Capt. Ron’s 15 Favorite Summer Stops North of Cape Caution

This post was originally written by Ron McGough in 2007. Here he is wih Capt. Martha.

Are you planning on going around Cape Caution to enjoy the Central Coast's great fishing and gorgeous scenery this summer?

If so, veteran cruiser Ron McGough shares his fifteen favorite Central Coast anchorages:

• Fly Basin
  
• Fury Cove
  
• Taylor Bay in Rivers Inlet
• Green Island Anchorage and Fish Egg
  
• Gold Stream Harbour
• Sea Otter and Kildidth Inlets
• Spider Islands and McNaughton Group
• No-Name Bay and Roscoe Inlet
• Wake-Up Cove
  
• Stryker Nook
  
• Emily Bay on Briggs Inlet
• Khutze Inlet and Fjordland Recreational Area

1. Fly Basin

Very good Anchorage. Area is good for black mouth in Smith Sound. Capt. Ron has had good luck in June. In 2007, members of CCYC had great luck in mid-August. In June, Salmon fishing works in bay (Ship Passage) outside of Fly Basin. In August fish along north side of islands (Moss Island, Barrier Group Islands, to Central island).
 

2. Taylor Bay, Rivers Inlet

Small but beautiful for two boats. Fishing can be limited in this outer bay near Hemasila Inlet since it does get wave/wind out of the West and South. The inlets are NW of Draney Inlet (entrance is sometimes a good salmon fishing spot at slack). This is a good stop on way to Dawson’s landing (grocery, marine supplies and fuel plus they now have broadband wireless internet service).

3. Green Island Anchorage and Fish Egg

Green Island is a great anchorage and Capt. Martha’s favorite stop. The kayaking and visible sea life is alluring at Green Island. Salmon fishing is fair to good near Green Island Anchorage. In august, Capt.. Ron caught Silvers and Black Mouth in 2007.

4. Fury Cove

One of most beautiful anchorages north of CC (Shell Midden beaches). Ling Cod and Salmon fishing is sometimes very good outside of the cove and around Rouse Reef. Capt.. Ron caught an12lb Silver in August 2007, North East of Rouse Reef, near Penrose Island.

5. Gold Stream Harbour

Gold Stream Harbour, on North tip of Hecate Island, is a good anchorage, but deep unless you shore tie. Easy anchorage in the middle (60 feet of water), with good holding. Excellent salmon fishing outside near Kelpie Point near slack at start of flood tide to provide back eddies off of the point. Capt.. Ron and Capt.. Jim had good luck in July, Silvers and King.

6. Sea Otter Inlet

Sea Otter Inlet, east side of Hunter Island, may be Capt. Ron’s most interest 2007 stop. Not only a great anchorage, but also it sometimes offers whale activity, and good halibut fishing. The whales herd pilchards when they are running, and the pilchards make great halibut bait. Catch halibut in 200 feet of water outside of the anchorage. Capt. Ron caught two in 2007, Capt. Walt caught three in 2006 and Capt. Gil caught one in 2005.

7. Kildidth Inlet

Capt. Bob says prawns are available in the Inlet. Kildidth Narrows has 12 knot currents and overfalls on Spring tides, so timing and/or neap tides may make for easier passage (High water slack is 1.5 hours after high water at Bella Bella. Low water slack varies according to levels (for low water of 1.3 feet, slack is 2 hours after Bella-Bella low and for 8 feet slack is1 hour after Bella-Bella low).

8. Spider Islands

Hurricane Anchorage is described in Douglas; it is a quick run to fishing for Kings off of Breadner Point. Can be a bit rough because of cross currents and swells, but north side of Breadner can offer some protection and good fishing. Capt. Jim caught a king in 2007 and Capt. Ron and Capt. Jim caught fish in 2006.

9. McNaughton Group

The great thing about this beautiful spot is that it is accessible via Hunter Channel with great protection:

• Bombproof (name from Douglas, very rocky so requires stern tie, but in the dinghy you run to outside thru channel at high tides, looks like a good place to find prawns and fish on outside between Grandville Islands and McNaughton Island) and
• Great Salt Lake, GSL We found sticky mud with very good holding at Great Salt lake; however, can get a bit windy during a strong NW wind. It is less than .4 nm between GSL and Bombproof. Salmon fishing is very good between Superstition Point and entrance to Cultus Sound. Capt. Ron and Capt. Jim caught Salmon in 2006 and 2007.

10. Capt. Ron's No-Name Bay

Capt. Ron’s No-Name Bay is a bay and cove directly NE east of the “Great Salt Lake” and East of “Without Fear Cove.” It is in the McNaughton Group, but I have found no information about the cove in Douglas, Waggoner or Charlie’s Charts.

It is interesting and appears to have an unvarying mud bottom in the inner cove (about 25 to 35 ft deep) and it is about 230 yds. by 100 yds. or 1/2 the size of Hurricane Anchorage in the Spider group. The cove is accessible only from the Oceanside of the Island, but the access point has numerous islands to the south and west offering good protection.

It is a mile inside the Bay, so it is much closer to “ocean” fishing than Hurricane. Capt. Ron entered and anchored there in 2007. Charts are not accurate, but if you enter on west side of channel, avoiding kelp and rock, the entrance channel is over 12 feet deep. Needless to say, no other boats were there, but a wolf was on a large rock and he watched us for a long time.

11. Roscoe Inlet

Capt. Ron always enjoys this beautiful inlet, rain or sun. It has a number of pictographs. First Nation People make these with Iron Oxide mixed with Fish Roe. Look for “red markings “on “white “rock covered by a rock overhang.

12. Emily Bay on Briggs Inlet

Emily Bay on Briggs Inlet is a good anchorage and has a nice hike to a beautiful lake. Capt. Ron, Capt., Gil, Capt. Jim and Capt. Duane made the hike in 2006.

13. Wide-Awake Cove

Wide-Awake Cove (Douglas, pg. 144, chart 3787, at 128 014.4’) is off the west side of Campbell Island: Laurie Dowsett said it has a good sand and mud bottom. Size appears to be about 250 yds. by 70 yds., but a few rocks and a small reef lie in the entrance, so entering at low tide would be preferred. May be a good Prawn spot on the outside. It is at the south end of Raymond Passage.

14. Stryker Nook

Stryker Nook (Douglas pg. 150, at 52006.3’,128020.66’): looks like a good Yellow Eye and Ling area. Douglas says, “good holding, well-protected and scenic.”

15. Khutze Inlet and Fjordland Recreational Area

Khutze Inlet and Fjordland Recreational Area (North of Klemtu): Khutze is a favorite of Bob hale. If you’re journey north to Khutze, Windy Bay may be a good place to stop for a couple of days.

I'd like to know more about cruising opportunities with Fidalgo Yacht Club

Yes, I’d enjoy seeing the members’ pictures of their favorite cruising spots.