Draft Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMPs). These documents can be intimidating, not only because of the combined 1,072 pages, but by the contents. Despite their complexity, IFMPs determine how BC’s fisheries will be conducted between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2025. This information article will explain what these documents are, and how anglers can find key information about recreational fisheries. In the DFO’s covering email, IFMPs “Set ou ..read more

Monkey Creek is a small stream that flows into Quatsino Sound on the northern end of Vancouver Island. This is remote country with wild streams and wild salmon. Even so, these watersheds have felt the impact of salmon harvest excesses and industrial encroachment. The west coast of Vancouver Island was ground zero for a lengthy salmon war between Canada and the US, one that was not resolved until the signing of the Pacific Salmon Treaty in 1985. Prior to the agreement, Canada’s commercial fisheries intentionally overfished salmon bound for the northwest US. This was in retaliation for Alaska’s ..read more