Thursday, October 20, 2022

Weather and Ocean Conditions Cancel 10/23 Pelagic

Forecasts of winds of 10-15 kts and gusts to 20 kts, as well as 11 ft swells with 5 ft wind waves, have made it necessary to cancel the pelagic scheduled on Sunday, 10/23, out of Garibaldi. We would also be returning over the bar on an outgoing tide with a high tidal exchange. The charter informed me that they would not be willing to go under these conditions. While we hate to cancel any trip, safety is always a paramount concern, which we take very seriously. Oregon Pelagic Tours is sorry for the convenience. 

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Garibaldi Trip on 10/23 Is Full

 I am pleased to announce that as of 10/12, all places on the Garibaldi pelagic scheduled for 10/23 are taken. Please let me know if you would like to join the Wait List. 

Monday, October 10, 2022

Garibaldi Late October Pelagic Opportunity

Oregon Pelagic Tours is offering an 8-hour pelagic out of Garibaldi on Sunday, October 23. This pelagic was scheduled primarily as a make-up for the cancellation of the October 2 pelagic (mechanical issues), but is open to anyone interested. The cost is $190. We will meet at the Garibaldi Marina at 6:30 am, and the trip will run from 7 am to 3 pm. Up to 5 shearwaters and 2 albatrosses are possible, and late October trips often have Black-legged Kittiwake and other goodies. If interested, please go to the Reservations page, read the information, and follow the instructions to register. 

Monday, August 29, 2022

Garibaldi Pelagics -- Update

I have a quick update on the Garibaldi pelagics:

The Saturday, October 1 pelagic is full -- all 17 spaces are taken. 

The Sunday, October 2 pelagic is also full, with all 17 spots taken. 

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Garibaldi Pelagics —10/1, 10/2

Oregon Pelagic Tours is pleased to announce that we have scheduled two 8-hour pelagics out of Garibaldi, departing Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd. These trips will depart at 7:00 am and return at 3:00 pm. Cost will be $190 per person. These trips will be limited to 17 passengers and 3 guides due to boat capacity. IMPORTANT: I am unable to accept reservations prior to August 25. In the interest of fairness, spaces will be filled in the order payment is received after that date. Payments received August 24th and earlier will be returned to sender.


Preparation for Garibaldi

Sunday, July 31, 2022

NO OPT TRIPS ON THE SCHEDULE FOR 2022

As of July 31, there are currently NO pelagic trips on the schedule for 2022. I am still exploring options with charters, for something in September, October and/or December, but as all administrative and organizational tasks are handled solely by one person who will be heading to South America, I was not able to make progress in getting anything arranged before my departure. 

I understand that this is disappointing to many, as it is to me. A couple of people have asked if they should try to set up their own pelagic trips this year, and I am now at the point where I think they should. I am grateful that they were thoughtful enough to keep me in the loop. 

I will have little to no access to the internet for the next couple of weeks. 

Oregon Pelagic Tours is NOT looking at shutting down permanently. I am looking at this as a time for both carefully examining our business model and exploring options of different ports and vessels.

Thank you for your understanding.  Tim

Friday, April 1, 2022

Still Dealing with Uncertainty -- No Agreement Yet

 Hello, all. Most customers and supporters of Oregon Pelagic Tours are probably frustrated by the lack of progress on our 2022 schedule. Newport Tradewinds and I are still quite a ways apart on boat costs. I will be making another proposal soon, and after this is discussed, hope to firm up my schedule. 

Just so everyone knows, here are the most likely possibilities as I see them. Full disclosure: each scenario in which we provide trips has a high likelihood of price increases. 

Worst case: 

We can reach no financial agreement that allows Oregon Pelagic Tours to make a reasonable profit. OPT suspends trips this year, or perhaps closes down permanently. 

We can reach no financial agreement that allows Oregon Pelagic Tours to make a reasonable profit. OPT tries to find new optons for boats and ports. (We will start exploring this option this year in any case.) OPT offers a much reduced schedule that does not involve Newport Tradewinds. 

We can reach no financial agreement that allows Oregon Pelagic Tours to make a reasonable profit. OPT offers a very limited schedule anyway and accepts the losses that will ensue. 

Best case: 

Newport Tradewinds substantially restructures their offer. I offer the schedule as proposed. (I may not be able to offer a spring trip this year due to the little time remaining before our scheduled date in May.) Prices will increase slightly. This scenario is highly unlikely. 

OPT and Newport Tradewinds reach an agreement on boat prices. I offer the schedule as proposed. (I may not be able to offer a spring trip this year due to the little time remaining before our scheduled date in May.) Prices will definitely increase significantly. 

OPT and Newport Tradewinds reach an agreement on boat prices. I offer a limited schedule in order to better reach a balance between the many hours of behind the scenes work and the compensation for trips. Prices will increase moderately. 

Okay, just wanting everyone to know I have not yet given up on providing pelagic tours off Oregon. Stay tuned...

Sunday, January 16, 2022

Tentative 2022 Schedule

Here is the tentative Oregon Pelagic Tours schedule  for 2022 that I had proposed to our charter buisness in Newport. If we had come to terms, I would have included prices and make any necessary changes after I heard back from them. In the meantime, I hoped that this would have enabled everyone to start thinking about a pelagic with us this year. 

AS NOTED IN LATER BLOG POSTS (UNDER THE NEWS TAB), THE FORMER CHARTER AND I WERE NOT ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT. 
THE SCHEDULE BELOW IS NOT VALID. 

February 12 (Sat.) – Late Winter Seabirds  

May 14 (Sat.)– Spring Seabirds (6 hours)

July 2 or 9 (Sat.) – Summer Seabirds (6 hours) 

August 13 (Sat.) -- Early Fall Seabirds (8 hours) 

August 27 (Sat.) – Fall Deepwater (12 hours) 

September 11 (Sun.) – Newport Fall Seabirds (8 hours) 

September 25 (Sun.) – Newport Fall Seabirds (10 hours)  

October 8 (Sat.) –Perpetua/Heceta Bank* Trip  (10 hours)  

*Weather, ocean and other conditions may change our route. 

October 23 (Sun.) – Late Fall Seabirds (8 hours) 

December 4 (Sat.) or 5 (Sun. – weather date)– Winter Pelagic (7 hours)