Port Alberni, “Alberni Valley Fishing Capital” is known as a small-boat-and-trailer place — a fairly short trip from other Island centres — in contrast with far-flung west coast salmon fishing destinations on the Island. Part of the appeal is ease of access to the outer inlet and beyond.
“In Port Alberni’s favour, the best thing we still have is Robertson Creek,” says Doug Lindores, who operates Silvers Charters. “And people have been instrumental in building small streams with coho.”
Robertson Creek Hatchery, located on the Upper Stamp River, has substantially boosted the rivers’ natural production and helps to sustain commercial, First Nations and recreational fishing opportunities.
“We have few or no restrictions because of the returns of fish are much larger,” Cole says. On the inside waters of the Salish Sea, anglers typically face more fishing restrictions, he notes.
There are unique factors that lend substance to the capital claim. As one example, Cole cites nearby Nahmint River, which still has a steelhead fishery and “where you used to see the real monster chinook, the six- and seven-year-olds.” A theory holds that the Nahmint chinook stock withstood the last ice age, unlike chinook elsewhere.
“By DNA, they found that the fish from the Nahmint River repopulated all the rivers from here to Alaska,” he explains. “That’s a pretty amazing story. They’re quite iconic in many ways.”
Nahmint Bay is closed to fishing protect the stock, but they have made substantial progress on restoring productivity, transplanting brood stock in the lower river. Further down Alberni Inlet lies Barkley Sound, though, which offers superb fishing year-round.
David Murphy grew up fishing in Port Alberni. His father once managed Clutesi Haven Marina. He fondly remembers fishing “as a 14-year-old, in a tin boat, catching a 42-pounder in the harbour.
“Everyone had a boat. The whole town fished. It’s what you did,” he recalls.
Murphy has made fishing his career as a guide and lodge operator. Though Murphy Sportfishing Charters operates primarily on the outer west coast now, Murphy returns for summer steelhead in Port Alberni.
“There’s probably more steelhead in the Stamp than all other Vancouver Island rivers combined,” he said.
Salmon fishing has changed over the decades. Declines in ocean productivity widely believed to be the result of climate change and increased competition for habitat from ocean ranching have affected local fishing over the last 30 years, Murphy says.
Fishing reports vary from season to season with some saying 2019 was better than 2020. In Campbell River’s favour, fishing last summer was the best seen in 20 years, Murphy notes.
And Port Alberni, the Alberni Valley Fishing Capital? The tyee club managed to pull off one of the few fishing derbies held along the coast during a summer when others were cancelled due to pandemic concerns. To be on the safe side, the derby ran without its usual dockside festival. Tickets still sold out.
Jasken sees plenty of room for improving the event in future, making it more inclusive and fun, reinforcing the Ultimate Fishing Town brand that she spearheaded a decade ago.
“We truly believe we are.”