Ideal fishing boat for W. Coast Vancouver Island?
- Thread starter Doryman
- Start date
The American Tugs have a transom door and a swim step so fishing should work OK.. The only problem is if the dingy is stored on the swimstep, it would be in the way of landing fish on the swimstep. The cockpit seems to be near enough to the water to allow fishing from the cockpit.
Since the boats are built in La Conner, it would be easy for you to check them out.
Warren,
I looked at a lot of boats over a 2-3 year period, looking for what you're describing. One interesting NW boat that I looked at long and hard was a Canoe Cove. They are no longer built, but they are tough well built boats. The 37' to 45' sedans have a large cockpit and twin diesels.
The question is, are you going to use the boat to get to the west side of Vancouver Island and then fish protected waters, or do you want to fish in the ocean off of the Sounds. Trolling is an issue with all of the diesel boats. They just don't naturally idle down slow enough to troll for Chinook.
In the end, I bought a boat that is completely different than what I started looking for. I was looking for a sedan with twin diesels, but ended up with a single tri cabin CPMY. I am putting downrigger mounts in the cockpit so that I can use it as a base for my pot puller and coho fishing. I can also drift fish and mooch, but it isn't the best answer for fishing. I think it will be more of a base camp that we will fish from, rather than the fishing platform.
Lyle
I looked at a lot of boats over a 2-3 year period, looking for what you're describing. One interesting NW boat that I looked at long and hard was a Canoe Cove. They are no longer built, but they are tough well built boats. The 37' to 45' sedans have a large cockpit and twin diesels.
The question is, are you going to use the boat to get to the west side of Vancouver Island and then fish protected waters, or do you want to fish in the ocean off of the Sounds. Trolling is an issue with all of the diesel boats. They just don't naturally idle down slow enough to troll for Chinook.
In the end, I bought a boat that is completely different than what I started looking for. I was looking for a sedan with twin diesels, but ended up with a single tri cabin CPMY. I am putting downrigger mounts in the cockpit so that I can use it as a base for my pot puller and coho fishing. I can also drift fish and mooch, but it isn't the best answer for fishing. I think it will be more of a base camp that we will fish from, rather than the fishing platform.
Lyle
Personally, I think you already have the ideal boat for fishing the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the West side of Vancouver Island. "Ideal" is a combination of many factors - cost, trailerability, cost to operate, range, speed etc. Speed does matter if you want to get out to a certain area and back in at a reasonable time or just want to move to another fishing spot at something other than 8-9kts. Sure the pro trawlers do just fine but they stay out for a long time, fish with more efficient techniques (many hooks), really know the areas they are fishing and communicate well between boats. Recreational guys don't want to spend 18-36 hours on the water (or more), often don't have the info that the commercial guys do and don't really NEED to fish in crappy weather since their income doesn't depend on it.
Regardless of what size boat you have, once the weather turns, it's simply not fun to fish. The only real motivation for having a large boat for recreational fishing is that you really need to get far offshore to target the species of interest and hence are highly likely to get caught in terrible weather in which the large boat is required for a safe return. In the strait and in the ocean off the coast of WA or Vancouver Island, most of the fishing is done within 8 miles of shore and very little recreational fishing is done more than 30 miles offshore. In a TomCat, that means you have a less than 1 hour return trip in nearly all cases in nearly all reasonable conditions. Yes, I suppose it possible that you might decide to go out on a day when the waves are >3' and have to return at a low speed like 10-15kts when/if the waves kick up higher. However, if you use your head, and the internet/radio for up-to-date weather predictions, AND most importantly don't ignore changing conditions just to put another fish or two in the boat, you'll not wind up in conditions where you need any more boat than you already have.
Nonetheless if you do decide to 'trade-up' (my quotes since I don't think it would be a trade up), give me a call and let me make an offer on the TC255. It's definitely a better fishing platform for what I do than the CD22 that I have and I've taken that 30 miles off the coast on a few occasions.
Regardless of what size boat you have, once the weather turns, it's simply not fun to fish. The only real motivation for having a large boat for recreational fishing is that you really need to get far offshore to target the species of interest and hence are highly likely to get caught in terrible weather in which the large boat is required for a safe return. In the strait and in the ocean off the coast of WA or Vancouver Island, most of the fishing is done within 8 miles of shore and very little recreational fishing is done more than 30 miles offshore. In a TomCat, that means you have a less than 1 hour return trip in nearly all cases in nearly all reasonable conditions. Yes, I suppose it possible that you might decide to go out on a day when the waves are >3' and have to return at a low speed like 10-15kts when/if the waves kick up higher. However, if you use your head, and the internet/radio for up-to-date weather predictions, AND most importantly don't ignore changing conditions just to put another fish or two in the boat, you'll not wind up in conditions where you need any more boat than you already have.
Nonetheless if you do decide to 'trade-up' (my quotes since I don't think it would be a trade up), give me a call and let me make an offer on the TC255. It's definitely a better fishing platform for what I do than the CD22 that I have and I've taken that 30 miles off the coast on a few occasions.
Westfield 11
New member
Doryman":ejwvnjl3 said:
Am I the only one who finds this funny? In that a trawler IS a fishing boat and that a Nordy is just a trawler type pleasure boat.
Westfield 11":1ivqisrl said:
I see your point. :lol:
I think the difference is recreational fishing vs. commercial fishing. IMHO, the consumer trawlers make lousy recreational fishing boats but if you yank out all the stuff you paid extra $'s for, they could be converted into good commercial fishing boats. The commercial trawlers make great commercial fishing boats but are not really what a recreational fisherman wants. However, if you take all the fancy stuff that you find a consumer trawler and stick it in a commercial trawler, you can convert the commercial trawler to a nice pleasure boat/cruiser. Neither works well for the recreational fisherman who wants to get to the fishing spot in 1 hour or less, fish for 2-8 hours and return home in an hour or less. And do you really want fish guts in the cockpit of your nice Nordy?
Gotta chime in here because BTDT many different ways. We normally go outside via Sooke to Bamfield, and mostly fish way out there off Ucleulet. Boats I have owned and used for this include Bertram 32, Hatteras 34 and 41, Stamas 26, Tomcat 24, Whaler 19, 22 and 26, Skagit Orca, Botved 32, Pierson 26 and 32, and the list goes on. All are good foul weather boats and pretty good fishing boats, but none perfect.
My neighbor has the American Tug and loves it -- I've not fished aboard yet. So what would I buy now? The Lifetimer would be near the head of the list, and a used Canoe Cove way up there. Most of the high-liner BC guides I know use welded aluminum BC built boats -- spendy, but fast. 26-30 ft. generally... They all use big outboards, but I'm with Larry -- too much junk in our water for that for me. Bottom line for me, I guess, would be to accept the possible wipe-out of the outboards and get a heavy, commercial-grade BC built welded boat, and keep lots of insurance. :wink: :wink:
The 255 Tomcat should be fine except driving into some of the really heavy stuff -- and IMO very few cats can handle that.
YMMV
Dusty
My neighbor has the American Tug and loves it -- I've not fished aboard yet. So what would I buy now? The Lifetimer would be near the head of the list, and a used Canoe Cove way up there. Most of the high-liner BC guides I know use welded aluminum BC built boats -- spendy, but fast. 26-30 ft. generally... They all use big outboards, but I'm with Larry -- too much junk in our water for that for me. Bottom line for me, I guess, would be to accept the possible wipe-out of the outboards and get a heavy, commercial-grade BC built welded boat, and keep lots of insurance. :wink: :wink:
The 255 Tomcat should be fine except driving into some of the really heavy stuff -- and IMO very few cats can handle that.
YMMV
Dusty
Westfield 11
New member
I have always wondered why the downeast type boat is not more popular in the PNW. After all they have a full keel to protect the wheel and fairly low sides for fishing.
Should add that I really don't like a deep V with twins in heavy weather. All of my deep V twins were a PITA in any weather where the boat was really rolling. One prop was always out of the water, which makes throttle control a full-time job. When fishing you can always single up, but if you are trying to go someplace like Neah Bay to Bamfield where you are parallel to the swells, yuk. :thdown :thdown
Dusty
Dusty
Dreamer":20xcnlfl said:
Man that is a seriously good looking boat. But it sounds like the big cats don't really offer that much advantage. And following Roger's comments, I guess a bigger/gnarlier boat would not necessarily translate to more fishing days. And possibly even not more ability to avoid having to wait for weather windows.
Warren
I'm impressed that some of you are admiring "beer can" boats. I think one of the ultimate "beer can" boats, more like a keg, is the Rozema.
http://www.rozemaboatworks.com/yachts.html#40troller
http://www.rozemaboatworks.com/yachts.html#40troller
starcrafttom
Active member
Some one asked what the difference between west and east coast fishing boat design.
Design is a function of need and mission. The mission on the north west is salmon and to a lessor extent tuna. Salmon fishing on the west coast is a near shore fishery. You hardly go out more then 10 miles and 90% of the time you are with in 2 miles or less. Its also a one on one fishery. What I mean is that one fisherman is catching a fish and not the whole crew as with marlin. West coast is also a year round fishery, we always have something going on and our boat designs reflex that. Smaller boats for fewer people, built to stay warm and dry, fast trips out and back, lures or dead bait. Which is why you don't see many live bait tanks in the north west.
Now east coast and for that matter so cals boats are a different game. larger fish, team fishing, runs off shore of 20 to 100miles. No place to hide ( few islands), faster trolling with live bait or very fresh bait. its mostly a summer fishery on the north east. Their boats all reflect the use. larger fast boats with open decks no or little canvas, large bait wells and larger fish boxes. landing a marlin is a team sport. takes the whole crew of three to five guys.
Now for the fantasy of large cruisers as fishing boats. Salmon fishing is about boat control. trying to control a tug or trawler design ( not to be confessed with a troller design, but often is) at 2 knots or less in the wind is a PITA big time. boats based on a trawler hull are designed to drag nets in straight lines at 5 knots for hours at a time.
Commercial TROLLERS tend to be a lot smaller and easier to control, but they are built for the purpose of staying off shore for days and filling the hull of a boat with fish. they target schools of fish. Now if you can get off shore and stay a few days that's great. but it better be in a boat that can take a beating in heavy weather or run from it. That's why north west sport fishing boats are fast. Get out catch get back.
Now as far as staying warm while fishing- DRESS WARM. Most fishing camp boats are open whalers or have small cabins for the ride out and back. These are not cruising boats but fishing boats. If you are not dressed to spend the day on a open deck in the rain and wind take up golf and stay on shore.
C-Dory's are cruising boats that can be fished out of. Grady's (as one example) is a fishing boat that can be sleeped on. For a really nice fishing / cruising boat check out the COLD WATER line of boats built here in marysville wa. All the comfort of a big c-dory and the all the fishing room and toys of a grady/sport fisher.
Design is a function of need and mission. The mission on the north west is salmon and to a lessor extent tuna. Salmon fishing on the west coast is a near shore fishery. You hardly go out more then 10 miles and 90% of the time you are with in 2 miles or less. Its also a one on one fishery. What I mean is that one fisherman is catching a fish and not the whole crew as with marlin. West coast is also a year round fishery, we always have something going on and our boat designs reflex that. Smaller boats for fewer people, built to stay warm and dry, fast trips out and back, lures or dead bait. Which is why you don't see many live bait tanks in the north west.
Now east coast and for that matter so cals boats are a different game. larger fish, team fishing, runs off shore of 20 to 100miles. No place to hide ( few islands), faster trolling with live bait or very fresh bait. its mostly a summer fishery on the north east. Their boats all reflect the use. larger fast boats with open decks no or little canvas, large bait wells and larger fish boxes. landing a marlin is a team sport. takes the whole crew of three to five guys.
Now for the fantasy of large cruisers as fishing boats. Salmon fishing is about boat control. trying to control a tug or trawler design ( not to be confessed with a troller design, but often is) at 2 knots or less in the wind is a PITA big time. boats based on a trawler hull are designed to drag nets in straight lines at 5 knots for hours at a time.
Commercial TROLLERS tend to be a lot smaller and easier to control, but they are built for the purpose of staying off shore for days and filling the hull of a boat with fish. they target schools of fish. Now if you can get off shore and stay a few days that's great. but it better be in a boat that can take a beating in heavy weather or run from it. That's why north west sport fishing boats are fast. Get out catch get back.
Now as far as staying warm while fishing- DRESS WARM. Most fishing camp boats are open whalers or have small cabins for the ride out and back. These are not cruising boats but fishing boats. If you are not dressed to spend the day on a open deck in the rain and wind take up golf and stay on shore.
C-Dory's are cruising boats that can be fished out of. Grady's (as one example) is a fishing boat that can be sleeped on. For a really nice fishing / cruising boat check out the COLD WATER line of boats built here in marysville wa. All the comfort of a big c-dory and the all the fishing room and toys of a grady/sport fisher.
Warren, you have a great fishing boat now -- it will do it all. Any boat on my list of big boats, and I wouldn't want any of them back except the 24 Tomcat, would make the price per pound of salmon approach the nation debt. We all have different fishing needs, and mine are certainly far removed from Tom's. My little 22 C-Dory has spent a large part of its life at 50 miles offshore and beyond chasing tuna, and is very adequate for way offshore from Ucleulet.
When the weather is bad enough that it's uncomfortable in a TC or even the 22 CD I really don't want to be out there. Some very unpleasant moments running down-swell with the 41 Hatteras while coming from Vancouver to Seattle. Both props and rudders out of the water while balancing on the crest... panic time for hours. Zero control!
Commercial trolled out of La Push for a couple of years, ran our 85' Burger Seattle to Juneau/Icy Straits in charter for about 6 years and towing a 21 Whaler for fishing .... no mo!!!!
I confess that I lust for one of the Canadian tin boats -cozy cablins, fast, huge cockpits, and really great fishing machines, but that's for you youngsters. :teeth
Dusty
When the weather is bad enough that it's uncomfortable in a TC or even the 22 CD I really don't want to be out there. Some very unpleasant moments running down-swell with the 41 Hatteras while coming from Vancouver to Seattle. Both props and rudders out of the water while balancing on the crest... panic time for hours. Zero control!
Commercial trolled out of La Push for a couple of years, ran our 85' Burger Seattle to Juneau/Icy Straits in charter for about 6 years and towing a 21 Whaler for fishing .... no mo!!!!
I confess that I lust for one of the Canadian tin boats -cozy cablins, fast, huge cockpits, and really great fishing machines, but that's for you youngsters. :teeth
Dusty