Captain
Ivan Chu

Member since May 2017 Richmond, Canada
Background
Captain Ivan Chu has been guiding in the Vancouver waters since 1995. He has had a passion for salmon fishing since childhood and learned how to from commercial fishermen in the area and decided to pursue this career. Captain Ivan holds valid Certified Tidal Angling Guide designations for the Province of BC, current Marine First Aid, and SVOP & MED A3 federal government certifications for boating skills.
Techniques
Trolling using light tackle on electric downriggers is the preferred method of salmon fishing. Jigging with light tackle with a variety of baits is utilized for bottom fishing. Guests set their own rods when a fish is on the line. Guests are taught in great detail how to target and catch fish

Hey, I'm Captain Ivan Chu

Richmond, Canada
Background
Captain Ivan Chu has been guiding in the Vancouver waters since 1995. He has had a passion for salmon fishing since childhood and learned how to from commercial fishermen in the area and decided to pursue this career. Captain Ivan holds valid Certified Tidal Angling Guide designations for the Province of BC, current Marine First Aid, and SVOP & MED A3 federal government certifications for boating skills.
Techniques
Trolling using light tackle on electric downriggers is the preferred method of salmon fishing. Jigging with light tackle with a variety of baits is utilized for bottom fishing. Guests set their own rods when a fish is on the line. Guests are taught in great detail how to target and catch fish

My Charter Listing

Excellent
4.8 / 5
(43 reviews)
Richmond
trips from US $552

Fishing Reports

2023-24 Winter Fishing is Hot!
2023-24 Winter Fishing is Hot!
Nov 27, 2023 Richmond
Well after some record setting coho fishery in mid summer to another September to remember for large and feisty Chinook Salmon returning to the Fraser River, it's time to layer up and stay on the fish. The "winter fishery" just rolled over without a lull moving away from the Fraser River arms to the more traditional grounds in Howe Sound, the Vancouver Harbour and over across to the Nanaimo side. We've have changed tactics from fishing shallow on the riggers to going deep just off the bottom of the ocean in depths anywhere from 120 feet down to over 250 feet on the riggers. We have been most successful when we let the cannonballs hit the bottom then bring it up a couple feet. Our go to tackle in the winter is glow hootchies and glow 3-3.5" spoons with glow flashers. Notice the key word "glow" as the gear is deep. There is a vast difference in glow qualities amongst the tackle manufacturers. I believe in the adage of you get what you pay for. Westcoast Fishing Tackle is the premium equipment I recommend. Charge up the glow with a UV flashlight, deck light or your cellphone and change up gear every 20-30 minutes. Using bait at these depths is not "fun" as the bait could blow out as it descends as well as any little bite requires a lot of reeling to check the bait. Troll faster than with bait to cover more distance and watch for bait on your plotter/fish finder. This is good time of the year to consider switching to a 50 lb braid mainline with a 30-60 foot topshot of 30 lb monofilament on your reels. It is much easier on you and your rod when tripping the line off the retention clip. Good luck, stay warm and "Let's Go Fishing!"
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Chinook Fishery is closed until July 15t
Chinook Fishery is closed until July 15t
Mar 16, 2022 Richmond
After a phenomenal winter Chinook fishery in our local waters that started in October and didn't slow down even up to March 31st, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has implemented for the 3rd straight year a Chinook fishing closure in our local waters until at least July 15th or July 31st depending on what side of the pond you are fishing. On a positive note, August 1st opening is better than the two previous years' September 1st openings for fish management areas 28 and 29. I could ex-pound on the Science and evidence based marked selective fishery (hatchery salmon with the adipose fin clipped) which continues to fall on deaf ears at he upper management levels above DFO: Justin Trudeau, Joyce Murray (Fisheries Minister) and Rebecca Reid (DFO regional director). Under a DFO sponsored program, I am licensed to catch and release Chinook after obtaining a DNA sample, fishing guests can still enjoy getting out on the water, set prawn and crab traps and then fish for science. As of May 1st, lingcod and bottom fishing is open and can be targeted on the Vancouver Island side of the Salish Sea. July 15th, Chinook retention opens on that side as well. Come August, we are hoping for a Sockeye salmon opening as every 4 years there is a large return expected. But no one can predict any science based decisions from the previous forementioned politicians and bureaucrats. Come out and get a bucket of succulent spot prawns and dungeness crabs which will definitely quench your seafood cravings for the time being as were only 3 weeks away from targeting some tasty lingcod. Let's go fishing!
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It's catch and release Chinook till July
It's catch and release Chinook till July
Jun 3, 2021 Richmond
The decision whether we agree or not with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has been issued and for the local Vancouver area fishermen, we are in the non-retention mode till August 1st. All other effected areas on the BC Coast from the northern end of Vancouver Island down the US/Canada border will open up July 14th. There are open areas on the west side of Vancouver Island and coastal BC but they are remote and not heavily fished or populated. Unfortunately, with current Covid travel restrictions, no mainland fishermen will able to travel to these destinations. The Sports Fishery Advisory Board (SFAB) and the Sports Fishing Institute of BC (SFIBC) have been working very hard over the past few years and presented fishing proposals that would address conservation measures to protect of "stocks of concern" and reduce sports fishing retention to only hatchery Chinook Salmon known as a marked selective fishery. However, on the brighter side, the non-retention in 2020 lasted until September 1st so at least we will be able to target the Chinook run in August. I and other Vancouver guides belong to the Avid Angler Program which allows us to go out and catch and release Chinook Salmon for the purpose of obtaining DNA samples for scientific research for....yes...DFO. I can tell you that the last 3 trips out, fishing no more that 3.5 hours, I have brought at least 14 Chinook salmon to the boat each time. Each trip out I experiment with all sorts of colors and gear. Since January, I have been experimenting by running dummy flashers with spoons, plugs, or bait in teaser heads and found it to be very productive. It's a better fighting sensation not having to drag up a flasher with the fish. There are lots of wild and hatchery Chinook stock in local waters. The commercial prawning season is open and typically lasts till the end of June. I don't drop the prawn traps now till about September when the stocks have recovered and the catch rate goes up. The crabbing has been excellent and there has been no problem getting one's limit but the commercial crabbing season is about to open. May 1st was opening day for lingcod (1 per day) and fishing the typical reef areas on the Nanaimo side has been good to very good. Remember though, it's now the law that you have descending device to safely return unwanted or non-retention species of rockfish. Be safe and enjoy the water and our precious resource. We are just coming to what we hope and expect is another great Coho season and retention of only hatchery coho. Also being an odd numbered year, the Pinks are coming as well. We'll be in great shape by playing these feisty Coho and Pinks before the Chinook fishery opens up, LET'S GO FISHING!
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Happy New Year and the Chinook are bitin
Happy New Year and the Chinook are bitin
Dec 30, 2020 Richmond
As we turn our backs on 2020 and welcome 2021 with anticipation of being vaccinated, we can all look forward to a healthy and prosperous year for our families, friends, communities and our countries. During these past couple months as Covid cases have risen requiring new health orders, many of the local guides have been personally fishing within their own local bubble or by themselves as there has been a expected downturn in our usual winter charters. Well one thing for sure is that the local feeders of Chinook Salmon have not disappointed us. For those with a boat, this is the time to get out and put some Chinook catches on your licenses since we were closed from April 1 to August 31 for Chinook retention. The winter feeders are absolutely the best tasting Chinook. Typically the bait these Chinook are feeding on are small immature herring, anchovy, shiners (perch) or sticklebacks. Each time out we have been most successful by matching the bait by using small 3-3.5" spoons, squirt size hootchies or cut down herring when rolling cut plugs. The main thing is to get down deep on the downrigger. Lower to the bottom and then up a few feet. I run 18 lb balls and typically it takes about 20-30 feet more line of indicated depth on the rigger than the depth showing on the sounder. For those who don't like reeling a smaller salmon from these depths, try running a dummy flasher off the cannon ball then run a naked spoon, anchovy rig or cutplug. The prawning has been phenomenal and the crabbing is just to come on. When the heath restrictions are relaxed, give us a call for your next salt water adventure. Good luck and Lets Go Fishing!
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September Chinook Fishery is full on!
September Chinook Fishery is full on!
Sep 12, 2020 Richmond
Well the long awaited Chinook fishery that has been closed from April 1 - August 31 in our local waters is here and hasn't disappointed. Waves of these large Fraser River bound salmon are here and arriving daily. Thankfully, we have had no rain so the fish are slow to actually go up the Fraser. With the exception of a couple of days where both the resident and transient Killer Whales have migrated through making the Chinooks very scarce, hooking up with these hard running brutes has been very good. Places that are normally targeted is the North Arm of the Fraser from Iona Jetty and north to the Bell Buoy, T-10 and of course the very popular Sandheads or South Arm of the Fraser. All 3 areas have had great reports of multiple fish a day per boat with several hook ups and misses which is all part of fishing. We even been hampered by the ravenous seals and sea lions picking off easy meals after we have done all the hard work by getting the salmon almost to the boat. It's actually exciting to see a large mammal take your salmon and make long runs away and have a tug-a-war for several minutes, but once is enough. The salmon have been found at all depths from 35 feet down to over 100. Anchovy and herring with glow or multi-colored chrome style teaser heads matched with glow flashers have been very successful as well they have been out performing the hardware and hootchies rigs. Tides do play a role in this fishery as you will get more chances on the flood tide and high slack. There are many many boats out there and be courteous when others around you are playing fish and to pull up your downriggers if their fish is running at your boat. Remember to stay out of the shipping lanes when large freighters and tugs towing barges are entering or exiting the river systems. We have witnessed some very dangerous moments out there thus making it necessary for the Harbor Patrol to police the area and warn boaters of their errant ways of playing chicken with these ocean going vessels. There has also been some encouraging reports from fellow guides that returning salmon are starting to show at Capilano River. Within a week, this 3 week bonanza fishery will also be the place to target large Chinooks. So when the weather turns or winds kick up, head over to the West Vancouver waterfront. Drop your cannonsball just off the bottom for best success. New Port Authority regulations are in effect for boating safety and large vessel right of way. Do not troll past the green marker on Ambleside and troll in a counter clockwise direction meaning when heading east take the outside deep water tack and turn into shore and troll west. Have fun, be safe and good luck. "Lets Go Fishing!"
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.8 / 5
out of 5 stars from 43 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (56)
July fishing trip
Fishing with Ivan
Fishing with Ivan
+53
Angler rating
40
2
0
0
1
Anglers claimed
Good experience
97%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
98%
Appropriate for children
94%
Satisfied with the boat
97%
Caught fish
75%
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5 of 43 reviews
Cortney L.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half day with Ivan

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip on September 23, 2022
We had the best time with Ivan! He was fantastic with our kids and when I asked my son to rate it, he gave it a 6 out of 5!...
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Freddie V. S.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Full day

VERIFIED   8 Hour Trip on September 17, 2022
Great guide, very knowledgeable. Caught Salmon first thing in the morning. ended up with 3 nice ones and missed a few more....
Freddie V. S. recommends Amazing Fishing Charters
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Jen K.
Burnaby, British Columbia
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

8 hour trip with captain Ivan

VERIFIED   8 Hour Trip on May 21, 2022
Captain Ivan is knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly fishing guide. We had an enjoyable fishing trip. One of two crap traps...
Jen K. recommends Amazing Fishing Charters
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Chris C.
Richmond, British Columbia
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half day trip with Amazing fishing charter

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (PM) on March 18, 2022
quiet windy that day, the captain was well experienced and professional, he exactly knows where the fish and crab is.
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Keith C.
Abbotsford, BC
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Great Day on the Water

VERIFIED   8 Hour Trip on June 19, 2020
Must say the best day we have had with a charter. Ivan was a great instructor showing us to set the lines and the hooks.ย ...
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