For the past few seasons, some of our guests on board the “Ocean Star” have requested more time to fish halibut. For the first time, on our first two charters of the 2012 season, June 1-4 & June 6-9, we will divide our time equally between fishing Halibut and Salmon.

Early Start!

As the quotas for halibut change each year we feel that an early start for halibut fishing is a good idea. This is a great time of the year to get in on those early big Spring / King salmon and at the same time spend some time quality time on the Halibut grounds.

It will mean getting two or three tides to catch that big Halibut. For those of you who love to fish Halibut this is a great opportunity. Halibut fishermen, don’t miss this charter! Who knows, you may be able catch a monster like Gayle did in 2010!!

Click Here to Book Now!

Join us for a scenic seven-day cruise through the beautiful inside passage of British Columbia. Your trip will begin in Vancouver, B.C. and will end in the north coast at Prince Rupert, B.C. Sit back and enjoy the sights and scenery of the beautiful snow capped mountains, the ancient rain forest, and cascading waterfalls.

The inside passage offers fantastic opportunities for wildlife viewing. Some of these sights are Orcas (Killer whales), Humpbacks, Eagles, and Porpoises playing on the bow.

During the evenings you will find yourself in a remote scenic anchorage, while you dine in style, as our on board chef serves up delicious, fresh seafood dinners. During your trip through the inside passage, we will travel through the mysterious great bear rain forest and follow the shoreline to try and catch a glimpse of the famous “spirit bear”. A stop at the remote Bishop bay hot springs for a long soak is a must.

Activities include, setting crab and prawn traps, and if you’re lucky, enjoying the pleasure of a eating your catch. Beachcombing on the white sand beaches along the coast is another favourite. We will include a stop at some of the smaller native communities along the way, with a chance to see their culture. This is a once in a lifetime, intimate trip that will be filled with fun and memories.

DEPARTURES: Spring (Vancouver to Prince Rupert), Fall (Prince Rupert to Vancouver)

PRICE: $1995 /per person

Contact Us to book your scenic BC cruise today!

We’re back from an amazing 2011 fishing charter season! Thank you to all the wonderful friends that we met on the Ocean Star this year. Well, it’s getting colder and we thought it would be a good time to release our newest cooking video. This time we’re showcasing Gayle’s famous Smoked Salmon Clam Chowder. She usually prepares this number as welcome aboard meal as we head to our fishing hot spots.

Smoked Salmon Clam Chowder

Preheat the pot and fry

6 slices bacon diced (until nicely browned) then add:

1 onion diced

3 celery stalks diced

Sautee 5 minutes or until slightly brown then add:

2 tablespoons butter

1 garlic clove grated

Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes then add in the following order:

3 tablespoons flour to thicken slightly

2 cups ceaser cocktail mix

4 cups clam broth

½ cup cream

2 tablespoons tomatoe paste

2 bay leaves

2 tablespoons dill

2 tablespoons tarragon

2 tablespoons parsley

2 teaspoons old bay seasoning

Pepper to taste

2 cans of clams

4 cubed potatoes

4 diced carrots

1 piece smoked salmon skin (approx. 4”X 4”)

Cook for 30 minutes then remove the smoked salmon skin and add:

2 cups cubed salmon; Cook for three minutes and enjoy

Wondering what to bring on your fishing charter? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered. Read our latest Fishing Tips article that explains what is and isn’t included with each charter. Plus, some helpful tips on what you should bring.

What’s included:

Once you arrive in Prince Rupert your trip aboard the Ocean Star is all
inclusive of the following

1) All meals
2) Onboard accomodation including bedding and towels
3) Rain gear(Helly Hansen), rubber boots, and life jackets
4) Eighteen foot aluminum boat completely outfitted for fishing.
Please note: There are only two pesons per eighteen foot skiff so there is
no rod sharing.
5) Guide services
6) Bait & fishing tackle
7) Fish dressed, bagged, and ready for processing

What’s not Included:

1) Transportation to/from Prince Rupert
2) Fishing License
3) Alcohol
4) Taxes and Gratuities
5) Processing of your catch (vacumn packing and filleting)

What you should bring:

1) Personal snacks
2) Gloves
3) Your favorite fishing tackle (we also provide tackle)
4) Sun screen
5) Mosquito repellant
6) Sun glasses

If you are unsure of anything regarding your fishing trip please call
Gayle at 604-992-7476

By Brad Fenson

It was the last day of my charter and I itched for just one more chance to do battle with a big Chinook. I talked with my guide Shawn, and fellow angler Leon, about fishing the right locations, having sharp hooks and doing everything required for catching and landing big fish. We knew we were in the right spot and our patience finally paid off when my rod twitched and arched from a delicate strike. I lifted the rod from the holder and it looked like another coho teasing our bait. However, once I reeled down and set the hook there was no mistake that we had a big spring on line!

Shawn’s face lit up like a Christmas tree and he boiled with excitement. My single-action reel screamed as the line peeled from the old knuckle buster in a blur. Shawn yelled, “We’ve got Jerry!”

The comments were part of an ongoing competition with Josh, the other guide, to see who could catch the most and the biggest fish. Jerry was simply a nickname for a big spring or, Jerry “Springer”. The fun and competitive nature of our hosts kept us all in smiles waiting for Jerry to strike.

The big spring provided an incredible battle that left me wondering if I had enough line to play the fish out. The unbelievable power of the fish strained my long trolling rod to the point where it was pointing flat out from the butt, just above the reel.

The battle lasted longer than expected but when the brightly coloured fish made its way past the side of the boat Shawn scooped it into the net without hesitation. It was high-fives around the deck, as we bubbled with excitement. Some people don’t understand the excitement or passion anglers have for fishing but if you’ve ever experienced the adrenaline rush of catching big fish, and playing them until they can be landed, you’ll be able to relate to the excitement we felt.

The salmon fishing had be down right incredible. The coho were in full migration and feeding in the productive waters along the islands that served as our fishing base. Our location put us right between the productive Skeena and Nass Rivers and next door to the streams and rivers of the Alaska panhandle. The feeding frenzy of coho was mind-boggling. In just over three days we managed to land over 200 coho. Double and triple-headers were common and the guides had mastered releasing the fish quickly and carefully without ever handling them.

We were fishing late in July and even though the coho had lots of feeding and growing to do before heading to their spawning rivers, we still managed to catch fish pushing 14-pounds, with the majority between 9 and 10 pounds.

Scott and Dan Dunlop were guests on the charter and they had brought their dad, Dan Sr., along for the adventure. Leon rounded out the fishing crew and five of us caught more fish than any would have imagined. I was able to fish with all the other guests on a regular basis, allowing me to make a new friend as the trip progressed.

When I first laid eyes on the MV Ocean Star I knew that I was in for an experience like never before. The 72-foot charter vessel is much more than just a boat. It has more comforts than a luxury cruise liner and provides the perfect base for a mobile fishing lodge, allowing you to stay out in areas where the fish live. It was a commercial fishing vessel converted to a charter boat, which makes for a unique story in itself.

Owners Willis and Gayle Crosby are tremendous hosts that go out of their way to ensure that a trip on the Ocean Star is much more than just a fishing adventure. Gayle’s cooking could only be described as gourmet with a  menu that includes salmon, halibut, crab, prawns and home made clam chowder, which are all fresh from the ocean. If the seafood doesn’t tighten your belt, steak night, stuffed pork or the sensational crab wontons are sure to help you pack on a few pounds.

A trip with Ocean Star Charters is more than just fishing; it is a relaxing vacation that provides the opportunity to catch lots of fish. You don’t have to worry about running back to port every night, cleaning, packaging or freezing fish, making meals or finding fuel or accommodations. The Ocean Star Charters fishing adventures are all-inclusive. They even supply raingear and rubber boots to make it easy for clients to just show up with personal clothes and a camera. The fishing is incredible and when all is said and done you actually feel like you’ve had a vacation.

Charters depart from the Port of Prince Rupert where you travel 35 miles north to Dundas Island. There are four, completely equipped, 18-foot aluminum fishing boats for your use that are towed to the fishing area. The Ocean Star provides all the comforts of home, while the fishing boats provide mobility that allow anglers to get to productive water fast. The aluminum boats are made for fishing and with modern rods, downriggers and tackle; they are easy to operate and to fish out of. There are two guides available that know the water well but you do have the option to fish on your own. You make the trip what you want and the staff is simply there to help ensure your success.

Shawn and Josh were incredible guides on my trip and they made the excursion a memorable experience. The competitive nature of these two kept them at the top of their game for finding and staying on fish. The coho were running in exceptional numbers and the big springs were still plentiful. A “Jerry Springer” is always a highly sought after species by anglers wanting to do battle with a big, powerful fish. The playful banter back and forth between the guides on the radio left little doubt that we were going to catch fish and have a good time.

The weather was terrible in Prince Rupert last summer and often shut down the smaller charter boats but not the Ocean Star. Even with challenging weather there was always a protective cove on one of the islands to base fishing from. The big vessel is used for bottom fishing on the favoured halibut holes and with 72-feet of stability it can provide more options to get out when the weather is taxing. We did catch halibut but it was the stories of big fish the previous week that had us dreaming of whopper halibut. A lady from Alberta had caught and landed a 145-pound monster off the deck of a the big boat and had the pictures to prove it.

With over thirty-years of commercial and sport fishing experience, Willis brings an incredible amount of knowledge to his charter business. The “live aboard fishing adventure” is a real treat and is an incredible value when you consider that there are no other expenses for meals or accommodations. The only down time experienced is visiting with family, friends and staff on the sheltered deck of the boat, rather than running back to town for the night. Three days and four nights is just $2295.

Catch the BIG ONE with us! Hope to see you on the water soon.

For more information about Ocean Star Fishing Charters Click Here

In the up-coast British Columbia fishing town of Prince Rupert the names Crosby and Matsumoto are well known. As ancestors of the Haida Gwaii in Japan (located on the formerly called Queen Charlotte Islands), the Crosby’s have literally hundreds of generations in the fishing industry.

Sam Matusmoto emigrated with his father from Japan in the 1920s and built fishing boats in Prince Rupert before being interned during World War II. After the war he set up a yard in North Vancouver but many of the customers for his beautiful wooden seiners were from Prince Rupert.

Seeing Willis Crosby on the fine big Matsumoto seiner ‘Ocean Star’ moored on the Prince Rupert waterfront one might feel that tradition was continuing. But a glance at the rigging on the boat reveals some dramatic changes.

In place of the big net drum there is now an aluminium shelter looking less like a halibut baiting shack than a yacht’s aft lounge. An aluminum shelter also covers the main deck and, when the boat leaves port on a summer Monday, it is towing not a single power skiff but several aluminium sport-fishing boats.

When Sam Matsumoto built the 22.8-metre by 6.4-metre ‘Ocean Star’ in 1955 the BC fishing industry was enjoying good times. The boat would have been able to fish herring through the winter months, halibut in the spring and salmon through the summer and fall.

A boat like the ‘Ocean Star’ could even be rigged for dragging, which she did for some time in the 1970s. Over the course of her life and several owners, the boat, like Willis Crosby who started fishing in the 1960s and became skipper in 1974, would witness dramatic changes.

With the advent of the 200 nautical mile economic zones, Canadian fishermen lost access to the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea halibut fishery. The reduction in the herring fishery was over exploited to the point of collapse in the mid-sixties but replaced by the much more lucrative herring roe fishery once stocks rebuilt in the early 1970s. Unfettered development from logging to mining and real estate development led to dramatic declines in many of the salmon stocks.

In spite of all this, successful fishermen like Crosby, were able to make a good living for themselves and their families. But the chant of “too many boats chasing to few fish” became the mantra on the coast, and bureaucrats and the public blamed fishermen for the declines.

The solution identified by economists and politicians was to limit entry to the fishery and buy back “surplus” boats. When that didn’t solve the problems brought on by habitat depredation and political interference with science, quotas were introduced.

Unlike Alaska, where the state places value on maintaining coastal communities and required owner-operators, Canada’s federal government encouraged transferable quotas with no owner-operator provision. The resulting corporate concentration has been hard on coastal communities and family fishing boats.

Over the years, Crosby has fished and owned several good boats. By the time that he went shopping for a new boat in 2001, he could see the changes that were coming. He had owned a roe on kelp permit since 1978 and caught fish for several other permits. He still seined salmon and was moving from seining herring to fishing the higher valued gillnet herring. But change was in the air. His son Shawn suggested that they buy a boat with the potential of converting it to carry sports fishermen.

While Shawn, now in his thirties, had a lifetime on and around Willis’ seiners, he takes a pragmatic view of the changes in the BC fishing industry. As quotas and markets dropped in the herring roe fishery and salmon seasons shrunk, he recognized that the family might have to change their way of doing things if they wanted to stay on the water. A number of Prince Rupert-based fishermen were getting into the crab fishery, but Shawn and his dad decided to try their hand in the sport fishing business.

They bought the ‘Ocean Star’ in 2001 and continued to work her in all their traditional fisheries.

“But the bottom fell out of the roe market and with the salmon cut backs I effectively lost my retirement nest egg as the value of my licenses also fell,” explained Willis.

Over the course of three years, Willis and Shawn, with the support of wife and mother Gayle, began working on getting themselves and the boat set up for charter fishing. To charter, Willis required a 150-tonne Domestic Masters ticket that would allow him to carry up to 12 passengers.

“I showed my log book to get the sea time and then studied for and passed the test,” he recalls.

“Not an easy feat at my age.”

The boat was in excellent shape. The previous owner had spent a lot of money putting a new top wheelhouse on. The hold was insulated and tanked with water circulation for slush ice. In spite of stories about Transport Canada having a prejudice against wooden boats, Willis found good cooperation and with minor modifications the boat met the inspection requirements.

Many seine boat conversions involve building the house aft over the working deck. But Willis and Shawn took a different approach. The roomy hold had been divided into four tanks that could pack about 80 tonnes of herring in total. The two forward tanks could each handle about 25 tonnes each with 15 tonnes each in the aft tanks.

Since they were deep enough to permit even a tall person to stand, the family simply installed four bunks in one tank for guests and two bunks in the other for crew. Replacing the oval manholes in the deck with one-inch thick Plexiglas brought in plenty of natural light. With the interiors painted a creamy warm colour the result is spectacularly inviting. With the insulation it takes very little to heat the roomy spaces. The aft hatches are reserved for storage. The water circulation system has been left in place and theoretically the holds could be converted back to their original purpose.

Comfortable accommodation for four more guests was created in the forward part of the main deck house that had contained eight bunks. It now has two staterooms with two bunks each. A second head with shower has been added with access from the deck. The original head was retained and upgraded. Willis and Gayle, who continues her role as cook, keep the large comfortable skipper’s cabin on the top deck. Sam Matusumoto was noted for his fine interior woodwork. This was retained and enhanced while contemporary Haida art prints adorn the walls.

Except for the removal of the purse winch, the main deck looks much as it did in her fishing days. The hydraulically operated ramp stern, typical of BC seine boats, has been replaced by a 1.2-metre by 5.4-metre aluminium “swim grid” for boarding and off-loading the sport fishing boats. A single fall on the boom is used to raise this when traveling.

“We only put about 12 hours a week on the nearly new Cummins 1150 engine so our fuel bill is not to bad and the engine will go on forever,” said Crosby.

The boat leaves the Prince Rupert Yacht Club dock each Monday at noon and runs two or three hours out to the grounds, often around the Druckers, and then anchors in a cove. The guests can take one of the four 5.4-metre aluminum skiffs or go with Shawn or the other guide/deckhand in a fully equipped 5.4-metre with a 150hp Mercury outboard.

In British Columbia, ports fishermen are allowed an eight-fish possession limit for salmon. Some prefer the more active fight of the coho (silvers) while others like the big springs (Chinook). With three nights aboard and four days of fishing most get to limit-out if they choose.

At times the smaller boats are moored to a string that is set up in a bay and the big boat goes to anchor over a halibut hole. The guest fish from the main deck and sip on cold beer while Gayle serves dinner. At C$2,195 (US$2,157) per person this is an affordable getaway while the three-month, June to September season, earning the vessel a solid base. Crosby is looking to extend his season with fall charters. The town of Prince Rupert has suffered from the decline of the fleet but Willis, who now lives near Vancouver, points out that Shawn and one of the crew live and spend in Prince Rupert.

“We do all of out boat work at Mclean Shipyards and put in a substantial grub order each week through the season,” Crosby explained.

While the major challenge for a seine fisherman is to find enough fish, a charter captain spends more energy looking after his crew of guests. But there is a pre-screening process that takes place when people select a wooden fishing boat over a plastic five-star for their coastal experience. That being said, Willis remains the captain of his vessel at all times.

This work is not for everyone. Willis, Gayle and Shawn share welcoming open personalities that can make even the most dour guest open to the good food, good fishing and time at sea.

But most importantly, the Willis family has found a way to keep on fishing.

Alan Haig-Brown

Click Here for Original Article at Baird Martime.com

Click Here for Pacific Fishing Magazine

Floating resort tours find B.C.’s best fishing spots

Family-run operation represents passing era

By David Y. Wei, Canwest News Service

A rain squall crept toward our open 18-foot sport fishing boat. Heavy droplets began to crater the glassy-calm water. We trolled slowly along the eastern side of the rugged Gnarled Islands, blissfully aware that we were the only boat within kilometres, and enjoying the solitude.

My wife, Suzanne, steered the boat, working the “fishy” edges of the wind-and wave-eroded shore. Our fishing lines shuddered as they passed through swarms of baitfish. With our fish box already holding a couple of silvery salmon, what more could we wish for?

As if on cue, two tall plumes of spray rose from the ocean a hundred metres behind us. A pair of immense backs broke the surface, followed by the long, bumpy pectoral fin of a humpback whale. Broad tail flukes lifted high in the air as the two whales made a steep descent.

We fumbled to extract our cameras from waterproof bags, and did our best to shield them from the rain while agonizing minutes elapsed. Had the whales passed us by?

A sudden ripple broke the surface scant metres away, then loud geysers of misty breath. We could almost reach out to touch the broad, barnacle-studded backs and short, pointed dorsal fins. The great humpback whales swam right beside us for a few surreal moments before gliding back into the depths.

Craftsmen at the historic Matsumoto Shipyards on the Dollarton Highway in North Vancouver built the classic 72-foot wooden seiner Ocean Star in 1955. When Willis Crosby purchased the Ocean Star in 2001, he had every intention of using her to commercially fish for salmon with his son, Shawn.

By the end of the 2003 season, though, with diminishing stocks and fewer opportunities to make a decent living commercially, Willis and Shawn began to reconfigure the interior space into comfortable private cabins and converted Ocean Star into a family-run cruising ship and fishing resort.

Their operation, Ocean Star Charters, is based in the port of Prince Rupert.

Willis captains the ship, deciding where to tour in these northern B.C. waters, which tourists have only recently begun to discover. While Shawn also has a Masters ticket to command the ship, he prefers to act as head guide, managing the sport fishing side of things. Mom Gayle is the ship’s hostess and looks after guest accommodations and food. Josh Pallister is their only hired hand, guiding and doing other shipboard chores.

Ocean Star runs Tuesday-to-Friday charters each week, with weekends free to clean and provision the ship. Willis notes, “Guests have a direct say in almost every aspect of our operation because the ownership is right on board to listen.”

Willis draws upon his decades of commercial fishing experience around Prince Rupert to bring his guests to the best fishing spots, with protected anchorages where Ocean Star can safely moor.

For most of the summer, Willis heads to Dundas Island, about 40 nautical miles north of Prince Rupert, and just a few short kilometres from the B.C.-Alaska border in Dixon Entrance. Dundas boasts excellent fishing and is one of the best places on our coast to spot sea mammals.

The journey through Chatham Sound to an anchorage deep in Brundige Inlet, at the north end of Dundas Island, takes about four hours. We all sat and chatted at one table right next to the galley while Gayle prepared delicious meals for us. Hot brunches after fishing or sightseeing included Manhattan-style clam chowder with tasty hits of shredded smoked salmon, which also made her eggs Benedict sensational.

We mixed fishing sessions with time to explore the north end of Dundas Island. Brundige Inlet plunges deep into the island, with several well-protected arms that provide safe anchorage. We snuck in and out of the small bays and passages, admiring the yachts that had also discovered this spot.

As Ocean Star pulled into her berth in Prince Rupert, she looked downright petite next to a mammoth Alaska cruise ship just docking at the city’s new terminal. While a big cruise ship is a luxurious way to see these northern waters, a trip aboard the Ocean Star offers something more: a chance to experience life aboard a vessel that represents a quickly passing era of commercial fishing in British Columbia.

Click Here for The Province Article, and Here for the Vancouver Sun Article

We recently took some of our summer Coho out of the freezer to smoke and make some Indian Candy.  It took some time but the results were awesome.  We cut the salmon into one inch pieces, and put the salmon into a brine mix.  It soaked for about eighteen hours before we removed it from the brine.  Next we allowed the salmon to dry and glaze over for another eighteen hours.  After it had glazed over and dried out, the salmon went into the smoker.

It was cold smoked for about 6-8 hours and then slow cooked at 160 degrees for another eight hours.  Then we removed the salmon candy from the smoker.  You’re probably going to want to taste it, so dig in.  It’s pretty hard to resist.  If by some miracle you haven’t devoured the whole batch put the rest into the fridge for eight hours to let it cool–that’s when the true taste really comes to life.

Pour yourself a cold beer and enjoy this great salmon dish.