Raven Fishing Adventures 

Captain Al is not only a great guide who taught us newbies the basics of ocean fishing, he clearly knows just about everything about the local fishery but also the ecosystems, communities and history of this beautiful part of the world. I snagged a late season Coho and we caught our limit of Dungeness crab! Freezer is full! The raven is a classic wooden fishing boat. Quoting captain Al, “It’s a cultural experience, not a luxury experience.”

We booked the Raven with Captain Al for a trip to catch Rockfish and Salmon. From the moment we put our lines down, we caught so many fish. We got our limit of Rockfish and Salmon within a few hours. The boat is clean and comfortable. Al is a retired octopus catcher and knows the bottom of the ocean very well. He will put you on the fish!! He set the crab traps for us too. We brought home lots of crab. Al cleaned our fish, froze it in ziplocks and packaged it in thick styrofoam box for us to bring home to Texas. Everything was frozen solid when we got it home 26 hours later. We highly recommend Al Crow and his boat Raven. We are planning our next trip back to fish with him!!

This was the 2nd day of our trip fishing with Al Crow on his boat Raven. We once again caught our limits within a short period of time. Al knows the bottom of the ocean as he used to be an octopus fisherman. He will put you right on top of the rocks to catch Rockfish. We asked if we could try fishing for Halibut. He normally doesn't do halibut fishing, but watched the tides carefully and took us to his favorite spot. Anchoring the boat, engine off, we peacefully waited for the halibut to bite. Unfortunately, we didn't catch one, but it was still a highlight. Al knows his stuff, his gear is top notch, his boat is clean and comfortable. We can't wait to return to beautiful Sooke, BC to fish with Al again!!

My family and I couldn’t have imagined a better day on the water. With Captain Allan and Mate (crabby Bob) they were outstanding hosts—warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely enjoyable to spend time with. Their familiarity with the area was clear, and they walked us through the most effective techniques and prime fishing spots around Sooke with ease. The morning kicked off with several juvenile chinook salmon that we caught and released, a perfect warm‑up that sharpened our skills for what was to come. By the afternoon, we were getting steady action, culminating in landing several truly beautiful mature springs—exactly the kind of catch anyone hopes for on a day like this.

Went out as a family, first time for all. A bunch of prairie people on a mission to catch a load of fish and crab and hopefully see a whale. Mission accomplished!!! Captain Al and Crabby Bob were awesome with everything and everyone. The fish were biting all day and hauled in some big ones. The boys were pulling in fish almost as soon as the hooks went in the water. Lots of fish and crab to eat the rest of our week long trip to the West coast won’t have to buy another meal. Whale swam by first 20 minutes of the trip as well. Excellent crew and boat to head out on. Would definitely recommend to anyone. Very easy to deal with and very accommodating.

This charter was absolutely fantastic. Allan and Bob knew that we booked this for our buddy’s bachelor trip, so they made it their mission that we went home that day with a beautiful feast. They were safe, professional, and had great senses of humour (shoutout Crabby Bob). Not only did we catch our limit on crab, but we all caught at least 1 beautiful salmon each, some of us even 2. We had to let most of the salmon go as they were out of season for 1 more week, but Allan sure does know his way around these waters and exactly where the fish were biting. His boat was top notch; it was plenty spacious, had a covered warm cab, a cool rooftop to checkout the views in and out of the harbour, and super stable in the water as it’s a big cool boat. This is an absolute gem of a find. We would highly recommend you book with these guys, I know I will for my own bachelor trip next year! Thanks so much Allan and Bob!

We had an absolutely amazing day on the Raven with Allan and Bobby! We were four adults and two children (10 and 7 years old), and it was one of the highlights of our trip to British Columbia. On the way out, we set crab traps before heading off to fish. We caught two beautiful salmon, and on the way back we pulled up the crab traps and ended up with 12 huge Dungeness crabs! Everything was cleaned and prepared right on board, making it easy for us to take home the freshest seafood imaginable. What really made the trip special was Allan and Bobby. They were professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and made everyone feel welcome from the moment we stepped on board. Bobby was especially incredible with our children. He took the time to teach them about the ocean, the marine life, and how to fish, making them feel involved throughout the day. His patience and enthusiasm turned the trip into an unforgettable learning experience for them. If you're looking for the perfect fishing charter in Sooke, look no further. We couldn't have asked for a better day, and we give Allan and Bobby our highest recommendation. Thank you for an unforgettable experience—we'll definitely be back!

Writing I'm not even sure where to begin. This was honestly one of the most incredible and memorable trips I've been on in a very long time. Captain Allan and his mate, Bobby, made the entire experience unforgettable. Their knowledge of the area was amazing, and they were incredibly patient and kind, taking the time to teach us how to fish and crab while making sure everyone had a great time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to experience this and to learn a little more about the area from people who clearly love what they do. To top it all off, they cleaned our fish and crabs at the end of the day, which made for an absolutely delicious dinner we enjoyed at home that evening. I can't recommend this trip enough. If you're considering it, do it. We will definitely be back the next time we're in the area. Thank you again to Captain Allan, Bobby, and everyone at The Raven for an unforgettable day!

Anyone can take you out on the water and most can even bring you back again. Then there's Captain Allan and Crabby Bob. They had us laughing and kept the energy up the whole time. They were knowledgeable about the sea and the land surrounding it, friendly and accommodating. The before trip tips we're on point and made out trip comfortable. The Raven is a fine ship and had room for my family of 5 without feeling cramped. The bathroom option was rustic, but hey - you get a private bathroom option!! I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and as a bonus we got an in season salmon and a ton of crab to take home, cleaned and ready to cook. Thanks guys!

Make sure you book this fishing excursion when you are in Sooke!!!! Captain Allan and his first mate Bob gave a fantastic and authentic fishing experience for our family! We caught numerous salmon and crab for a feast of kings. Between Allan’s knowledge of the tides, wildlife and history of the island and Bob’s humour and patience with our fishing ability, we learned so much about fishing on the Pacific ocean and the use of down-rigger..What an experiemce! Fish stories to be told for a long time! Thanks to Allan and Bob for a wonderful day on the water! Grateful to have met you both. Pam