Look for the fish along kelp beds and tide rips, fish both sides of the tide changes for 3 hours. Clean, professional, custom tattooing located on the North Island. We also have waders, bait, tackle and are an authorized vendor for State of Alaska fishing licenses. The Bait Shack. Fishing Equipment Rentals, Bait, Tackle, Fishing Licenses, Guide Services and Snacks. Make sure you have plenty of good line on your reels. These fish grow up to 20 lbs +. Port Hardy gets some extremely high tides, big swings of 16 and 17 feet, that have a negative effect on bottom fishing. Never bring a halibut bigger than 40 lbs into your boat and second, make sure you have a boat bigger than the halibut!! A Bronze Star awardee and Purple Heart recipient, Dustin served as an Airborne Scout from 1998-2011. Hello halibut! However, the rainfall averages 100 to 120 inches a year, compared to Victoria’s 27, so good wet weather clothing is a must. Some people surface troll with bucktails, but deep trolling is usually more productive. 321 S * Lenoir City, TN 37772 The Bait Shack, Anchorage, Alaska. 7250 Market Street Email Address. Port Hardy Chamber of Commerce 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. On the subject of bottom fish, look at the marine chart and determine where the shoals, pockets and drop-offs are. With Jim at the helm, his ultimate priority is your safety, comfort, and the best fishing expedition of your life. Search for local Fishing Tackle near you and submit reviews. Troll extremely slow in a straight line, with a small, red hoochy. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, Dustin fell in love with Alaska when he was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in 2006. Find The Bait Shack in Merthyr Tydfil, CF47. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. 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: 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. It is excellent, but watch the drop-off on extremely low tides. 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. Caught the 8:15PM Ferry and arrived in Port hardy around 3:30AM after a slow drive thru experience at McD's in Nanaimo. Two boat launch ramps are available. Do local business owners recommend The Bait Shack? Winter Springs (Kings) 6 to 15 pounds. Occasionally coho are caught at 30 feet, but more often at 60 or lower. Best Lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs and 4″- 5″ spoons. East Side 1. The Bait Shack is a family owned and operated business. Also a cafe serving good fresh cooked food. The waters of Queen Charlotte Strait harbour all seven species of Pacific salmon. Best Lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs and black hoochies & flashers. Tomic plugs and hoochies are extremely productive. Ranging from five to seven pounds, occasionally to nine. Herring schools are everywhere and the fish are now 19 to 50+ pounds. Try trolling pink or red hoochies anywhere from the surface down to 100 feet. It can really play hell with small boats, and people are very wise to hole up on shore rather than try running for it. Port Hardy is a busy town located on the northern inside tip of Vancouver Island. 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. Best colours are white, yellow or bright green. Favorites. Hometown. Springs consist of lots of feeders for the first 2 weeks and the fish are from 20 to 60 lbs. They average about 30 to 50 pounds. Read what others have said about their experience at The Bait Shack in Anchorage, Alaska! 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. 3-7025 Market Street. So the long awaited trip has come and gone. Fishing tackle salmon and halibut. Beacon Tattoo. There are also reserved slips available for weekly moorage; contact Jim and Nita for more information at (250) 902-7145. It’s simple and relatively cheap. 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 economy relies greatly on tourism, especially the ferries to Prince Rupert, another popular tourist destination in British Columbia. The Bait Shack, 212 West Whitney Road, Anchorage, AK, 99501, United States (907) 522-3474 dustin@thebaitshackak.com Bluebacks are growing into 4 – 6 pound Coho salmon, hungry and willing to bite! Winter Springs (Kings) 6 to 15 pounds. Phone: (250) 949-7622. When that northwester gets 35 to 50 miles an hour, six-foot waves aren’t uncommon. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! Toll-free: (866) 427-3901 Other. Bluebacks -light rod, 10 to 12 pound test, bucktails on surface or small 3″ to 4″ silver spoons. Port Hardy has accommodations, restaurants, boat and auto repair shops, campgrounds, tackle shops and general stores. The Bait Shack 865-679-8478 21444 Hwy. For more info contact: 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. These fish are migrating from the north where they are spawning and boy are they hungry, watch weather and tides for best fishing times. Look for neap tide periods, preferably in the fall because there is usually less wind. Sign up. Halibut are most popular in these months. Pinks are heavy during the odd years, and best in July and August. 6770 Bear Cove Road, Box 1350, Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0 tel: 250/902-7145, Good Luck and Make Sure Your Hooks are Sharp! Music. Get contact details, videos, photos, opening times and map directions. The average is 20 to 25 pounds, but there is usually a dozen or more in the 30s caught every day. Fishing licenses are available on-line. Extremely small ones are three to four pounds, but the average is six to nine. Bear Cove offers a free boat launch, parking, and free day-use moorage. In fact, Port Hardy serves as the transportation hub for the busy Central Coast. Open seasonally June to September. The best season for halibut is April, mainly because it’s just ahead of the commercial opening. A free municipal ramp located at the Quarterdeck Marina is of concrete and three lanes wide. 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. In fact, at any given time, one out of two lures in the water will probably be a green hoochie. There are plenty of good spots around the Gordons for small boaters, and those with larger, faster rigs can explore around the Deserters. Tides play an important role in the halibut fishery. I usually buy my bait there, and maybe some odds and ends tackle. Port Hardy is home to several Municipal wharf systems, as well as a private marina and a water-front recreation site at Bear Cove. 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. 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. They average five or six pounds. We headed up to Port Hardy after my shift on Sunday. A good gaff is necessary for the smaller ones (under 40 lbs). They are out in the strait, but we get a local run that really boosts the numbers in Hardy Bay. Winter Springs (Kings) 6 to 25 pounds. The prices are competitive and the convenience of the shack is unbeatable. Learn about Port Hardy Marinas, Docks, Wharfs, Piers, & our other Harbour Facilities. 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. 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. Beaver Trail investments. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. The more lures you put down, the better your chances of multiple hook-ups. 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. Chum salmon are entering the rivers this month. 1240 Coast AM. Jim Henschke of The Bait Shack 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. Best halibut lures: big bright jigs, fresh bait, octopus and herring. The best lure to use are jigs, buzz bombs, stingzildas or gibbs minnows. Fresh water fishing on north Vancouver Island remains one of the best-kept secrets around. 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! 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. 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 … A good shark hook and rope or harpoon for the bigger ones, up to 300 lbs!. West Coast 1. It should also be sparse, so pull at least half of the strands off. These are the most popular months for all fishing and the fish are here in great abundance! Best Lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs and 4″- 5″ spoons. Hardy Bay is close to scenic coastal cruising, superb fishing and is the start of the beautiful Inside Passage to Prince Rupert. Tourist traffic in the summer is immense, and hotels and restaurants usually find themselves with no room to accommodate all travelers. However, the further offshore you get, the greater your chances of running into weather-related problems. They call the summer northwesters ‘safe’ winds, but even they can get real nasty. The main thing is to get it on the bottom and keep it there. Average size 10 to 40 pounds. Stop in and stock up before your next trip! Budget blinds Port Hardy, BC, VON 2PO Port Hardy's Sport Fishing Expert. Anything in the 40- to 50-pound range is considered a good fish. Bear Cove Ice Ltd. 6710 Bear Cove Highway. 13 were here. Ship Creek's only Bait and Tackle shop. Springs are slowing down but this is the time for that 30 pounder! A popular method is to fish bait with a heavy sinker. Logging roads provide the primary access to the northern lakes and rivers. Coho are huge, up to 20+ lbs and very aggressive, you will need lots of line on your reels and 15 – 20 lb test. They are big compared to bluebacks caught further south. Tight Lines and FISH ON! While one can certainly enjoy the area’s world class salmon and bottom fishing, it must be done with caution and common sense. 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. © 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. 32 were here. Port Hardy & Numata Japan, Sister Cities, Official Community Plan Review and Update 2020, Automotive Sales, Service & Transportation. Got unpacked and hit the sack around 4am. Be ready! 10,858 likes. Skipper Jim Henschke has been an experienced fishing guide for 44 years. Winter Springs Best lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs & 4″- 5″ spoons. 18.9k Followers, 501 Following, 1,001 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from The Bait Shack (@thebaitshack) The majority of the lakes and rivers experience very light fishing pressure due to the isolated nature of the region. Bait Shop and Cafe. Port Hardy enjoys a fairly moderate climate. Numerous chinooks in excess of 50 pounds are taken annually. 169 likes. Coho are schooling up and ready for a fight. The Bait Shack 865-679-8478. The Port Hardy residents are very nice folks and are usually more than willing to share information or help the visiting angler. Go to your local sport shops for information on catching these fish, they will be happy to help. Don’t Forget…..Catch & Release Ensures Fish for the Future. Sport Fishing on the Fly - SFOTF. Click the button below to receive emergency messages. Television. 250-949-9499 Website. Average winter temperatures are slightly warmer than most of Vancouver Island, and slightly cooler during the summer. A few anglers target specifically on sockeye, pinks and chum. The Bait Shack offers all sizes of live shiners. 250-949-9294. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. Of course I … 250-949-7796. The Bait Shack at Ship Creek was founded in 2011 by U.S. Army veteran Dustin Slinker. Some years the coho start showing up around the first of July, but the 15th is closer to normal. Home / Visitors / Harbour / Fishing Guide, Generously supplied to us by: 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. There are no “special” techniques to fishing for salmon or bottom fish around Port Hardy, but some tactics are more popular than others. Chinooks start toward the end of May and peak in August. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the weather! COVID-19 Resource and Information page. Social. Paved parking for trailers and vehicles on daily, weekly, monthly basis is also available. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Make sure you have good gear for these monsters. Make sure all your gear is in good shape. 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. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Salmon Fishing or Bottomfishing: Castle Point Charters is Port Hardy's best charter choice! 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. Public Health Orders in effect until February 5, 2021. Best Lures: cut plug herring, herring strip, plugs and black hoochies & flashers. Visit this page to learn about the business and what locals in Port Hardy have to say. Some of the local guides report catching up to 25 coho a day on light gear. The secret to enjoying a safe and successful fishing trip at Port Hardy is to plan well ahead. The cold water of the Queen Charlotte Strait is renowned for saltwater fishing and diving. We are easy to find, and open 24/7 for your convenience. 6770 Bear Cove Highway. 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 Although saltwater fishing anywhere on the British Columbia coast is controlled by weather conditions, this becomes even more evident in Queen Charlotte Strait. Most are caught incidentally by chinook and coho anglers. Winter Springs (Kings) 6 to 25 pounds. 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. A good stiff 6′ to 7′ rod, braided lines from 50 to 130 lbs test and lots of it. Port Hardy, British Columbia. There are two very important things to remember about fishing halibut. 250-230-3356. The Bait Shack, Brooks, Maine. 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. Port Hardy offers docks for both Commercial & Recreational boats. By the first weekend of August you can be catching them 10 to 12 pounds. Springs are feeding aggressively. 21444 Hwy. Sockeye run as early as mid-June but are caught mainly in July and August, with a few still around in September. Our frozen products are some of the freshest and most professionally packaged bait that you will find on the market. Sport fishing opportunities are available in local rivers and streams, and on both the east and west sides of the island. Check with BC Ferries for departures date. We carry a full line of live bait and tackle for all your fishing needs. The Bait Shack is located at the Bear Cove Marina and they only carry tackle and bait that anglers need for fishing this area. 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