Northern Gulf Islands, BC
Every trip runs in the seas around Denman and Hornby Islands — bays, channels, reefs, and islands Captain Pat has fished for over 32 years.
Big Coast Marine Adventures is based on Denman Island, in the middle of Baynes Sound and a short run from Lambert Channel. These are our home waters — the places below are where the fishing and sightseeing actually happen, and what you'll see along the way.
Home base — rare Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem, quiet roads, and the ferry from Buckley Bay.
Read moreTribune Bay beaches, Helliwell Provincial Park, and a vibrant arts community one ferry past Denman.
Read moreA stunning sandspit marine park off Denman's northern tip — beach, eagles, and absolute quiet, boat access only.
Read moreThe rich strait between Vancouver Island and Denman Island — shellfish farms, herring grounds, and Important Bird Area.
Read moreThe strait between Denman and Hornby — wintering waterfowl, humpback feeding grounds, and an orca corridor.
Read moreHarbour, boat launch, and marine field station on the Vancouver Island side of Baynes Sound.
Read moreFamous for oysters, winter sea lion spectacles, and the herring spawn each late winter.
Read moreHistoric coal-shipping port with waterfront trails and a boat ramp onto Baynes Sound.
Read moreA staffed lighthouse off Denman's southern tip — seals, seabirds, and rich surrounding water.
Read moreA major Steller sea lion haul-out in Lambert Channel, hundreds strong at times — boat access only.
Read moreLate February to March: milky turquoise water, thousands of seabirds, sea lions, and Bigg's killer whales.
Read moreHumpbacks in summer, Bigg's killer whales year-round — what to expect and when to come.
Read moreFishing charters target salmon, lingcod, and rockfish in these waters, with seasonal prawns and crab; sightseeing tours run the channels and islands for whales, sea lions, and the Chrome Island lighthouse.