Charlotte Strait narrows into the Inside
Pass, and sifts around a plug of islands into
Desolation Sound. Migrating salmon jam into
a mixed concentration of hatchery and wild
runs that puts a lot of silver fish in this water
all summer. Spring kings in April and May,
summer kings in June and early July, and
silvers, chums and some late kings in August
and September. Expect halibut, ling cod and
rockfish, too. Fish managers say kings will be
down this year, but coho are on a slight up-
swing and either way there will be thousands
of salmon.
Hardy is both sport-fishing central and a
jump-off to lightly fished salmon and halibut
hot spots in and across Queen Charlotte
Strait, Knight Inlet, Blackfish Sound, Sullivan
Bay, and Kingcome Inlet. Remote floating
camps and anchorages in the myriad of
islands. Ideal small boat fishery. DIY anglers
trailer north on Highway 19 from B.C. ferry
docks at Nanaimo and Victoria and either
base at the marina or anchor out.
Salmon action starts in May-June with
kings and runs through July-September with
coho and chums. Charters, lodges and resorts
in Port Hardy, Port McNeil, Malcolm Island.
Here you’ll find quality salmon in remote
wilderness setting with highway access, ma-
rina, tackle, fuel, charters, and lodging. Ideal
for small, self-contained boats to anchor out
in the islands. Ferry connects to Port Rupert
salmon areas for a change of scenery. Sum-
mer fog.
5. West Vancouver Island
The 285 miles of ocean, sounds and channels
along the west side of Vancouver Island are a
fish bum paradise. King salmon addicts start
the hunt at the north end and cherry pick
migrations south. Multiple jump-off ports and
launches between Winter Harbor and Victoria,
most with charters, guides and DIY camps.
Most west side kings are headed for the Fraser,
Columbia and rivers in between, lots of hatch-
ery stock (12 to 25-pounds), very few 25-to 50
pounders. It’s quantity over quality.
Chinook May through July with overlaps
to a coho finisher in August-September. Look
into Winter Harbor, Kyuquot, Zeballos, Tah-
sis, Nootka, mouth of Barkley Sound, Tofino,
Ucluelet, Port Renfrew and Sooke. Most are
hot at some time each summer. Bites ebb and
flow as each run passes. Trailerable roads after
ferrying from the mainland. Mix of lodges,
campgrounds, charters, self-guided and small
boat fishing.
Hot spots range from on the beach to deep
banks two hours offshore.
Nootka Sound offers three fisheries unto
itself: Nootka Sound proper, Esperanza and
Moutcha Bay. They’re supported by hatcheries
and wild runs. Extremely popular with DIY
anglers starting in June, towing a boat here is
quite popular.
Tofino and Ucluelet are sport-fishing
centers with migrating silvers and kings from
May into October. Bamfield near the Broken
Island Group at the head of Alberni Inlet is
exceptional for May winter-springs in the high
teens and Chinook in June. Hatchery kings
from Port Alberni are caught into Septem-
ber. A rare mix of protected inside water in
Tofino’s Clayoquot Sound with outside ocean
options. August-October coho attract saltwa-
ter fly and conventional anglers.
Nearby Ucluelet wraps around a small
bay that opens directly into an outside ocean
fishery. Mix of charter boats, guided small
boats, lodge packages and options for DIY
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trailer boats. Some coho in July, but best in
mid-August when northern hooknoses sluice
down island. Sooke Harbor opens into an
urban pass-by fishery in mid to late summer,
picking off Juan de Fuca Strait migrants
headed to mainland spawning streams.
The farther south from Winter Harbour
the more fishermen to expect. Trailering a
salmon chaser down the scenic back roads
of Vancouver Island is a guaranteed memory
maker. Fish lodges, guides and charters, but
this one is made for DIY fish bumming.
6. Port Hardy
At the top of Vancouver Island, Port Hardy
faces a saltwater fish funnel where Queen
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Winter Harbor
Quatsino Sound
3. Port Hardy
4. Port McNeil
5. Malcom Island
6. Kyuquot Sound
7. Esperanza Inlet
8. Espinoza Inlet
9. Nootka Sound
10. Moutcha Bay
11. Clayoquot Sound
12. Tofino
13. Ucluelet
14. Port Alberni
15. Bamfield
16. Port Renfrew
17. Sooke
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