North Island

The paved road to the north travels through some stunning scenery to Port McNeill and Port Hardy, the best launch points for anglers fishing the northern half of Vancouver Island. The abundance of remote rivers, tidal inlets, the Pacific Ocean on the west coast and the productive waters of the sounds and islands around Johnstone Strait on the east coast provide for fabulous fresh and saltwater fishing.

Launch or charter out of Port Hardy for fishing trips in Queen Charlotte Sound, Gordon Channel and the headlands and islands off Goletas Channel. Head out of Port McNeill for fishing in Broughton Strait, Cormorant Channel and Weynton Passage.

Port Hardy is the first major North Island town to receive the summer salmon runs as the salmon head from the Pacific Ocean north of the island and head down Georgia Strait to their coastal spawning rivers.

Blackfish Sound is productive for salmon fishing, offering feeder chinooks throughout the year. The first migratory chinooks appear in late May through to August, followed by the sockeye (June to August), pinks (July to August), coho in mid July, northern coho in September and chum salmon from late August through to October. Winter chinook end off the year by passing through toward the end of December.

The range of Salmon fishing in Blackfish Sound extends from the eastern tip of Malcolm Island (Donegal Head), north of Plumper Islands and Hanson Island through Blackney Passage and into Baronet Passage. In Johnstone Strait, salmon run from Cracroft Point on the western tip of West Cracroft Island to the Sophia Islands.

Halibut fishing commences in April to June, and continues through the summer to September - open water depths of 200 to 400 feet are most productive. Concentrate on Richards Channel, Ripple Passage and Bolivar Passage. Halibut around the 100 lb mark are brought in regularly, with monsters of over 200 lbs caught occasionally. As all large halibut are females, potentially bearing millions of eggs, they should be considered for release.

The waters offshore from Zeballos boasts excellent saltwater sportfishing for salmon and rock cod, one of the smoothest, sexiest-tasting fish when fresh, before being doused with smoke - the usual treatment for most cod sold in BC stores.

There's a good salmon run on the Marble River, which lies 13 km west of Highway 19 on the road to Port Alice. This logging road also provides access to Alice, Victoria and Kathleen Lakes, which offer good cutthroat trout and dolly varden fishing. Campsites and a boat launch are located in the mill town of Port Alice, where you'll find full facilities for exploring the profusion of inlets in Quatsino Sound.

The great saltwater fishing in the sheltered Quatsino Sound during winter and spring months, particularly for feeder chinook (January to April), is worthy of the short trip from Port McNeill and Port Hardy, as the strong northerly winds in Queen Charlotte Strait and the southeasters in Labouchere Passage effect winter fishing on the east coast.

Fresh water fishing on north Vancouver Island remains one of the best-kept secrets around. The majority of the lakes and rivers experience very light fishing pressure due to the isolated nature of the region. Logging roads provide the primary access to the northern lakes and rivers, with most major logging companies providing free maps of their logging road networks for recreational use.

When collecting a map, it is always advisable to check road conditions, road restrictions and the safest travel times in the north island region. Local fishing knowledge is also essential to determining the best times for steelhead runs and for productive lake fishing.

Near Sayward, the Salmon River is one of the better known destinations for steelhead fishing on Vancouver Island. Drive east of Highway 19 towards Sayward and Kelsey Bay. En route, Sayward Road crosses the Salmon River at several points, offering angler access to the river. Saltwater fishing is also good out of Kelsey Bay, at the end of the road.

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.