Sooke and Ucluelet have reeled in significant bragging rights as one of the world91裸聊视频檚 top fishing destinations.
FishingBooker.com recently unveiled its Top Fishing Towns Outside the U.S. rankings list and the two Vancouver Island hotspots landed in the top ten worldwide while claiming first and second place, respectively, in Canada.
The website touts itself as the world91裸聊视频檚 largest platform for booking fishing trips and explained that its rankings are based on internal data from over 40,000 trips, reviews, and reports from the past year.
Sooke came in at fourth overall. Ucluelet, placed sixth on the international list, edging out tourism meccas like Quepos, Costa Rica, and Nassau, Bahamas, which tied for ninth place. .
Mexico earned the first three spots with Cabo San Lucas, Canc煤n and Puerto Pe帽asco topping the podium.
In a media release announcing the rankings, FishingBooker explained that the rankings took into account the number of fishing charters, local guides and bookings as well as review scores and recommendations.
Ucluelet chamber of commerce executive director Josh Jenkins told the Westerly News that achieving such a high spot on the list is 91裸聊视频渁mazing91裸聊视频� news for the community.
91裸聊视频淯cluelet91裸聊视频檚 sport fishing is pivotal to our economy and the fishing charter sector is a massive part of this. We have some of the most experienced and skilled guides in the world, and many of the most sought-after sport fishing species: chinook and coho salmon, halibut and lingcod,91裸聊视频� Jenkins said.
91裸聊视频淥ur amazing fishing and charters attract a significant amount of visitors from all over the world and with them comes money for our businesses. As Ucluelet is losing some of our commercial fisheries, and we become more reliant on tourism, the fishing charter sector becomes even more integral.91裸聊视频�
He added that Ucluelet91裸聊视频檚 picturesque landscapes alongside the Pacific Ocean and within Barkley Sound offer 91裸聊视频渁n extremely diverse and vibrant ecosystem,91裸聊视频� as well as an abundance of healthy fish to seek out.
91裸聊视频淎ccolades like this one from Fishingbooker.com are great for Ucluelet to add to our long list of attractants to visitors, and it will help bring even more fishermen from across the globe to help support these great charter businesses and the community as a whole,91裸聊视频� he said.
Tourism Ucluelet91裸聊视频檚 tourism development specialist Nick Curry told the Westerly that Ucluelet and Barkley Sound over get overlooked, but provide the small community feel many travellers are looking for.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an incredible little community that91裸聊视频檚 very supportive of fishing,91裸聊视频� he said, noting the community also boasts friendly and accessible processing businesses ready to pack up and seal freshly caught deliciousness.
91裸聊视频淓veryone in this town is extremely down to earth. We still have that small town feel that appeals to a lot of people that want to come in and feel welcomed and not overrun by tourism.91裸聊视频�
He echoed Jenkins91裸聊视频� sentiments around the hospitality and professionalism of the town91裸聊视频檚 fishing charter companies.
91裸聊视频淎 lot of the people that run these charters have grown up out here. They have local knowledge and have been fishing for 10-30 years. They91裸聊视频檙e great fishermen and super respectful of the coastline and where we live. They know how to find fish, but also take care of their guests that get onboard,91裸聊视频� he said.
He suggested accolades like FishingBooker91裸聊视频檚 rankings help push Ucluelet out of the shadow of neighbouring Tofino.
91裸聊视频淚 think for a long time Ucluelet was seen as Option 2 compared to Tofino, but in the past years, since 2015, we91裸聊视频檝e really made a name for ourselves as a tourism destination and a fishing destination,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 feel like we91裸聊视频檝e been really good at not compromising the quality of the town or our specific culture. We91裸聊视频檝e been able to maintain the charm of Ucluelet while still growing our reputation. Anytime we get these distinctions, it puts our name on the map and it91裸聊视频檚 great for brand recognition.91裸聊视频�
Curry encourages fishers to check out the town91裸聊视频檚 waters in the offseason, noting opportunities to snag bites still abound during the shoulder season months.
91裸聊视频淪ometimes that91裸聊视频檚 the best fishing that91裸聊视频檚 out there. The town91裸聊视频檚 a little bit more quiet, everything91裸聊视频檚 a bit cheaper and it91裸聊视频檚 always a great time to come out here,91裸聊视频� he said.
Ucluelet mayor Marilyn McEwen told the Westerly she frequently receives rave reviews about the town91裸聊视频檚 fishing experiences from guests staying at her Anchors Inn Waterfront Cabins business.
91裸聊视频淧eople on an annual basis come here specifically to go fishing91裸聊视频 think people just really like the small fishing village feel that Ucluelet has still.,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e still a small community and I think we91裸聊视频檙e very welcoming to tourists, which they appreciate.91裸聊视频�
She added the Fishingbooker accolade is a solid lure for attracting more fishers to the community .
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 advertising. It gets the message out that this is a great place to come if you love to fish,91裸聊视频� she said.
