Born to Salt
A Comox kid grown on the waters of the Salish Sea finds his way from dock to deckhand to captain.
“I guess you could say I was born into my passions.” Says Steve Veloso, owner and operator of Island Pursuit Sport Fishing. The third-generation fisherman plays the starring role in the locally produced short film, The Born Fisherman, which showcases the world-class salmon fishing that surrounds Comox Peninsula and beyond.
Salmon fishing in its many forms has been central to the area’s culture literally for as long as any human can remember; K'ómoks First Nation on the Salish Sea have been fishing here since time immemorial. In Comox Harbour, thousands of small wooden sticks poke out of sand and mud. These sprawling fish traps are called ‘weirs’ and were built by the K’ómoks First Nation, and owned and operated by specific families throughout the millennia that followed.
Frequent battles were fought between First Nations in the salmon-rich harbor, with the decapitated heads of those on the losing end prominently displayed on the sharp sticks of the weirs. Salmon was—and is—serious business in Comox Harbour.
Within sight of the estuary and its historical weirs, an iconic fish shop called Portuguese Joe’s was run by Steve’s grandpa, Joe. Veloso senior was a fisherman who originally hailed from Portugal. For 53 years, the oceanside market flourished with the fishing industry that continued to define the area. The whole Veloso clan with its four children and wife Nilda worked there. By the time it finally closed its doors in 2017, Portuguese Joe’s had served everyone from the first Pierre Trudeau to President Ronald Reagan to the Queen of England.
As a salmon infatuated 12-year-old, the younger Veloso got his start helping at Bates Beach Resort in nearby Merville, capitalizing on every chance he could to take out his own 14-foot aluminum boat alone. He tried commercial fishing on his dad, Lito’s boat, but sport fishing is where his heart was. “He’s a people person.” Says Lito. His dad’s friend took Steve onboard to teach him what it looks like to be a fishing guide. A few years later, Steve worked as a dock worker at Painter’s Lodge, before taking advantage of a connection on the dock to hook a job guiding at the celebrated Langara Lodge. “Steve…relied on his gut and his instinct…and found fish where we never found fish before.” Says Kyle Milburn. “But we all could tell he was destined to run his own company.”
At Island Pursuit Sport Fishing, Steve takes clients out on the water year round, but peak summer season spans from May to September, and all Pacific salmon species are in the running usually, including the ever-popular chinook and coho as well as ling cod, Pacific cod and snapper. Prawning and crabbing are also on the menu October through April. You’ll need a fishing license and most guides including Steve can help with that, but it’s better if you come prepared after applying online at: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/licence-permis/index-eng.html
Beyond Island Pursuit Sport Fishing, the Comox marina is home to many saltwater fishers, and the SS Funship is one of the more exciting new players on the water. From halibut to rockfish and all the salmon in between, co-captain Peter is a true Vancouver Islander who can deliver fish-focused adventure with over a dozen years of professional guiding under his waterproof gear. He and his partner and co-captain Alex take 12,000 sea hours of experience and use it to elevate fun while seeking salmon and good times. They also run charters for photographers, whale watching, SUP, and mountain bikers, so be sure to bring along the whole family or friend group if you want to mix up your fishing with their adventures in the Comox Valley.
One of the highlights of fishing in the Comox Valley is getting here. Both WestJet and Air Canada run flight routes from Edmonton (YEG) and Calgary (YYC) to the Comox airport (YQQ), which is a stunning and small seaside airport to fly in and out of. Year round direct flights from Vancouver, and seasonal direct flights from Kelowna and Toronto are also available. Rental cars are available at the airport. Comox and Courtenay both have accommodation options ranging from downtown hotels to cozy cabins.
