Passing Campania Island shrouded in dark clouds.

It’s day four and we are cruising in new (to us) territory, a day beyond our furthest north excursion to date, which was Camapania Island. The landscape and the seascape appear about the same – just as beautiful as our usual hangouts around Spider, Hakai and Goose Group.

Last night we dropped the hook in a place called Ethelda Bay. The guidebook almost convinced us not to try the tricky entrance channel. But then it baited us by saying there was an old NORAD radio array there with associated ruins, and that prawns were plentiful. We decided to try it. Navigating the intricate entrance at low tide was challenging but we pulled it off.

Once inside we dropped two prawn traps in 280' of water and explored a bit of the ruins. This morning we pulled the traps and had 26 spot prawns and two coonstripe shrimp, just right for cream sauce on orzo for dinner tonight. 

There were two fish and a really cool octopus in with the prawns taking advantage of the captive prey. I asked Roma to hold the octopus for a portrait. Roma asked me if they bite. I said no. At that moment the octopus bit. Go figure. He and the two fish were released with full bellies and unharmed.

Bitey octopus

26 spot prawns and two shrimp

NORAD antenna array above Ethelda Bay