Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[KOMR]

Mid summer has been arrived  
I am planning to go to Port Hardy and stay a couple days there with my friend as we heard it has been quite productive.
We love fish at Vedder.  But Port Hardy is a new place to us.  We heard that many salmons returing to the fraser will first go to places around port hardy in August.  And there are geoduck on the shore as well.

I have a few questions which I really wish to get answers.
What kind of fish are there exactly and what prep do I need to have?
How does people fish there? is taking a boat out to do float fishing ok? Do I have to troll?
Any safety tips?
Thanks for the advice  

[Sam Salmon]

"I am planning to go to Port Hardy and stay a couple days there with my friend as we heard it has been quite productive."
Yes fishing in that area has been good for a month now.

"  And there are geoduck on the shore as well."
Be careful about harvesting shellfish locally-many areas are private leases always ask first.

"What kind of fish are there exactly and what prep do I need to have?"
There are Coho, some Pink and Spring Salmon

"How does people fish there? is taking a boat out to do float fishing ok? Do I have to troll?"
You cannot float fish from a boat in the salt.
Rent a boat with a downrigger and ask how to use it.
Spoons behind a Flasher will work well and your river gear will be OK to use.
 http://www.protroll.com/ to learn how to troll with a downrigger.

http://www.salmonuniversity.com has lots of PH info

"Any safety tips?"
Wear a PFD and if you have a GPS bring it.
Buy a Chart of the area-fish are spread out and the weather can turn bad in a hurry.
Also read the regulations carefully and be sure to have a current saltwater licence.Many areas are closed to all bottomfishing and enforcement is tight.

[KOMR]

  thanks a lot Sam.
Are there any Halibut or other types of big fish?
I am just wondering if I can target for all fish or I only can target for 1 type.
I am planning to have a 4 days trip, so I'll stay at Point Hardy for 2 full days!  Do I have to troll for 2 days? What other activities I can see there?

Thanks for the help

[DragonSpeed]

See this thread on another site:

http://forum.fishbc.com/index.php?showtopic=11216

[Sam Salmon]

Yes there are Halibut but you need heavy tackle to fish for them in deep water-river gear won't do.

[SNapz]

I was at Port Hardy two weeks ago. The fishing was amazing. We limited out on Salmon and Halibut. Also got 2 Ling Cod.

When we were there we probably released 200 Pink Salmon in the 5 days that we were there.

If you have the money I would suggest going out with a guide if you are only going to be there for 2 days.

If you dont go with a guide the following spots are where we went:
Duval Point (Pink Salmon, Coho, and occasional Spring)
Castle Rock (All of the above but a much better chance at a Spring)
Daphne Point (Lots of Pinks)
Taylor Banks (Halibut galore. Not big ones but around 15 - 20 lbs each. You Will need a GPS to find this spot because it 8 miles from the mainland)
Ghost Island (Bigger Halibut but make sure the tides are slack or you will lose a lot of gear on the bottom)

For hooks I would suggest using Coyote Spoons for the salmon. There is a Black and White one that imitates a herring that worked very well for us. We fished that by itself with a dummy flasher hooked on at the cannonball on the downrigger. 35 - 60 feet seemed to be the best when we were there.

For Halibut the best seemed to be using a Pink Salmon. Just slice strips off of it and use a spreader bar with a 1 LB or 2 LB weight and wire leaders.

When we were there we took home 3 Springs which was very good. Usually every year that we go we dont get any. I got a 20 LB + a 12 LB and my stepmom got a 31 LB.

Let me know if you have any other questions.