The forecast was calling for a change of weather: southerly 15 knots and seas of six feet. This did not materialize; we had about ten knots from the south and seas of three feet with overcast sky. Some drizzle fell down near the end of the fishing day about four o’clock in the afternoon. Although no one beat last week’s 55 lb. Chinook record, all our gusts got their quota with Chinook in the 20 lbs. range and they were all happy with their catch.

Six whales were in the vicinity of our boats and a lot of pictures were taken.

A warm welcome to our newest Captain's Club members: Rod Dalrymple of AB (62 lbs. halibut), Worth Caldwell of OR (31 lbs. Chinook) and Brent Halarewich of AB (70 lbs. halibut).

I'm off now for a few weeks, but before I go, here's your day's trivia: Do you know the history of M/V Salmon Seeker?

The ship was built in Holland in 1953 by Zaltbommel, as a coastal freighter, with the wheelhouse and accommodation aft and two holds serviced by one derrick. Her name was "Auriga." In 1983, the ship was redesigned and re-powered as a hydrographic survey ship in Canadian Arctic for “Northland Transportation Company.” The conversion was done by Bel–Air Shipyard in North Vancouver, BC. Her name at the time was “Banksland Surveyor.”

In 1988/89 the vessel was purchased by John Craig of Calgary, Alberta and his brother. Her name was changed to “Banksland” and the vessel was converted to sport fishing lodge and used to anchor for the summer near the Western entrance of Skidegate Channel in Queen Charlottes Islands and in Victoria for winter lay-over. Oak Bay Marine Group purchased the ship in 1992 and renamed her the MV Salmon Seeker.

Captain Zak Farid
Master, MV Salmon Seeker
Queen Charlotte Islands