Catching The Incredible Herring Spawn on Denman Island

Late morning on March 6th we got word that there was spawn activity up north just off the coast of Denman and Hornby. The weather was looking good and there was also submarine orca activity further up towards Comox. Robin and I didn’t hesitate – we put everything else on hold, grabbed our bags, geared up and hit the road.

On our way up, we devised a plan to hop off the highway and take the coastal route to get eyes on Parksville Beach and Qualicum Beach for any sign of activity. In Qualicum there was no noticeable change in the water – a very little bit of bird activity but not enough to signal anything. We carried on.

At Bowser I took the drone up to get a better view. Though the water often looks blue from the sand, it didn’t appear to be anything starting. But in the distance it looked like there was potentially something further north – the haze making it difficult to tell for sure. We hopped back in and continued driving to Deep Bay.

The First Sign

As soon as we arrived to Deep Bay, we could hear the barking of sea lions in the distance and just make out a couple fishing boats working the water. But the moment I got the drone up in the air everything changed.

A spawn in the distance between Denman and Chrome Island.

As I flew across the water the incredible perspective of a fresh spawn emerged. The deep rich greens starkly contrasted with the deep blues of the sea. Creamy colors so bright and beautiful gave the entire landscape a remarkable canvas. Limited in time with the distance, I had to work quickly to capture what I could – but the rush of excitement and the beauty from this perspective was jaw dropping and completely awe inspiring.

We had to make a decision fast. Checking ferry times and quickly coordinating logistics on whether it was realistic to get out onto the island and get a closer look. We bit the bullet, rushed over to Buckley Bay and squeezed into the next ferry with just enough time to grab a sandwich for the ride.

The Hidden Spawn

As we arrived to Denman Island and made our way to the north coast, our eyes were peeled to see how much activity was on this side. And as soon as we saw the water we knew there was more spawning here – but once we reached a more visible area, to our surprise an entire fleet of ships were fishing a massive spawn hidden between the two islands.

Pulling off, we made our way towards the beach to an incredible viewpoint. The gorgeous rock formations revealed with the low tide combined with the wild colors of the spawn and an immense amount of bird life. It was mesmerizing.

We spent the next hour and a half fully immersed in capturing every angle we could get our lenses on. We were blown away by what we saw from the ground – but as soon as I took the drone up to the sky it really took our breath away. The dynamics of the coastline covered in the spawn with this beautiful landscape gave so much awe and appreciation for how special this place is.

The Hike to Boyle Point

Before getting too carried away, we had to remind ourselves to continue the journey south to see the spawn at Chrome Island. We drove to the end of the road, grabbed our bags and began a quick 30-minute hike to Boyle Point.

As we finally made it down to the viewpoint we were greeted with one of the most remarkable views I’ve ever seen. Off the edge of a 150-foot cliff the water down below was a wild mix of blue greens and whites. Turquoise filled with rafts of sea lions swimming and barking, eagles flying, blue herons standing in the water, flocks of seagulls swirling all around – just as the sun had reached the perfect level of golden hour.

It was a serendipitous moment. Eager curiosity, anticipation, readiness, flexibility, complete unknown, discovering new places, remarkable perspectives – all combined with this marvelous natural spectacle. To be here, the only ones here, to see and capture this moment from this perspective and tell the story is truly special.

Golden Hour Magic

We spent that last hour of golden light as the sun set, continually capturing the changing light and soaking in this overwhelmingly beautiful experience. The warm tones of the setting sun transformed the already vibrant spawn waters into something almost otherworldly.

As we made our way back to the car, we were reeling. Going over every moment of this incredible day. And I found myself subconsciously wondering – how could it possibly get better than this? And it’s only the first real herring spawn we’ve seen this year.