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You're in good hands

Book your trip with confidence — We only work with the best local guides that know where to put you on fish.

About Your Trip

Water Type

Inshore, Nearshore

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

About Your Trip

Experience the salmon fishing of British Columbia's Salish Sea with Captain Dan on a private charter departing from Northwest Bay, just south of Parksville.

Choose between a 4–5 hour half-day trip or a 7–8 hour full-day adventure depending on how much time you want to spend chasing salmon. The half-day is an excellent option for families, visitors, and first-time anglers, while the full day gives serious fishermen more time to cover water, work productive tides, and adjust throughout the day as conditions change.

Salmon are the main event, with Chinook being one of the area's signature targets. Dan has spent years fishing the waters surrounding Nanoose Bay and Northwest Bay and will plan your day around the season, tides, weather, and current fishing conditions. Depending on what's happening on the water, that could mean moving to different areas throughout the Salish Sea in search of productive fishing.

You'll fish aboard a spacious 33' Sea Ray Sundancer powered by twin MerCruiser 5.0L V8 engines. The boat's stable offshore design, comfortable seating, and spacious layout provide plenty of room for groups of up to 4 guests to fish and enjoy the surrounding Vancouver Island scenery.

Rods, tackle, bait, fuel, and required onboard safety equipment are included, and Dan will clean and bag your catch after the trip. Guests should bring their own food and drinks, weather-appropriate layers, and a valid BC Tidal Waters fishing licence.

Half-day trips are available with morning and afternoon departures, while full-day trips head out in the morning. Whether you're looking to catch your first salmon or dedicate a full day to exploring this incredible fishery, Dan will tailor the experience to your group and the conditions.

Amenities

Water Type

Inshore, Nearshore

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Fish Cleaning

This guide will clean your catch for you.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Live Bait

Live bait is included for this trip.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to small children.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 7 days before the trip.

Languages

English, French

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

Lunch

Please provide your own food / snacks.

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Pricing Matrix

	4 hours	8 hours
1 Person	$525.00	$850.00
2 People	$525.00	$850.00
3 People	$525.00	$850.00
4 People	$525.00	$850.00

Pay 25% of the price as a deposit today, with the balance due on the day of the trip.

About Your Guide

Dan V.

Independent Guide

Talkative

Laid-back

Instructional

Beginner Oriented

Comfortable

Quality

Captain Dan has spent years fishing and exploring the waters surrounding Northwest Bay, Nanoose Bay, Parksville, and the Salish Sea, and he loves sharing this incredible part of Vancouver Island with his guests.

A Transport Canada-certified captain with SVOP, SDV-BS, ROC-M, and First Aid certifications, Dan puts safety first while keeping every trip relaxed, welcoming, and personal.

Whether you're hoping to catch your first Chinook, spend a full day chasing salmon, search for wildlife, or...

About Your Guide

Dan V.

Independent Guide

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Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

A 55-pound Nile perch caught in the Nile River near Murchison Falls, Uganda—upriver from where Ernest Hemingway crashed his plane and downriver from where Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn filmed The African Queen. Definitely a fishing trip I’ll never forget.

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

BBQ’d fresh local Chinook and Coho salmon, Pacific spot prawns tossed in lemon-garlic butter, Dungeness crab, herb-roasted baby potatoes, and a Greek salad.

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

BBQ’d fresh local Chinook and Coho salmon, Pacific spot prawns tossed in lemon-garlic butter, Dungeness crab, herb-roasted baby potatoes, and a Greek salad.

What’s your favorite band?

Oasis. I saw them in ’95 and ’96—the ’96 show lasted all of three songs before someone threw a shoe that hit Liam Gallagher in the face and the band walked off stage. I’ve been an Oasis fan ever since.

What’s your favorite movie?

The Lost Boys. I’ve loved it since I was a kid—the soundtrack, the humour, the vampires, and that classic ’80s feel. It’s one of those movies I can watch over and over again.

What’s your favorite sports team?

Unfortunately, the Vancouver Canucks. It’s been a lifetime of suffering, with just enough success sprinkled in every 14 years or so to keep me coming back.

What’s your drink of choice?

Diet Coke. Probably more of it than i’d like to admit.

What was your last halloween costume?

Superman. The costume may have been slightly more convincing than the superhero.

What do you want for Christmas this year?

To have all of my kids and family together in one place. That’s really all I need.

How did you get started guiding?

Some of the best days of my childhood and early adulthood were spent fishing, and some of the best days of my life still are. I love being on the water and sharing that experience with other people, so becoming a guide just seemed to make sense.

What makes you different from other guides?

Every trip is about more than just catching fish—it’s about the experience and the stories you take home. On one of my recent trips, a client reeled in a spring salmon only to discover a four-foot spiny dogfish had grabbed onto it on the way up! We couldn’t keep the dogfish, so both went back into the ocean. You never know what’s going to happen out there, and that’s part of what I love about taking people fishing.

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Start Location & Lodging Options

Nanaimo E, British Columbia, Canada

Areas Fished

About Your Boat

Boat photo for Salish Sea Salmon Fishing

Boat Type: Cuddy Cabin
Boat Manufacturer: Sea Ray
Boat Length: 33'
Boat Restroom: No

About Your Boat

Boat Type: Cuddy Cabin
Boat Manufacturer: Sea Ray
Boat Length: 33'
Boat Restroom: No
Additional Amenities: Spacious deck, comfortable seating, stable offshore design, fishing equipment and tackle, bait, safety equipment, fuel, experienced captain/guide, fish cleaning and bagging.

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Trip Details & Amenities

Water Type

Inshore, Nearshore

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Fish Cleaning

This guide will clean your catch for you.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Live Bait

Live bait is included for this trip.

Weather

You won't lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to small children.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 7 days before the trip.

Languages

English, French

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

Lunch

Please provide your own food / snacks.

Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .

View Full Species Seasonality Chart »

Get it while it's HOT!
This species is in play.
You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

Techniques

Light Tackle Fishing

Everything Else to Know

Everything is included, but we also recommend bringing sunglasses, sunscreen, weather-appropriate clothing, and anything else you might want on the trip.

You'll need to buy a fishing license before getting out there. Find out more about licenses here.

We use a cashless autopay system. We'll send you a boarding pass, and on the day of the trip, your guide will scan your boarding pass to automatically transfer the remaining balance. The only cash needed is to tip your guide (we recommend 20%).

Cancel for free up to 7 days before the trip and receive credit back to your account. Cancelling within 7 of the trip will forfeit your deposit to the guide. Day-of cancellations and no-shows will be charged the full balance of the trip to their card.

In the event of inclement weather you'll be covered by out 100% Weather Guarantee and will not lose your deposit.

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Trip: Inshore/Nearshore

First Time Booking with Us?

Captain Experiences is home to thousands of quality, vetted fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports guides across the US and beyond. Our mission is to Unlock the Outdoors by making it quick and easy to book the trip of a lifetime every time with our Damn Good Guides.

We vet our guides and only partner with the best of the best. Our guides do their very best to keep you safe, show you a great time, and send you home with a memorable experience shared with family and friends.

Once you've paid your deposit at checkout, we'll send you a QR Code boarding pass. Just show your guide your boarding pass on the day of the trip, they'll scan it, the remaining balance will transfer automatically, and you'll be all set to get out there. Just make sure you bring a cash tip for the guide!

In the event of inclement weather, our guides will check the conditions and make the final call on whether its safe to go on the trip. If they decide the trip needs to be postponed, we'll work closely with you to reschedule or provide a credit for the full deposit, which can be applied to any of our trips in the US and beyond.

Each trip's price is determined by the guide and reflects all associated costs. A significant factor in pricing is often the type of boat and the corresponding fuel expenses. Additional costs may include leases, marina or slip fees, and the expenses involved in providing and maintaining the necessary gear for your trip.

After booking your trip, we'll connect you directly with your guide to discuss additional details. In the meantime, our team is here to answer any questions via email, text, or phone.

Salish Sea Salmon Fishing

About Your Trip

About Your Trip

Pricing Matrix

About Your Guide

About Your Guide

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

Start Location & Lodging Options

About Your Boat

About Your Boat

Trip Details & Amenities

Target Species

Techniques

Everything Else to Know

Recent Reviews of Captain Experiences

First Time Booking with Us?