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Small Town, Big Fishing Problem!Small Town,Big Fishing Problem! by Ron Kirstein, edited by Lisa Cole Port Renfrew is a small Canadian town with a major fishing problem. The problem is the sport fishing is great and only a few people know that. We arrive in Port Renfrew in late afternoon. Port Captain Quigley greets us at the entrance to Osprey Cabins. Quigley and his family provide these comfortable cabins in a beautiful rural setting - and there's an outdoor hot tub to boot! Their place is one of the most popular accommodations in Port Renfrew, and their rates are very reasonable. Captain Quigley is one of the most skilled and knowledgeable guides we've ever met. We've been out with the affable "Captn Quig" before, at his other fishing operation in Sooke, BC. (45 minutes west of Victoria), so we know we're in good hands! The alarm shatters our solid sleep at 5 a.m. We're on the water by 6:00. The sun is just coming up behind us as we speed westward, heading towards the mouth of the Port San Juan Inlet. Quigley's boat is fast and powerful. We hang on to our seats as we bounce over the big waves! We stop just off Camper's Bay, where the West Coast Trail from Port Renfrew meets the "Pacific Ocean" for the first time. The shoreline cliffs were spectacular and carved into numerous huge dark caves. Captain Quigley pointed over the port side towards the open Pacific. "Next stop Hawaii, and that-away Japan!" The water is as calm as it ever gets out here, but the rolling swells are huge. The sun is shining brightly now, but cool dark fog is already rising from the water, cloaking the cliffs. It looks like the trees are suspended in the air far above us. Captain Quigley tells us we're sure to catch some big ones today. Swiftsure Bank, where Juan de Fuca Strait drops off into the deep blue Pacific, is where halibut and salmon are most plentiful. It's hard to believe we're fishing on the edge of the open Pacific Ocean. The first one I catch is a screamer! They call it that because it grabs the bait and takes off. The line literally 'screams' as the fish runs. Quigley knows what to do. He puts the boat in gear and chases the fish. My eyes almost pop when I look down at the reel and there are only about 3 wraps of line left! In seconds, the fish had run almost 300 yards of line. I reel as fast as I can until the line's tight again and the fight's back on. Non-stop excitement, boats all around us are getting strike after strike. On Quigley's radio, we can hear the guides sharing information about their catches - "Double strike, 40 feet down!" They all share their success so everyone else can succeed too. Even when there's a lull, and the fish aren't biting, Captain Quigley is entertaining us. He teaches us his latest fish-luring chant and the accompanying dance: "Chinook, Chinook - Bite on my hook, my hook!" There is never a dull moment on board. And when the fish are biting, Quigley is a very patient teacher: "Let him run! That's it… He's got the whole boat to play with. Let him tire himself out…" Later, Quigley tells us a story about the biggest fish ever landed on his boat. He had taken an elderly couple on an expedition, and it was turning out to be a disappointingly uneventful day - not one bite! Until they decided to turn back…. Then, all of a sudden, they got a nibble. It was a huge struggle, but with Quigley's help, they reeled it in - a 52 pounder! Now that's a really big salmon. It went on to win several categories in the fishing derby. We catch our limit long before the charter's over, each fish is in the twenty-pound range. We had about 100lbs of fish on board, enough to feed us all winter! (We were fishing for spring salmon as the Coho and Sockeye fisheries were temporarily closed.) When I made dinner that night, back in Victoria, one fillet filled the grill on my barbeque! Five people dug in and there was 2/3 left over! We're talking serious salmon here, folks! Small town, big fishing problem - right? Now you know. About the author: Ron Kirstein is the owner of a Canadian Travel & Tourism Web site (since 1995). Ron has traveled the length and breadth of Vancouver Island BC Canada in search of adventures - see - http://tourismmall.victoria.bc.ca/travelmagazine pictures of Circulated by Article Emporium A Guide to Rocky Mountain Vacations - The legendary Rocky Mountains stretch from New Mexico up through the United States and into Canada. The Rocky Mountains are over 3000 miles long, spanning parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming before continuing into Canada. Stories of early adventurers like Lewi... Top Ten Secrets to Saving Big Money in the Airline Flights Do you know that some people travel around the country and abroad, for both business and pleasure, and save bundles of money in the process? 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The problem is the sport fishing is great and only a few people know that. We arrive in Port Renfrew in l... Student Travel – Backpacking In Europe For the fortunate few, life isn't complete without a backpacking trip through Europe. This right of passage is believed to further the maturation process of college students, according to sociologists. Of course, others have opined that copious amounts of alcohol, sun and Amsterdam... Travel Journals – Preserve Your Travel Experiences Traveling is a great way to escape the rat race and experience new cultures and places. Alas, your experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a travel journal for your trips. Travel Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to... The Costa del Sol, Europe's Premier Holiday Destination. Since the 1960's and the advent of package holidays the Costa del Sol has always been one of the premier holiday destinations in Europe, and with good reason. 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