Otters rolling and playing in the water, eagles searching for a quick meal above the clear ocean water, starfish meandering their way up to the shoreline, rocks glistening in the early morning sunlight, and tall pines sprouting up from the shoreline to the tops of the mountainous region. Being in the presence of this landscape is certainly breathtaking. It’s like a glimpse of heaven on earth as we arrived to our destination off the coast of Vancouver Island in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.
This escape to Vancouver Island’s rocky shorelines, dense rain forests, and abounding wildlife gives nature lovers, anglers, and others who simply want to enjoy the outdoors a venue that is beyond what we could ever imagine.
The Group
We had a total of 14 people in the group ranging from OG’s of kayak fishing, content creators, podcasters, product marketing owners and reps, kayak fishing pro staffers, plus a couple of lure makers. This included Keith Stevenson from Kayak Angler Magazine who organized this trip. Stevenson is well known for his innovative ideas and this one would be a history making event for the Sea Otter Lodge who hosted us.
The Lodge
Sea Otter Lodge is located on a private seven acre island surrounded by sandy and rock shorelines, forests, and bountiful marine life. This 3,200 square foot lodge was built by the Plensky family who still operate and hosts up to 12 guests at a time for an all inclusive retreat. It is fully equipped to offer kayaking, hiking, and a world-class fishing experience. It is a very comfortable setting with a wood stove and fireplace along with relaxing decks on the outside. The classic kitchen setup will have you in awe with the cupboards and fridges stocked full of delicous food and drink for you to enjoy during your stay. There is also internet service available. This is the perfect one-of-a-kind experience for the family or group that wants to get away and enjoy the wilderness experience.
After landing our plane in Comox on Vancouver Island, we made the trek by service van along a paved road for a couple of hours and then along a scenic gravel road which winds for another couple of hours to Fare Harbor where we would load our gear and extra kayaks we brought along on two taxi boats which would take us on an incredible scenic ride to the lodge through the mountainous region.
This trip was the purposeful in making history by helping Sea Otter Lodge inaugurate the first lodge on the British Columbia Coast to offer an all inclusive kayak fishing trip. This area is perfect for the kayak angler with its clusters of protected islands, that protect this area from the wind and surf. With Vibe Kayaks, Bixpy Motors, and Yakattack accessories as the primary providers our group was set up for instant access to the abundant world class fishing nearby. Keith Stevenson from Kayak Angler Magazine and a resident from nearby B.C. brought along rods, reels, extra kayaks, and lures sponsored by Gibbs Fishing. We also had the famed world class salt fisherman Chad Gerleich who owns Hook Up Baits who brought along his baits that are simply amazing!
The Crew
The Sea Otter Lodge crew included Skip and Susan Plensky who are the owners of the lodge and the seven acre island we stayed on for the week. Skip is a former logger and as tough as they come in these parts. He is also an experienced fishing guide. Susan, a former school principal is one of the most organized people I’ve ever met! She kept all of us organized as well with a departure/arrival chart, VHS radios, and made sure we had lunches with us for the day among other details. Their daughter, Rose (The Outdoor Queen) helped with cooking meals, cleaning fish, and preparing lunches for the anglers. Skip’s sister, Del also helped with meal prep, and keeping things organized. Our first mate was Rowan, a transfer from England who worked very hard to keep our equipment up to par. He was a very polite young man and I loved hearing his accent. Then there was our chef, the anchor for all the delicious food we devoured nightly. His name is Scott and his accomplice Juney who both worked tirelessly like the others to make our home for the week a place to remember for a lifetime. Scott is a passionate chef who prepares and cooks food to perfection! Susan, Del, and Rose also prepared breads that were incredible! Scott, is also a chef in a larger city there. We were lucky to have someone like him with us! My favorite meal was the prime rib over mashed potatoes. Well, that southern rib supper wasn’t too bad either! Gosh! They were all incredible meals! The fish fry, seafood buffet, and brunch were spectacular! And the lingcod over rice pilaf, as tasty as it gets!
The Overall Experience
After unloading our gear we immediately proceeded to rig our fishing rods and get the kayaks equipped for the incredible days ahead of fishing. Our first meal set the stage for what would be some of the best food we have every tasted! We had a seafood chowder thinking that this was the meal for the evening, but then here comes a luscious plate of lingcod over rice pilaf and veggies on the side! It was simply delicious! And to top that off we had rubarb crisp with ice cream! All this on a remote island in the North Pacific! How much better does it get!
Our first day on the water was a bit narly as the wind blew from the southwest with clouds and rain. We tried our luck just outside the nearby islands found a few fish on some submerged rock. It was certainly an adventurous experience. The Vibe kayaks proved to be stable and efficient on the water and Bixpy motors provided the boost we needed to cover more water when needed. We also had pedal and paddle power in the Makana model. Susan provided us with a sack lunch to keep us nourished during the day. We also soon found out that those Hook Up Baits were the ticket to catch those fish combing the rocks below. Chad taught us how to use them and they were very effective. Some of the guys went out in the boat with Skip and they had a great time as well hooking into some monster fish!
Upon returning to the lodge that day, Rowan, our first mate from England stoked a nice fire in the main fireplace. The warmth was amazing as we prepared for another incredible meal of prime rib over mashed potatoes and veggies. That evening we prepared for another day on the water and would work our way northwest toward more submerged rock where biomasses of squid might be harbored. Sure enough, they were there along with baitfish that the birds were feasting on from above. We found several patches of submerged rock and hooked up on all of them. Big lingcod, rock fish, “Black Bombers” as they are called, and giant cabazon! It was an epic day using the Hook Up Baits. There was no doubt in the pattern we had found with the help of Chad. He used his Navionics to find the submerged rock and we would follow along finding fish along the way. I learned a lot from Chad and used the Navionics myself to find the rocks. Once dialed in, it was game on!
On the third day of fishing we went a little south and found a few fish inside the reef. Chad and Daren Wendell headed way out beyond the surf to fish submerged rock in deeper water. We headed that way after a few fish were caught inside the reef. It was an epic adventure in the ten foot swells and breezy conditions. Some of us were on the verge of motion sickness as the roller coaster swells swept beneath us. But the fishing was amazing! The chase boat captained by Skip Plensky was nearby to take our catches which filled up in the kayak fast! We caught some more lingcod, cabezon, “Black Bombers” and rock fish. Then we headed inside the reef as some of the anglers were feeling a bit weasy out there. Right away, Chad hooks up on what would be one of the largest ling cod caught all week. It was an amazing catch and motivated all of us to fish even harder! We continued to catch more fish there and then headed in after a long spectacular day of fishing.
The next day we headed back into the bay that was mostly protected from the wind. Along the way we would find “Bombers” and rock fish along with a few ling cod. We covered several miles looking for that 30-60 foot depth with submerged rock. The small charter boats that swept by must have thought we were crazy being so far from the lodge. After about nine miles my battery finally gave it’s last bit of energy for my motor. I was very impressed by how long these batteries would last. This was the first day my battery was used up. The group I was with that day all had the larger battery or took two. I only took one along so had to paddle and pedal my way back against a westerly wind and incoming tide. It wasn’t easy but I made it and was accompanied by Paul Glass who made sure I made it back safe. I’m grateful for this and all the others who put safety first while we were out there. Our PFD’s were provided by Simms and they fit very snug and comfortable. Upon our return we had a fish fry and it was an incredible buffet! The deep fried ling cod and prawns were simply amazing to eat!
The next morning some of the anglers went back out and slammed over a hundred fish in just a short time with the incoming rip tide and sunny conditions. I stayed behind checking out the Vibe kayaks, and SUP in the bay. I meandered around a couple of otters that were nearby and gave us a show of their acrobatics. I am very impressed with the Shearwater and SUP as well. The Bixpy motor pushes them easily and efficiently.
Later that morning we had a brunch to die for! Homemade french toast, eggs, sausage, bacon, among fruits, and other tasty items. We were given a wonderful speech by Susan and the crew gave us each a “West Coast Thumper” to take home with us. Keith was presented with a plaque honoring his work in this trip and making history in this region with the advent of a lodge that offers kayak fishing.
Daren Wendell (Wendell Fishing), a full time kayak angler, content creator and podcaster, gave his input on the experience he had while staying there:
“My time at the Sea Otter Lodge in Vancouver was nothing short of incredible. From the stunning natural beauty surrounding the lodge to the top-notch hospitality and comfortable accommodations, every moment was unforgettable. It’s the perfect blend of relaxation and world-class angling for any serious kayak angler.”
Here’s what others had to say about the trip:
Trevor Powell (Fish_Forage_Offroad) from Northern California said,
“Sea Otter Lodge surpassed every expectation - stunning scenery, world-class fishing, and dining that wowed our taste buds. But the real magic happened with the team; they welcomed us with open arms, tailored every experience to perfection, and made us feel like family. Their dedication, expertise, and warm hospitality turned our stay into an unforgettable adventure. We're already planning our next visit. If you're seeking a truly exceptional getaway, look no further than Sea Otter Lodge”
Chad Hook Up Baits said,
“My trip to sea otter lodge BC was very enjoyable. The group of guys that Kieth put together was very fun. It was great getting to know all of them. The lodge and surroundings were beautiful, the food was great, and hospitality was second to none. The highlights of the trip for me was witnessing guy's that have never fished Saltwater or the magical Hookup Baits before fish this area in kayaks and watch their minds being blown. I heard so many times while pulling up on a reef with the crew of 4 to 8 kayakers. The shouts coming out. (fish on, oh my God, this is insane, it's a hog, and so on), and with every shout, I had a big smile on my face.”
Chad continued, “The other was being able to fish as long as you want. I love long days on the water. I typically fish sun up to sun down. And with my other trips to BC with guides, I always felt I was only fishing half days. At Sea Otter Lodge, you have your own kayak, and it stays light till 9:30 pm this time of year. We put in 12 to 13 hour days on the water. After 4 days of that , I felt like I got my fishing time in on this trip. All in all great trip and recommended for any kayak angler. Just remember to bring Hookup and Gibbs Baits and Navionics and you will have no problem catching fish.”
Keith Stevenson (Yakfishaholic) , Kayak Angler Magazine:
“The place is UNREAL! The serenity, scenery, atmosphere, people, wildlife, hiking, food and THE FISHING! Even the name ‘Kon Tiki Island’ is cool!
“I’m pumpled to be a part of developing their yak fishin’ program-ther are SO many islands that are not only amazing to explore but set the scene for the perfect Kayak Fishing adventure: providing structure for fish close to the lodge, protection from weather, calm, crystal clear waters…It’s like a tailor made yak fishing experience!
“If you’ve never tangled with chinook or coho from a kayak or wrestled with a halibut or lingcod on your lap…well, then I feel sorry for you!” GET THERE!- Oh, and did I mention the food and the fishing? Oh yeah, I did!”
After packing up our belongings we loaded the boats and started the trek for home. The boat ride was fanstastic as we chatted along the way. A short nights stay at a local hotel in Comox and we all had scheduled flights back to our homes.
We will always be grateful for how hospitable this group was to us. I miss them already!
To book a trip with Sea Otter Lodge click on the link below:
awesome post Marty! you really captured the experience - was great getting to hang out in person rather than just on podcasts!
one note - the PFD's were provided by Salus Marine awesome PFD's made up here north of the 49th!
Good stuff!