I took my boys on a day trip with Captain Al, their first sea fishing experience. It was memorable! Captain Al showed them how to use his gear and left them to it. Most fishing charters won’t let you set the gear up just reel it in; Captain Al let the kids have the whole experience from setting the line to getting the fish in the boat to stripping the gills. The kids loved it! The boat was spacious for our group of 6 and the heated cabin was a treat for warming up.  Captain Al was a pleasure to visit with and was very knowledgeable about the sea life and the area.   Our next trip will definitely be with Captain Al as I’d like to get my girls out on the water and go take his aquatic tour of the local wildlife (whales, seals, etc).

We had the best time out with Al. he was a absolutely wonderful fisherman and man himself. His knowledge of the land and ocean made the experience not just a fishing trip but a true experience of the diverse biological life around van island. We all (including our 5 year old daughter!) caught multiple salmon and we caught several retainers amongst them including Chinook, Coho and Pink salmon. The boat was great for a family; cozy warm in the cabin with a table for cards/snacks for the little one, big upper deck, history of the boat itself, fishing equipment etc. and the stabilizers were huge - my husband and daughter are notorious for getting sea sick and they were both totally fine! Will absolutely recommend Al to friends and family and will be back!

Wow - what a day! Cannot recommend Allan highly enough. Absolutely everything was top notch - from initial communications (including guidance on when to best go out to catch something), to the boat (that has a stabilizer against seasickness), to the gear, to the comfort and catches - everything exceeded our very high expectations. I was doing the trip with my parents that don’t speak English. Allan showed unbelievable courtesy and respect and made the day incredibly special for them. Also, he filleted the catch in a masterful way for us - much more diligent than the typical service you would get. If you are thinking about doing a fishing trip, this is what you want.

Captain Allan took us out yesterday. Two of us are very knowledgeable and have fished the area many, many times. One of us used to live in the area and Captain Allan still managed to teach us all a thing or two. We have hired multiple charters in the past and had fun but, this was different. We still had fun but, Captain Allan went above and beyond to accommodate some of our mobility issues and let us fish ourselves. It was a great experience with great weather. We limited out on Chinooks all had a blast. Carla E. I have fished these areas in my own boats over the years but I definitely learned a few new things. Alan was awesome and seasoned! His knowledge on fish migration patterns and routes was excellent. Additionally his knowledge of the ocean floor and terrain and how it affects migrating springs was unparalleled. We hammered the Chinooke, Coho and pinks. Aaron S.

If you’re looking for the real deal in salmon fishing, look no further than Captain Al. From the moment we stepped aboard his classic old-school fishing boat, we knew we were in for a great day on the water. Stepping onto The Raven is stepping onto a boat with a story in every scratch on the rail and a captain who’s spent a lifetime reading the water. Captain Al’s know-how is unreal. He’s knowledgeable about the ecosystem, the area, and the minds of the fish; he’s got years of experience and passion to back it. Because of his expertise, we were catching more salmon than anyone else on the water. As soon as we cast our first line, it was nonstop action all day. It’s a hands-on experience on this boat, a ‘working boat,’ he calls it. Al gives you an overview of the equipment and then it’s up to your crew to set up, reel, and catch. Thankfully, Captain Al guts the fish for you. The boat had such a comfortable setup with a well to sit in and reel from; the weighted stabilizers were a game-changer—it felt like we were on a dock with hardly any rocking. The view is unbeatable, just glorious. Mountains, rugged coastline, gulls, and open ocean provided the backdrop for our trip, like being part of a watercolour painting. We were lucky enough to have a flat calm day for looking out over the Juan de Fuca Strait and Secretary Island on such a storied fishing vessel. Al got us out at the peak time for fish—midafternoon, after everyone who’d come for the cold early morning left empty-handed. We were also fortunate enough to max out our catch for our group, netting pinks, chinook, and coho, all due to Al’s savvy positioning of the boat. By the time we headed back to the dock, the cooler was full, our arms were sore, and we had memories worth far, far more than the trip’s price tag. If you want a no-nonsense, high-action, soul-satisfying day of salmon fishing with a captain who’s the real thing, book a trip with Captain Al. This is the kind of fishing experience that sticks with you forever.