It should also be sparse, so pull at least half of the strands off. Toll-free: (866) 427-3901 Average size 10 to 40 pounds. Jim & Nita, owners of The Bait Shack and Castle Point Charters manage Bear Cove Rec Site for the District of Port Hardy and are the seasonal 24 hours caretakers from June 1 – September 1. The best lure to use are jigs, buzz bombs, stingzildas or gibbs minnows. Winter Springs Best lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs & 4″- 5″ spoons. In fact, at any given time, one out of two lures in the water will probably be a green hoochie. On dull, overcast days the wind often stays down, but if the sun is shining, look out—that’s when you start looking over your shoulder at the water. Budget blinds Port Hardy, British Columbia. Numerous chinooks in excess of 50 pounds are taken annually. However, the rainfall averages 100 to 120 inches a year, compared to Victoria’s 27, so good wet weather clothing is a must. They average about 30 to 50 pounds. Paved parking for trailers and vehicles on daily, weekly, monthly basis is also available. While one can certainly enjoy the area’s world class salmon and bottom fishing, it must be done with caution and common sense. Go to your local sport shops for information on catching these fish, they will be happy to help. 169 likes. The waters of Queen Charlotte Strait harbour all seven species of Pacific salmon. Springs are slowing down but this is the time for that 30 pounder! View fishing reports for the 35 lakes, reservoirs and streams near Port Hardy (British Columbia) complete with Port Hardy bait shops, Port Hardy tackle shops, fishing charters and fishing guides, and inside information on fishing spots. Port Hardy has accommodations, restaurants, boat and auto repair shops, campgrounds, tackle shops and general stores. However, the further offshore you get, the greater your chances of running into weather-related problems. A free municipal ramp located at the Quarterdeck Marina is of concrete and three lanes wide. And while there are fees to use the Fisherman’s Wharf boat ramp, the municipality provides free boat launching and parking and free day-use moorage at Bear Cove, which is located on the road to the BC Ferries terminal. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, Dustin fell in love with Alaska when he was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in 2006. In his debut novel, Hughes expertly created a small but complex cast of characters whose quirky persona and relationship dynamics lend much to the novel's appeal. Bait Shop and Cafe. The Bait Shack. Monday: 1:30pm - 5:00pm Tuesday: 1:30pm - 5:00pm Wednesday: 1:30pm - 5:00pm Thursday: 1:30pm - 5:00pm Friday: 6:00am - 6:00pm Saturday: 4:30am - 5:00pm Reviewed by Marta Stephens, author of the Sam Harper Crime Mystery series The Bait Shack is an intriguingly entertaining and engaging murder mystery that demonstrates a vivid imaginative gift on the part of author, Harry Hughes. The majority of the lakes and rivers experience very light fishing pressure due to the isolated nature of the region. Hello halibut! 6770 Bear Cove Road, Box 1350, Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0 tel: 250/902-7145, Good Luck and Make Sure Your Hooks are Sharp! The secret to enjoying a safe and successful fishing trip at Port Hardy is to plan well ahead. Port Hardy and Port McNeill halibut fishing started in early March, but you have to have some real local knowledge to hunt these flat ones. The Bait Shack, 212 West Whitney Road, Anchorage, AK, 99501, United States (907) 522-3474 dustin@thebaitshackak.com Social. The best season for halibut is April, mainly because it’s just ahead of the commercial opening. You have entered an incorrect email address! Chinooks start toward the end of May and peak in August. Average winter temperatures are slightly warmer than most of Vancouver Island, and slightly cooler during the summer. Jim & Nita, owners of The Bait Shack and Castle Point Charters manage Bear Cove Rec Site for the District of Port Hardy and are the seasonal 24-hour caretakers from June 1 to Sept 1. Ship Creek's only Bait and Tackle shop. The Bait Shack, Anchorage: See 16 reviews, articles, and 11 photos of The Bait Shack, ranked No.14 on Tripadvisor among 24 attractions in Anchorage. The Port Hardy residents are very nice folks and are usually more than willing to share information or help the visiting angler. Bear Cove Ice Ltd. 6710 Bear Cove Highway. The Bait Shack, Brooks, Maine. Winter Springs (Kings) 6 to 25 pounds. Check with BC Ferries for departures date. Best Lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs and black hoochies & flashers. Tight Lines and FISH ON! The cold water of the Queen Charlotte Strait is renowned for saltwater fishing and diving. This is the time to get all your gear ready for the next year, tell tales of years past, and plan the next year’s dream fishing trip, it is just around the corner. Make sure you have plenty of good line on your reels. Boaters may also wish to launch at Coal Harbour, a 15 minute drive from Port Hardy, where they can access the popular west coast of Vancouver Island through the Quatsino Narrows. © 2021 Island Fisherman Magazine | All Rights Reserved, Campbell River – The Salmon Capital Of The World, Best Practices for River Fishing on Vancouver Island, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sZn0Xa-qG0, 2020 – 2021 Sport Fishing Chinook Regulations Update, South Coast BC. Tomic plugs and hoochies are extremely productive. 250-949-9294. Primary land-based activity is hiking, as the trail selection ranges from easy riverfront strolls to epic, multi-day treks to Cape Scott and along the North Coast Trail. Be ready! Stop in and stock up before your next trip! There are plenty of good spots around the Gordons for small boaters, and those with larger, faster rigs can explore around the Deserters. Look for the fish along kelp beds and tide rips, fish both sides of the tide changes for 3 hours. Pinks are heavy during the odd years, and best in July and August. A good gaff is necessary for the smaller ones (under 40 lbs). Extremely small ones are three to four pounds, but the average is six to nine. The Bait Shack, Anchorage, Alaska. Fresh water fishing on north Vancouver Island remains one of the best-kept secrets around. Best Lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs and black hoochies & flashers. Port Hardy's Sport Fishing Expert. Port Hardy offers docks for both Commercial & Recreational boats. Jim Henschke of The Bait Shack These fish grow up to 20 lbs +. Open seasonally June to September. Port Hardy is home to several Municipal wharf systems, as well as a private marina and a water-front recreation site at Bear Cove. Best Lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs and 4″- 5″ spoons. Read what others have said about their experience at The Bait Shack in Anchorage, Alaska! It’s simple and relatively cheap. Port Hardy, BC, VON 2PO So the long awaited trip has come and gone. Winter Springs (Kings) 6 to 15 pounds. Sign up. Hardy Bay is close to scenic coastal cruising, superb fishing and is the start of the beautiful Inside Passage to Prince Rupert. Of course I … Most are caught incidentally by chinook and coho anglers. Learn how your comment data is processed. A good shark hook and rope or harpoon for the bigger ones, up to 300 lbs!. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! By the first weekend of August you can be catching them 10 to 12 pounds. Springs consist of lots of feeders for the first 2 weeks and the fish are from 20 to 60 lbs. Alternating waves of travellers flood the city in conjunction with the departure or arrival of the Prince Rupert ferry, so all of the city’s accommodations are booked to capacity every other day. Port Hardy enjoys a fairly moderate climate. Skipper Jim Henschke has been an experienced fishing guide for 44 years. Bluebacks -light rod, 10 to 12 pound test, bucktails on surface or small 3″ to 4″ silver spoons. Here’s Jim’s analysis and advice for halibut fishing out of Port Hardy: These halibut are migratory with the smaller fish showing up first, followed by large fish in the summer with the barn doors coming in September and staying around until November. 10,858 likes. Ranging from five to seven pounds, occasionally to nine. The Bait Shack is a family owned and operated business. 3-7025 Market Street. Conveniently located in downtown Anchorage, The Bait Shack is Ship Creek's only bait and tackle shop with a full line of fly rods, spinning rods and casting rods available for rent. Public Health Orders in effect until February 5, 2021. 7250 Market Street Some years the coho start showing up around the first of July, but the 15th is closer to normal. Chum salmon are entering the rivers this month. Fishing Equipment Rentals, Bait, Tackle, Fishing Licenses, Guide Services and Snacks. Best Lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs and 4″- 5″ spoons. The economy relies greatly on tourism, especially the ferries to Prince Rupert, another popular tourist destination in British Columbia. Sport fishing opportunities are available in local rivers and streams, and on both the east and west sides of the island. 250-949-9499 Website. There are also reserved slips available for weekly moorage; contact Jim and Nita for more information at (250) 902-7145. Sockeye run as early as mid-June but are caught mainly in July and August, with a few still around in September. These fish are migrating from the north where they are spawning and boy are they hungry, watch weather and tides for best fishing times. The Bait Shack at Ship Creek was founded in 2011 by U.S. Army veteran Dustin Slinker. 250-230-3356. Best colours are white, yellow or bright green. Troll extremely slow in a straight line, with a small, red hoochy. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Find The Bait Shack in Merthyr Tydfil, CF47. Caught the 8:15PM Ferry and arrived in Port hardy around 3:30AM after a slow drive thru experience at McD's in Nanaimo. 13 were here. The main thing is to get it on the bottom and keep it there. Tourist traffic in the summer is immense, and hotels and restaurants usually find themselves with no room to accommodate all travelers. Try trolling pink or red hoochies anywhere from the surface down to 100 feet. Tides play an important role in the halibut fishery. In fact, Port Hardy serves as the transportation hub for the busy Central Coast. They call the summer northwesters ‘safe’ winds, but even they can get real nasty. Winter Springs (Kings) 6 to 15 pounds. Bluebacks are growing into 4 – 6 pound Coho salmon, hungry and willing to bite! Fishing licenses are available on-line. It is excellent, but watch the drop-off on extremely low tides. The region’s remoteness was first penetrated by a gravelled logging road from Gold River in 1964, then a paved highway from Sayward in 1979, and today the highway stretches 237 km south to Campbell River. There are no “special” techniques to fishing for salmon or bottom fish around Port Hardy, but some tactics are more popular than others. The prices are competitive and the convenience of the shack is unbeatable. Never bring a halibut bigger than 40 lbs into your boat and second, make sure you have a boat bigger than the halibut!! Our frozen products are some of the freshest and most professionally packaged bait that you will find on the market. Thus, those planning to stay for extended periods find it necessary to book at least three to six months in advance.There are no problems with trailer spots and camp sites, all sorts are available, even during the ferry nights, try Quatse River Regional Park and Campground, Port Hardy RV Resort and Log Cabins or … Two boat launch ramps are available. West Coast 1. Logging roads provide the primary access to the northern lakes and rivers. 1240 Coast AM. Got unpacked and hit the sack around 4am. I usually buy my bait there, and maybe some odds and ends tackle. The Bait Shack offers all sizes of live shiners. Fishing tackle salmon and halibut. Beaver Trail investments. There are two very important things to remember about fishing halibut. East Side 1. We carry a full line of live bait and tackle for all your fishing needs. The Bait Shack, fishing tackle, live bait. Port Hardy has some 4,100 residents, and one of its mainstay industries is forestry, plus it is the Northern Vancouver Island hub for commercial salmon fishing. 18.9k Followers, 501 Following, 1,001 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from The Bait Shack (@thebaitshack) COVID-19 Resource and Information page. Do local business owners recommend The Bait Shack? The Bait Shack 865-679-8478 21444 Hwy. Port Hardy Chamber of Commerce Beacon Tattoo. Email Address. On the subject of bottom fish, look at the marine chart and determine where the shoals, pockets and drop-offs are. Visit this page to learn about the business and what locals in Port Hardy have to say. Herring schools are everywhere and the fish are now 19 to 50+ pounds. They are big compared to bluebacks caught further south. Other. Port Hardy & Numata Japan, Sister Cities, Official Community Plan Review and Update 2020, Automotive Sales, Service & Transportation. Best halibut lures: big bright jigs, fresh bait, octopus and herring. Considered by mariners to be one of the most treacherous stretches of water on the coast, it has exacted a terrible toll of lost lives. We are easy to find, and open 24/7 for your convenience. Anything in the 40- to 50-pound range is considered a good fish. Hometown. 321 S * Lenoir City, TN 37772 Make sure all your gear is in good shape. For more info contact: Television. Thus, those planning to stay for extended periods find it necessary to book at least three to six months in advance.There are no problems with trailer spots and camp sites, all sorts are available, even during the ferry nights, try Quatse River Regional Park and Campground, Port Hardy RV Resort and Log Cabins or Wildwoods Campsite. Get contact details, videos, photos, opening times and map directions. We also have waders, bait, tackle and are an authorized vendor for State of Alaska fishing licenses. Some of the local guides report catching up to 25 coho a day on light gear. The Bait Shack 865-679-8478. The preferred method for chinook and coho is trolling with downriggers, getting down 60 to 150 feet using bait, either strip, whole herring or cut plug, either with or without a flasher. Search for local Fishing Tackle near you and submit reviews. A Bronze Star awardee and Purple Heart recipient, Dustin served as an Airborne Scout from 1998-2011. They average five or six pounds. The average is 20 to 25 pounds, but there is usually a dozen or more in the 30s caught every day. A popular method is to fish bait with a heavy sinker. A good stiff 6′ to 7′ rod, braided lines from 50 to 130 lbs test and lots of it. Chums generally show up in August, and they average about seven or eight pounds, but there are some real bruisers and do they ever fight! Salmon Fishing or Bottomfishing: Castle Point Charters is Port Hardy's best charter choice! Coho are huge, up to 20+ lbs and very aggressive, you will need lots of line on your reels and 15 – 20 lb test. The more lures you put down, the better your chances of multiple hook-ups. Clean, professional, custom tattooing located on the North Island. With Jim at the helm, his ultimate priority is your safety, comfort, and the best fishing expedition of your life. When that northwester gets 35 to 50 miles an hour, six-foot waves aren’t uncommon. Steelhead rivers in this area include the largest river on Vancouver Island, the Nimpkish River, supported by good steelheading on the Cluxewe, Keogh, Quatse and Nahwitti Rivers, plus numerous other smaller streams. Also a cafe serving good fresh cooked food. Coho are schooling up and ready for a fight. Port Hardy: The Bait Shack (public) Bear Cove Boat Launch Port Hardy : North and Central Vancouver Island: Port Hardy: Wildwoods Campsite (public) 8009 Clyde Creek Rd Port Hardy: 250-949-7454: North and Central Vancouver Island: Port McNeill: Alder Bay Resort (public) 1 Alder Bay Rd Alder Bay: Home / Visitors / Harbour / Fishing Guide, Generously supplied to us by: The Bait Shack is located at the Bear Cove Marina and they only carry tackle and bait that anglers need for fishing this area. 250-949-7796. The Quarterdeck Marina has 134 slips for moorage available on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, but it’s usually fully booked a year in advance and it’s extremely crowded. Port Hardy is a busy town located on the northern inside tip of Vancouver Island. Make sure you have good gear for these monsters. Phone: (250) 949-7622. Some people surface troll with bucktails, but deep trolling is usually more productive. Look for neap tide periods, preferably in the fall because there is usually less wind. 32 were here. While May halibut fishing in Port Hardy offers many different shoals with tons of structure to fish, give a try to the sand flats near the airport. Don’t Forget…..Catch & Release Ensures Fish for the Future. Click the button below to receive emergency messages. They are out in the strait, but we get a local run that really boosts the numbers in Hardy Bay. 6770 Bear Cove Highway. It can really play hell with small boats, and people are very wise to hole up on shore rather than try running for it. Winter Springs Best lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs & 4″- 5″ spoons: Blueback -3″ apex, green, black chrome or pink; small silver 3″ spoons. Although saltwater fishing anywhere on the British Columbia coast is controlled by weather conditions, this becomes even more evident in Queen Charlotte Strait. Springs are feeding aggressively. Music. Bear Cove offers a free boat launch, parking, and free day-use moorage. We headed up to Port Hardy after my shift on Sunday. Occasionally coho are caught at 30 feet, but more often at 60 or lower. These are the most popular months for all fishing and the fish are here in great abundance! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Winter Springs (Kings) 6 to 25 pounds. Halibut are most popular in these months. Favorites. Alternating waves of travellers flood the city in conjunction with the departure or arrival of the Prince Rupert ferry, so all of the city’s accommodations are booked to capacity every other day. 21444 Hwy. Learn about Port Hardy Marinas, Docks, Wharfs, Piers, & our other Harbour Facilities. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the weather! Port Hardy gets some extremely high tides, big swings of 16 and 17 feet, that have a negative effect on bottom fishing. A few anglers target specifically on sockeye, pinks and chum. 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