Gord, this site is as dead as my sex life!

LOL! 😂

Wolf of Vedder

It's kind of known that the drugs that people use, both legal (ie by Rx) and illegal have downstream effects both on people and the environment.

A recent rather unusual study out of Sweden investigated the effects of cocaine use on wild salmon particularly the effect of benzoylecgonine, the primary metabolite of cocaine on wild Atlantic salmon in a Swedish Lake and found a number of negative effects. One of the most startling was salmon so exposed swam more than twice as much distance over the study period as unexposed subjects.

The article also cites other studies that show that "tests on freshwater shrimp in rivers in Suffolk found traces of dozens of different drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, antidepressants, anxiolytics for anxiety and antipsychotics, but the researchers did not draw any conclusions about their potential to cause harm".

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/apr/20/cocaine-pollution-may-disrupt-behaviour-of-salmon-study-suggests?shem=dsdf,sharefoc,agadiscoversdl,,sh/x/discover/m1/4

Link to the Study:

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(26)00315-5

"Summary

Cocaine and its metabolites are increasingly being detected in aquatic environments worldwide. While previous research has demonstrated that these substances can affect brain function and behavior in wildlife, this research has exclusively been conducted under artificial laboratory conditions. How cocaine pollution affects animal behavior in the wild is, thus, unknown. Here, we combine slow-release chemical implants with acoustic telemetry tracking to reveal how environmentally realistic levels of cocaine and its main metabolite, benzoylecgonine, affect the movement of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts in a large natural lake (Lake Vättern, Sweden). Benzoylecgonine exposure increased weekly movement rates of fish in the wild, with exposed fish swimming up to ∼1.9 times farther per week relative to controls. In addition, benzoylecgonine-exposed fish dispersed up to ∼12.3 km farther than control conspecifics. These results indicate that cocaine-derived pollutants can alter fish spatial ecology, potentially influencing habitat use, trophic interactions, and population-level dispersal patterns in natural ecosystems."

attached is a related article from the Narwhal.

Winston the Grizzly was twice relocated to the Manning Park area to introduce fresh genetics to what was an isolated population. At the time I read that it was thought the grizzly population in the Manning area was perhaps 20 to 40 bears. Turns out it is currently much less than 10 at best and the last confirmed sighting was at Eastgate just outside the Park in 2015. Many consider grizzlies extirpated from the Cascades. In the US the Federal Government has withdrawn support for reintroduction of grizzlies to the area. Various groups are still trying to move bears  there.

https://thenarwhal.ca/north-cascades-grizzly-recovery/

End of June is primetime for migrating Chinook salmon. You need a large sea worthy boat to get out to the salmon grounds. Be prepared to move around a lot to find salmon on the bite. Dock space in Tofino is limited to the locals and fishing guides. You will have to launch and retrieve your boat daily and have a large enough accommodation space to store it overnight. Good luck and tight lines.

End of June is a beautiful time to fish there. However, the open ocean is no joke— even on a calm day, you can expect consistent swells of around 2 ft, which can easily make you seasick or at least quite uncomfortable.

With a small boat and a 4 hp engine, you’re really only suited for sheltered waters like inlets or coves. The open ocean would be risky under those conditions.

The little beach areas offer limited fishing opportunities. If the weather is exceptionally calm, you could try a quick run to nearby islands, but otherwise, it’s much safer to fish within the inlet or inlet around the Tofino area.

Can park and launch from little beach. Can fish for everything once you get outside of the cove.

Will send a PM

Amazing!! Thank you!

Will send a PM

I'm heading to Ucluelet and Tofino at the end of June with my toddler daughter and wondering if anyone has any suggestions for fishing this time of year around there? I have access to a small boat with 4hp motor, but would love to know shore and dock options too. I have tons of river and beach fishing experience around Vancouver, plus gear for almost all types of fishing except a downrigger. Ferry/gas/food/accommodations are taking up most of my budget this trip, so unfortunately cant afford a salmon or tuna charter (the dream one day).

I'd love to get some squid (plan on hitting the docks in Ukee), salmon, crab, and whatever else we can fish to eat around the campfire. Any tips, lure recommendations, or hot spots would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to DM me - I am very respectful and wont blow up any spots on the internet. Just hoping I can get myself and my daughter into some different types of fish and really enjoy our time there.

On my mind (but very open to suggestions)
* Crab/Prawn fishing at Ucluelet Harbour or Grice Bay?
* Any salmon fishing around that time - or is it too early in the season? (Dont want to take my boat out of safe bays)
* Shore casting for Perch and other species into the waves at Florencia/Chestermans/Long Beach, etc?
* Fishing off the rocks at one of the beaches like Middle Beach?

I know no freshwater fishing in the national parks, so I wont be doing any of that.

Love some suggestions as to how to really make this trip extra special!