NORTH COAST
Chatham Sound • Douglas Channel
Milbank Sound & Rivers Inlet • Queen Charlotte Islands

For a saltwater fishing adventure that you will never forget, head to the Queen Charlotte Islands, located in the North by Northwest Region of British Columbia.

Legendary names such as Langara Island, Naden Harbor, Virago Sound, and Tasu are home to monster Chinook and Coho salmon as well as huge Halibut, Rockfish and Lingcod.

Chinook salmon start appearing in Hecate Strait in late February and will begin entering some of the inlets. By mid-April, these feeder springs start showing up in numbers around Langara Island. By early May they are starting to be caught in Tasu Sound on the west coast of the Charlottes. From late May until mid-September, Chinook fishing is excellent, with peak periods occurring in mid-June and mid-August. 60+ lbs. are still possible in the Charlottes.

Coho salmon will usually start appearing by early June. As they feed and start moving towards their home streams, their size (often reaching 20+ lbs.) and numbers will increase. Peak times for fishing Coho is from late July through September.

Bottom fish such as Yellow eye Rockfish (Red Snapper), Lingcod, and Halibut are plentiful. Halibut in the 100 lb. range are not at all uncommon! (See Game Fish of BC)

Haida Gwaii, the Queen Charlotte Islands in the Haida language, offers much more than great fishing. Daily sightings of porpoises, dolphins, whales, Killer whales and Sea Lions are common. Don’t be surprised to also see Bald eagles, Peregrine falcons, deer and Black bear. (See The Great Outdoors section for more information on animals of BC.)

There are miles of hiking trails, spectacular beaches, parks, kayaking and canoeing, great freshwater fishing, or take a trip back in time and visit an abandoned Haida village and totems. The scenery in this area is awesome, with the coastal mountains as the backdrop and blue Pacific waters at your feet.

The Queen Charlottes can only be reached by sea or air. By water, you can take a B.C. ferry from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert. This is a spectacular route travelling through the deep water fjords of the Inside Passage. From Prince Rupert you take another ferry to Queen Charlotte City on southeast Graham Island.

The islands can also be reached via air directly from Vancouver or Prince Rupert. If you are travelling B.C. by land, Prince Rupert can be reached by travelling west on Hwy. 16 from Prince George.

Once you have decided on the Queen Charlotte Islands for your next fishing spot, book well in advance. There are a number of land-based lodges, floating lodges and boat charters, but the area is getting very popular. Most wilderness fly-in lodges transport their guests via air directly from Vancouver.

For an adventure you’ll always remember and for saltwater fishing at its finest, it’s the Queen Charlotte Islands in B.C.’s North by Northwest Region.

Bluewater Adventures: Come see why National Geographic thinks we are “One of the Worlds Best!” Quality wilderness and wildlife eco-adventures about 70’ sailing and power vessels – our tours raise the profile of wildlife cruising in BC and Alaska. For small ship adventures off the... more

Escott Sportfishing: Renowned for its big fish results year after year, for salmon and halibut, the Haida Gwaii is the place to be. Escott Sportfishing is a team led by Daniel “Sea Bass” Escott. With 15 years of experience this is sure to be the fishing adventure of a lifetime! more

Gerry's Fishing Charters: Located in the town of Masset, on the northern end of the Queen Charlotte Islands, we’re a short boat run to some of the most superb saltwater fishing in the area. Enjoy the warm hospitality of Gerry’s B&B to make this a fishing vacation you’ll remember with ... more

Langara Fishing Adventures: Our deluxe resorts are located in the remote Queen Charlotte Islands & Chilcotin, and provide you with the finest fishing, retreat, and adventure destinations available. There’s also whale watching, and wildlife or eco-heli tours of pristine marine environmen... more

Masset Fishing Adventures: The fishing & wildlife is awesome on the Queen Charlottes. Our 24 foot Discovery 727's are fully equipped & ready to take you to Masset’s Salmon & Halibut. We provide good quality tackle, & bait the hooks as fast as the fish can eat it. Give us a call for a ... more

Queen Charlotte Lodge: For those seeking the ultimate sport fishing adventure, the waters of the Queen Charlotte Islands and Naden Harbour are legendary for an abundance of Chinook & Coho – plus Halibut, Lingcod, and groundfish! We pride ourselves in comfortable lodging, friendly se... more

Shearwater Marine Group: Fish for Salmon, Halibut, and Bottom fish .. or enjoy our eco-adventure at the Gateway to the Great Bear Rainforest. We have fly-in packages or arrive on BC Ferries. We also offer guided fishing tours, boat rentals, moorage, lodging, pub restaurant, and an RV ... more

West Coast Fishing Club: A visit to one of our Queen Charlotte Island fishing resorts is not just a fishing trip -- it’s a fishing experience. Our fishing, location, service, staff, accommodations are all world-class. Not only will you be fishing some of the most abundant runs of salm... more

Westwind Tugboat Adventures: North America’s original tugboat adventure. Enjoy wilderness fishing for trophy salmon and halibut plus Luxury cruising on the beautiful "Inside Passage" of BC. Follow the Fish to Langara Island, Prince Rupert and Bella Bella regions. Only 8 & 12 guests. more

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