It’s never the best part of the fishing experience, and it’s often a thankless task, but someone on board the boat has got to do it. We’re talking about cleaning your catch. Knowing how to clean a fish properly is something every fisherman should know how to do. It’s the first step in getting your fish to taste delicious, after all.

When do you need to clean your fish?

Try and clean your fish within an hour or two of catching it, or at the very least, on the day you catch it – this is true even if you are planning on freezing the fish eventually. If you’ll be out fishing for several days on your yacht, it will be important you have everything you need on board to easily clean your catch right there on the boat. Fortunately, you don’t need much to clean a fish.

Here’s our quick guide to cleaning a fish on board your boat:

To clean a fish, you’ll need a:

• Sanitary work station
• Dull butter knife, spoon or fork for removing scales
• Sharp knife for gutting your fish
• Bucket to collect your fish guts
• Clean ice bucket to collect your clean fish
• Newspaper or plastic lining (optional)
• Clean running water
• A fish or two worthy of getting your hands dirty

Cleaning a fish in 7 easy steps

Step 1: Bleed the Fish

A fish should be bled when you first catch it to preserve the flavour of the meat and to make for a cleaner gutting experience. To do so, make a shallow incision under the fish’s gills. Snap its head back, breaking the spinal cord, then thread a rope through its mouth and out the gills. Allow the fish to bleed out into the water. Put the fresh catch on ice. Keep it there until you’re ready for the next steps.

Step 2: Prepare Your Materials

Lay out some newspaper on your sanitized workspace to help absorb liquids spilling from the fish and onto the floor. Do your fish cleaning outdoors if possible as it’s going to get messy! Use gloves if you prefer and have them handy.

Have your bag or bucket nearby to collect the bones, fins, head, and guts of the fish.

Inspect your fish for signs of diseases, including spots, sores, wounds, and discolouration before proceeding.

Step 3: Remove Scales

Remove the scales from your cold fish using a dull knife, fork, or spoon. From the tail towards the head, use a raking motion working against the direction of the scales. Do both sides of the fish, as well as the top and bottom.

Don’t worry if you can’t remove all the scales (they are not harmful to consume) – just aim for most of them because they don’t taste very good.

If you’re dealing with a thick-skinned fish, consider skinning it instead of descaling. To do this, cut a 1-inch notch where the top of the fish’s head connects to its body. Grip the fish at the head and simply peel the skin down to the tail. Pliers might be needed if the skin is tough.

Step 4: Remove Guts

It’s time to gut your fish. To do so, cut a long, shallow incision along the belly of the fish from the anus to the base of the gills. The incision must be shallow, or you’ll nick the intestines, making them harder and much messier to remove.

Remove the fish guts from the abdominal cavity with your fingers or scoop them out with a spoon. We told you it wasn’t going to be fun! The guts should be easy to remove, albeit unpleasant. Don’t miss anything! There might be darker membranes remaining in certain types of fish. Be sure to scrape these out as well to prevent a strong flavour and aroma from making its way into your meal.

Step 5: Remove Fins and Head

Remove the head of the fish if you plan on doing so. Cut it off from directly behind the gills. Some people choose to leave the head on the fish, and in some cooking methods – for trout especially – the head adds flavour and depth to your dish.

Next, remove the dorsal fin at the bottom of the fish (also optional) by quickly pulling it firmly towards the head. Removing the dorsal fin, if done in a swift motion, removes many small bones from your fish. You can also just cut it off.

Dispose of your fish guts responsibly. The cleaning station at the marina should have disposal bins. If you’re out on the open ocean, toss the guts back in, but if you’re in a residential area/smaller lake, it’s best to wrap these up in the newspaper and dispose of them when you’re back on shore.

Step 6: Rinse or Wipe Down the Fish

Quickly rinse the fish in cold water – inside and out – specifically rinsing off any blood, sticky scales, and other random fish bits. There are no cleaning chemicals required here – just water ought to do it. However, don’t overdo it with the water, or else you end up washing away the flavour of the fish. If you prefer, you can gently wipe the fish with a paper towel rather than rinsing it.

Step 7: Cook Your Fish

Depending on your preferred cooking method, you might have more prep work to do before you can cook your fish, like filleting or cutting it into steaks, and removing its backbone prior to cooking (if you’re not BBQing or baking it whole).

Either way, you’re done cleaning and are well on your way to enjoying your catch of the day!

For tips on how to hook the fish in the first place, check out our Lures or Bait debate.

And if you think it might be a while until you catch something, why not prepare a few meals ahead of time before setting sail? Board your boat with these 5 Make-Ahead Boating Meals to tide you over until your big catch.

At Van Isle Marina in Victoria, BC, we are a big boating community who know their fish. Looking for the best fishing boat to help you catch fish in more style and comfort? Check out some of the yachts we have available for sale. We specialize in new Back Cove, Riviera, and Belize motor yachts, in addition to the many pre-owned boats for sale at our marina.

Lure or Live Bait? Understanding the Pros and Cons of Each

When it comes to catching fish as quickly and effortlessly as possible, the question of which is better – artificial lures or real bait – depends on what you’re trying to catch and in what conditions you’re trying to catch it. Sometimes a lure is best, while other times, bait is the way to go. However, there are some general pros and cons to each method.

>> If you’re looking for a new fishing boat, check out our selection at Van Isle Marina: Boats for sale.

Fishing with Lures

Fishing lures are small, artificial objects often shaped like a fish’s prey that are attached to a hook and tied to the end of a fishing line. They are used to attract fish to your line.

There are many different types of lures on the market such as jigs, spinners, spoons, fly lures, crankbaits, and plugs. Some lure manufacturers have even added LEDs to the mix.

Whether they are made from rubber, plastic, metal or a mix of such materials, fishing lures are often weighted and use a combination of movements, vibrations, colours and shiny reflections to entice fish to bite.

The Pros of Fishing with Lures

• Lures are one-time, reusable purchases.
• Lures don’t require special storage like dirt or water tanks, which significantly reduces the weight of your tackle box.
• Lures are not dirty or smelly.
• Lures are fun to collect and actively engaging and satisfying to use.
• Lures often lead to bigger catches and fewer unwanted fish on your line.
• Lures help increase the survival rate of fish in catch and release fishing by reducing deep hooking – an occurrence that leads to higher mortality rates in fish.
• Lures reduce an angler’s use of bait, which helps maintain populations of bait species from being overharvested.

The Cons of Fishing with Lures

• With so many varieties of fishing lures out there, it can take some trial and error to find the best ones for what you’re trying to catch. This means you might end up with clutter in your tackle box.
• No matter how fun lures are to collect, lures can get expensive if you’re not careful, and they won’t all work.
• Lures can get stuck in weeds, branches, and rocks. And they won’t be all that effective in murky waters or at night time.
• Fishing lures work best when they are cast where an abundant amount of fish is present. Unlike bait, lures won’t attract fish from far and wide, so you might be waiting a while for a bite and be required to move around to different areas.
• Lures require the right combination of weight, hook sizes, and colours to work effectively for what type of fish you’re trying to catch, so they aren’t as straightforward as bait. In short – the number of options can be overwhelming for beginners.

When to Use Fishing Lures

For better or worse, the effectiveness of lures relies on just the right conditions. Lures are best used when:

• The water is nice and clear
• The weather is warmer
• You’re dealing with aggressive, predatory fish
• There are a lot of undersized or non-target fish present
• You’re in a catch and release area
• When signs are deeming the waters “artificial only” or “fly and lure only”

Fishing with Bait

Natural baits are living critters that are used to attract fish to your hook. The most common types are worms, minnows, leeches, insects and shrimp. Rather than artificial lures, which mimic a fish’s prey, bait ARE actual fish prey.

The Pros of Fishing with Bait

• Bait is highly effective because fish are more attracted to the real live prey you’re delivering. They latch on with gusto, improving the chances of a deep hooked fish on the end of your line – one who is less likely to fall off. (A deep-hooked fish is a con if you’re doing catch and release, however.)
• Bait appeals to a wide range of fish species, increasing the likelihood you’ll catch something.
• Bait is often cheaper than lures in the long run. It’s free if you find your own while out and about in nature.
• Bait attracts fish from far and wide, so you can easily set your rod up and just wait for something to bite.
• Unused bait can be returned to nature, or even frozen until your next trip.
• Researching bait basics helps give you a better understanding of which fish prefer which prey.

The Cons of Fishing with Bait

• Bait is messier and smellier than fishing with lures. Prepare to get your hands, clothing, and gear smelly and dirty, especially if you’re capturing your own bait.
• Bait needs special storage considerations like refrigeration or circulating water.
• Due to these storage considerations, bait is usually heavier to lug around than artificial lures.
• Bait requires more frequent trips to the bait shop and planning to make sure you have enough.
• Fishing with bait contributes to the overharvesting of fish prey.
• Bait attracts any and all types of fish, including small ones or otherwise not the ones you were looking to catch.
• Bait increases the rate of deeply hooked fish – only a con in catch and release fishing as this decreases the survival rate of the fish.

When to Use Bait

As with lures, the effectiveness of bait relies on just the right conditions. Bait is best used when:

• The water is muddy or murky
• It’s nighttime
• You’re a beginner looking to catch something, anything
• You’re fishing for keeps
• It’s cold outside, or better yet, when ice fishing
• Your next meal depends on it!

In the end, there is no clear winner in the lures vs. bait debate. And this is by no means an exhaustive list of each method’s strengths and weaknesses.

Each method of fishing has its pros and cons – it all depends on what species you’re trying to catch, your level of experience, and your conditions.

At Van Isle Marina in Sidney, BC, near Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal, we love talking fishing with our clients and visitors and would be happy to give you some pointers and talk about what works for our waters. Come see us with all your fishing and boating related questions. Find us at 2320 Harbour Road. Find out how to get here.

Whether you are a skilled offshore cruiser or a new boater with only a few seasons under your belt, there is always more to learn when it comes to boating. The New Year holiday season is an excellent time to perfect existing skills or learn a wealth of new information. We have compiled a list of courses that are offered in Victoria, Vancouver, or online. Many of the courses are offered across Canada, so it is recommended to check with your local Power and Sail Squadron for more information on courses in your area.

Marine Electrical Maintenance

This course is taught by the Vancouver branch of the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron. It teaches you the basics to keep your on-board electrical systems maintained and safe.

Where: Prince of Wales Secondary School, Vancouver B.C.

When: January 24, 2019 – March 14, 2019

Sailing

Looking to start sailing, or increase your knowledge of sailing procedures? This course goes over all aspects of sailing theory including rigging, handling foul weather conditions and much more.

Where: Prince of Wales Secondary School, Vancouver B.C.

When: January 15, 2019 – March 12, 2019

Near Shore Marine Navigation Level 1

This course dives deep into essential boating information, especially for those who spend long time frames away from shore. Course topics include: medical emergencies at sea, tides, and marlinespike seamanship. This course is also offered online from February 21, 2019 – May 16, 2019 in addition to being offered in a classroom.

Where: St. Matthias Anglican Church, Victoria B.C.

When: January 15, 2019 – April 16, 2019

Offshore Marine Navigation Level 2

Building on the information relayed in the Level 1 course, this course requires a strong foundation of navigation with topics that include celestial navigation, sextant training, offshore electronics and navigating in emergencies. This course is offered online.

Where: Online

When: January 7, 2019 – March 25, 2019

Offshore Personal Survival Course

This is a 2-day course offered in Victoria by the Vic-Maui International Yacht Race. It includes a theory session, as well as practical sessions with in pool training. Participants will learn how to properly conduct a man-overboard rescue, hypothermia & cold-water immersion, emergency signals and much more.

Where: Royal Victoria Yacht Club, University of Victoria (McKinnon Pool)

When: March 23, 2019 – March 24, 2019

What boating courses would you like to see offered in 2019?

The sun has officially set on summer, and winter is on the horizon. The “off-season” brings a plethora of wild and glorious weather to the Pacific Northwest. In an instant, things can change and even the most experienced boater may need to seek refuge. Below is a list of a handful of the many anchorages in the Gulf Islands that can provide shelter during a storm.

Ford’s Cove – Hornby Island

Ford’s Cove is the only completely protected anchorage on Hornby Island. The southern tip of Denman Island blocks any south winds, while Hornby and the Ford’s Cove spit protects from the other directions.

The bottom is a mix of sand and mud which provides a lot of hold during stormy weather, and the depth of the water typically ranges from three to five meters.

If amenities are needed, the Ford’s Cove Harbour has washrooms, electricity and a small store.

Annette Inlet – Prevost Island

Prevost Island has no lack of great anchorages, but Annette Inlet is a local favourite.

Not only is it beautiful, but it is easy to maneuver and sheltered. While this area does lack immediate amenities, Annette Inlet is spacious and less busy than most other anchorages its size.

The surrounding area is private property, so trips ashore are discouraged.

Royal Cove – Portland Island

Royal Cove is nestled in the northern most part of Portland Island. It is a quiet alternative to Princess Bay, which is located on the southern side of the island.

The cove is quite sheltered, however if you are avoiding a strong north wind, there may be a better suited anchorage for you elsewhere.

Your anchor is sure to stay put, as the bottom is made up of thick mud. If you have a deep keel, be wary of the rocks located on the west side of the cove.

Clam Bay – Thetis Island

The aptly named Clam Bay (previously the site of a large shellfish operation) is tucked in between Thetis Island and Penelakut Island. The two islands are separated by a very small channel which is maneuverable by dinghy and will lead you right to the amenities at Telegraph Cove.

This anchorage will provide you shelter in all but an easterly wind. The bottom is stable with mud and sand, and anchor holding is typically found around six to twelve metres.

We encourage you to refer to your navigational aids and do your research before checking out a new anchorage. Do you have a favourite location to anchor during troubled seas? Let us know in the comments!

Vancouver Island is a big and beautiful place. The Island stretches 460 kilometers in length and 100 kilometers in width for a total of 32,134 km2 in area. We are surrounded by some of the most pristine and beautiful coastlines in the world, attracting people from across the globe. Our forests are dense and populated […]