Comox Fisherman’s Wharf Comox BC

This little adventure happened while we were out on BC’s gorgeous Vancouver Island late last year and for the first time in eons, we had nothing to do, report on or to document. It’s a lazy afternoon and served no purpose but to be fun. Greetings from Comox Fisherman’s Wharf, Comox BC, and we’re going to simply wander about and see the sights.

It’s not an easy task, to relax when go-go-go is the norm. In spite of the casual mood, notes are still taken, we still chat with anyone who cares to chat and the prerequisite number of shots are captured. It’s just a habit. Still, this is not a history report or travelogue, but a rare look at us doing nothing much at all.

Comox, a pleasant little community, is located about a third-way up the island if starting in the south and on its east side. So along the Strait of Georgia and the harbour, in a protected bay. The east shore of the island is rather easy-going and placid when compared to the rugged nature of the ocean facing side.

Comox harbour is the base for many fishing and commercial boats and has a dedicated section for those craft. It’s protected by a breakwater and calm even in the most wild weather. A second section of the marina, on the opposite side of a jetty is for pleasure craft and similarly well-sheltered.

We did see some private sailing vessels and larger yachts intermingled with the fishing boats on this side. A person we spoke with on one said they were put here because they were docked long term. A few were being lived on and one mentioned that moorage ended up a far cheaper alternative to renting a place in town. Property is expensive in the area.

The harbour goes back some one hundred and twenty years and had quite a different form in the old days. It was comprised of one long wood pile-supported wharf for the longest time, out past the mud-flats and into deeper water. The present jetty at Comox Fisherman’s Wharf is located where it used to be. The harbour/marina didn’t start taking on the present form into the 1960s, thanks to lots of dredging, and expanded upon ever since.

Seals have taken up residence around the harbour but too far away to capture with the camera at hand. You could hear them out there and they seemingly populated every available space away from the docks. On the breakwaters, floating buoys and log rafts.

Jellyfish seem to like the protected harbour and thousands could be seen floating just below the surface. The water is coloured a turquoise blue and shimmers in the sun.

The Jellyfish are fascinating, but at the same time creepy as heck. Horror movie, send chills down your spine, run for the hills creepy. Turns out someone shares the nightmare. Jellyscream (movie 2008): “A rural State Park is terrorized by a mutant, man-eating, bipedal, humanoid jellyfish…” It could happen!

Tuna, salmon shrimp, prawns, cod, lingcod, and halibut are all commercially fished in the area. That’s quite the seafood buffet. Some of the boats are huge and have large net spools like those one you see on those “reality” fishing shows. That’s the extent of our knowledge.

Some off-the-boat sales are done right at Comox Fisherman’s Wharf, although nothing was happening on out visit. The action is seasonal and highly regulated, so boats end up moored for extended periods. They can make good money when it’s happening but nothing when idle.

Only a few of the craft had anyone onboard and they all seemed to be keeping busy doing maintenance and upkeep work. We visited in late October if that means anything. We tried to make heads or tails of the various fishing season windows and came away with a pounding migraine.

So enough blabbing and let’s wander about and look at the craft, take in those lovely blue skies, smell the salty air and do pretty much bupkis. Sometimes you need a day like this and you know, be sure to do the same in your life once in a while.

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They’re saying…

“Always something to peak my curious nature…!” Deborah Pearen.

British Columbia is awesome…
Alexandra Bridge Fraser Canyon BC. A thing for old bridges.
The Giants of Cathedral Grove (BC). Big and awe inspiring things.
Alone in the Gulch. 24hr pizza and plumbing supplies!

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Date of adventure: October, 2023.
Location: Comox BC on Vancouver Island.
Article references and thanks: Rob Pohl and Aurturo Pianzola, Comox Valley Harbour Authority + Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Greetings from Comox Fisherman’s Wharf, Comox BC.

Let’s just wander about and snap the occasional photo.

There’s no reason we’re here other than for fun.

It’s a gorgeous scene, on gorgeous Vancouver Island.

We spoke with a few fishermen, but mostly just walked.

And we looked and we photographed…

The harbour was alive with jellyfish.