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Chinook salmon continue to be elusive but are growing larger each week. Recent updates to the regulations now allow for two Chinook per day and a total of four. Our last trip yielded several impressive Tyees, including a notable 39-pounder that was successfully released at Green Point.

For those heading offshore, Coho salmon are available and active. Fishing in deeper waters with inline flashers has been the go to this season for many anglers.

The halibut fishing has been exceptional lately. Last trip, we had numerous large halibut, including a massive 260-pounder. It’s been a fantastic time for halibut enthusiasts!

Weather this past week featured calm waters and numerous whale sightings, creating a picturesque fishing environment. However, we are prepared for a change as this week is expected to bring strong Northwest winds, which hopefully push more bait and fish into our grounds!

Tight lines, we’ll see you on the water!

QCL Guide, Alex Walker

As Hogust looks on the horizon, we find the frequency of Chinook salmon on the slow side, though over the last few days, several of the biggest fish this year, the biggest fish in the last four years have been caught.

The tides are beginning to return to normal after a recent full moon. This has allowed anglers to target bottom fish much easier as it’s best with lower tides

Coho are quick and easy to find offshore over the pinnacles, along with Pink salmon, the occasional Chum salmon, and some elusive Sockeye salmon. Interestingly, several large Halibut have been caught recently in Hannah Bay and around Cape Naden. Additionally, several boats have had the thrill of fighting an unusually high density of salmon sharks on the grounds as even they are striking herring and fighting fishermen for as long as 2.5 hours! The coming forecast is predicting some softer winds coming from all different directions with the calmest days being Monday and Thursday.

Good luck to all incoming guests. Choose your spot and throw a couple of herring or anchovies down at your favorite point and pick up some extra-large Chinook salmon!

QCL Guide, Eric Roundhill

While you might come to QCL for the fishing, you’ll find that every additional aspect of your experience is unlike any other. And when it comes to our dining programs, there is an option for everyone.

Between the Main Lodge, Hook Bar, Bell Ringer, The Buoy and our Private Houses – our hospitality team creates dishes and experiences that leave you with just as many lifelong memories as your fishing will.

The Main Lodge offers an exceptional and unique dining program, featuring both buffet and a la carte style services, morning and night. Featuring globally inspired flavours and dishes, the QCL Chefs has created menus and treats that will have you asking for the recipe.

Not only do we have an exceptional dining program within the Main Lodge, but we also offer semi-private dining opportunities that allow you to experience something different.

The Bell Ringer

For those that are looking for something quintessentially QCL, we offer the Bell Ringer Seafood Boil. Introduced to the program some years ago, this dinner is by reservation only and always a crowd pleaser. Available at an additional cost per guest, this semi-private Bell Ringer Seafood Boil dinner is served on the Dock, an experience unlike any other. Casual, vibrant and mouth-watering.

The Buoy – A Japanese Experience.

In collaboration between several QCL departments one off-season, The Buoy emerged and swiftly became what it is today – a Japanese Inspired Experience. Offering an intimate and personalized experience, the Buoy is by reservation only, at an additional cost per guest. This venue can accommodate up to 8 guests, per seating, with seating’s offered at 7:00pm and 9:00pm exclusively. Contact the QCL Concierge Team to book your seat!

Aside from our evening dining programs, you can anticipate to indulge at multiple other venues throughout your stay! Enjoy some lunch onboard the Hook Bar Grill located on the M.V. Driftwood anchored in the middle of our fishing grounds. Or, when you return from fishing take advantage of our Après Peche programs including snacks at the Bell Ringer and a Sushi cart that is located at the front of the Main Lodge.

For those looking for the next level of hospitality offered at QCL, inquire about our private houses. Totem and Charlotte House are the perfect venue for a truly curated experience.

Although you might come to QCL for the fishing, you’ll leave knowing that it’s so much more.

We’re charging past the midpoint of the 2024 fishing season, and this past week has been a blast for the entire fleet.

The weather has been our ally, with steady conditions making it a breeze to navigate the kelp beds. Yet, the search for those elusive Chinooks has been a bit more challenging than expected, keeping everyone on their toes.

Offshore, the Coho fishing remains electric! Fast trolling and shallow depths mean Cohos are striking with intensity, making each catch a thrill.

The large tides and swift currents have made timing crucial for bottom fishing. But, as always, the bottom fish are there, waiting to make your day. And if you hit a slow spell, don’t lose hope—one big Chinook could turn it all around. Stick with it, roll some herring, and you might just land the fish of a lifetime.

Tight lines!

QCL Guide, Sebastien Archambault

Midway through the season, and there’s lots of fun to be had just outside of Naden Harbour!

Cohos are plentiful at the Pinnacles, eating hoochies 30-50 feet deep. The Halibut fishing has been fantastic, with plenty of “overs” being released. Lingcod fishing has seen the effects of many anglers harvesting trip in and trip out, but this trip alone saw 14 pin-worthy fish, largest coming in at 38lbs. Chinook fishing has been slow, but for those willing to put in the time, some anglers have been rewarded with fish in the Tyee class. The big story yesterday was a 58lbs Chinook caught at B2 after an hour long fight.

The wind has laid right down for us this past week, and should continue for this next trip. The sun has been come and go, along with some rain and fog but that doesn’t bother us. So long as the wind keeps down, we’ve got a shot at a huge Chinook salmon!

Lead Guide, Liam Longacre

The past few days we have seen light winds and the weather is supposed to remain consistent well into the week. Beautiful sunny skies, mixed with some rain are forecasted – After all, it is Haida Gwaii.

Coho numbers are up offshore and tend to be hitting up higher (37, 51) with a small spoon being most productive. Larger Chinooks have been found inshore all across the grounds, as well as many medium 10-15ib Chinooks being caught offshore deeper than the Cohos.

We were also very lucky to see the two largest Chinook salmon of the season, so far, weighing in at 39 and 41lbs. Seeing salmon like this brings an excitement to the Bell Ringer like no other fish. These two Tyees were found inshore using anchovies! It’s not always the herring bringing home the hogs.

Overall, the fishing seems to have picked up across the grounds and if you put in your time you might leave with a great story and the fish off a lifetime!

Safe travels and tight lines, looking forward to seeing you up here!

QCL Guide, Cor Van Stolk

It’s hard to believe we’re already almost halfway through the 2024 season! If you’ve placed a Taste of B-Sea order for Spot Prawns give this recipe a try – Pairs perfectly with a glass of wine and a sun-filled patio!

Materials

500g Spot Prawns
45ml Coconut Flour
x3 Large Eggs
440ml Coconut Flakes, Unsweetened
2g Garlic Powder
2g Smoked Paprika
2g Kosher Salt
1g Black Pepper

Method

Prepare 3 bowels for dredging prawns. One with whisked egg, one with Coconut Flakes, and the last with a mixture of the Coconut flour, Garlic powder, Smoked Paprika, and Salt + Pepper.
Dredge each Prawn in flour, then dip in egg, shake off the extra and finish by pressing in the Coconut Flakes.
Cook with your desire method, until golden brown
1. Air fry for 2-4 minutes
2. Deep fry for 2-4 minutes
3. Oven bake for 4-5 per side in an oven that has been preheated to 200 degrees.
Serve and enjoy!

Don’t worry if you’ve moved through your supply of QCL caught fish already, our Taste of B-Sea program runs year round. The finest quality fish and shellfish, these products are Ocean Wise and come from some of the most sustainable fisheries in the world using the most eco-friendly fishing methods.

To learn more and to place your order, contact us | 1-800-688-8959

A Northwest wind, over several days, always inspires excitement amongst the guide team as it usually indicates good things to come. Although fishing has, at times, been challenging this year, there is always something to look forward to when fishing in Area One. Wildlife spectacles have been fantastic – With numerous humpback and orca whale sightings occurring daily.

On the fishing side, Chinook feeding off shore has been relatively abundant and Coho have shown up in healthy numbers, ranging in size from 3 to 6lbs on average. Most Chinook retained by guests last week were 10-16lbs but there have definitely been some larger fish around – Especially for those willing to spend the time and patience in shore at one of our many legendary points. Encounters with large fish have been reported more frequently within recent days. Bird Rock 2 and the top side have been most notable, producing a few quality fish. When you’re trolling close to the rocks along the shoreline of Graham Island you never know what could happen. You’re one bite away from being famous amongst salmon anglers!

We look forward to seeing you soon, tightlines and let the Tyees go!

QCL Guide, Tristan O’Brian

We left at first light, heading out of the harbour with the morning sunrise peering up over the horizon.

A bit of fog laid over the fishing grounds as we ran out to the lighthouse to begin fishing for Chinook. We drop lines, begin to troll with the wind at our back and I turn on some tunes to set the vibe for the day. The first bite of the morning is a good one, taking line which then got everyone on the boat involved. I’ve got one guest holding the net and recording the fight on my GoPro while the other plays the fish. When we get it into the boat, high fives are shared all around. It’s a mid teener, a great start but we’re now looking for something bigger.

A few missed bites and some small fish released conclude the morning as we head to the Driftwood for lunch. I take the time while my guests are eating on the DW to clean the boat and plan the afternoon – We’re going bottom fishing for Halibut, Lingcod and Rockfish at the Pinnacles, where the fleet has had success recently. After getting the radio call that my guests are ready for pick up at the Driftwood, I swing by and we continue with our day!

We drop in and get a keeper Halibut right away, along with a ping pong paddle sized one we throw back. A couple of drifts later we have our two Halibut and are now focusing on Ling/Rockfish on the rocky shelf nearby.

The first drop doesn’t go as planned, with both guests hooking the rock I have to cut one of the lines while snapping the other. After a quick pep talk about what bottom feels like and how important it is to keep the lures off bottom when fishing a rocky outcropping, we start to have success. One Rockfish and a medium sized Ling were the result of some coaching and now my guests have a feel for it. We rinse and repeat 4 or 5 drifts and limit out on Lingcod, with a few Rockfish mixed in.

It’s time to finish the day offshore to find some Coho or Chum for the bonus salmon species but after two hours we’ve had enough and head in. Heads are held high knowing that we’re bringing an assortment of species back!

QCL Guide, Tommy G

Tides have been turning on the top side of Haida Gwaii.

With salmon migrating into our fishing grounds, whales and large pods of orcas have been spotted frequently. Life is becoming prevalent below the surface, signaling good things to come! Many boats have found some more sizeable Chinooks inshore with many coming off of quick snap bites. Things seem to be shaping up.

Coho are also starting to move inshore along with the very large tides we’ve been experiencing. Reports of many bites have come off the top portion of the water column in the past week. An example of this would be some boats finding fish along Green Point at the start of a flood tide, 75 ft of water, 37/47 on the riggers.

Whales have been feeding and are now giving off what seems to be a bit of a show at times. With both Humpbacks and Orcas around, you’re in for an incredible wildlife experience.

Bottom fishing at times this past week has been difficult due to the strong and large tides but large Halibut are definitely around.

Keep ’em tight, let ’em fight!

QCL Guide, Ryan Green

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