halibut Archives - Page 2 of 10 - Queen Charlotte Lodge

Becoming a fishing guide isn’t just a career choice; it’s a testament to one’s patience, passion, and love for the sport.

Many people often ask me, “Why do you want to be a fishing guide?” and for me, the answer is simple. It’s the thrill of the fight and the mystery of not knowing what’s at the end of your line.

The Thrill of the Fight

There’s an indescribable excitement that comes with fishing. Every tack holds the promise of a new adventure. The moment you feel that tug on the line, your heart starts racing. Is it a giant salmon or a feisty halibut? The anticipation and the battle that ensues is what makes fishing so exhilarating. It’s a dance between you and nature, a test of skill, patience, and perseverance.

For me, becoming a saltwater fishing guide is more than just pursuing a passion—it’s about loving your job. I come from a long history of fishing guides and growing up, my family spent countless hours on the water, sharing stories, teaching techniques, and instilling in me a deep respect for the ocean and its inhabitants.

Learning from the Best

I’ve had the privilege of learning from the best—my family, co workers and even guests. They’ve taught me everything I know about fishing, from tying knots and reading the water, to understanding fish behavior and mastering the art of patience. These skills, passed down through generations, have shaped me into the angler I am today.

Inspiring Stories

One of my most cherished memories is of my grandfather, a seasoned fishing guide, recounting the tale of the “one that got away.” His eyes would light up with excitement as he described the massive fish that put up an epic fight before finally breaking free. These stories, are told by so many, filled with passion and adventure, ignited my desire to create my own.

The Journey Ahead

As we all embark on this journey to become a saltwater fishing guide, I know I get to carry with me the wisdom and experiences of my family. I’m excited to share my love for fishing with so many guests, to teach them the skills I’ve learned, and to create unforgettable memories on the water.

Becoming a fishing guide is not just about the thrill of the catch; it’s about the journey, the stories, and the memories of others that lives on through each and every fish. For me, it’s about following in my family’s footsteps and continuing the tradition of sharing the joy of fishing with others.

Tight lines,

QCL Guide, Karly Barker

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

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

There are days in a guide’s life that stand out, and today was one of those days.

The sun rose over a flat calm sea, casting a golden glow on the water’s surface, promising perfect conditions for a memorable day of fishing.

I decided to head to Yatze Bay, drawn by the big ebb tide that always seems to bring in the fish. The anticipation was palpable as I set up our gear. I stripped out my back rod, carefully placing the bait in the water. Before I even had the chance to get another bait ready, the reel started screaming!

The sound of the line peeling off the reel is music to any angler’s ears, and today it was especially thrilling. I quickly handed the rod to my 13-year-old guest, his eyes wide with excitement and a hint of nervousness. This was his first ever salmon, and the battle was on.

He handled the rod like a pro, despite it being his first time. The salmon put up a good fight, darting and diving in an attempt to shake the hook. But my young guest was determined. After a tense few minutes, he finally brought the fish to the boat – a beautiful 21-pounder.

QCL Guide, Darian Mant

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

The northwest winds are finally here!

After a long couple of trips filled with southeasts, salmon fishing is slowly but surely starting to improve. We have been seeing Chinooks from offshore pinnacles, down deep, anywhere from 120ft to 150ft on the downrigger. Pink and Coho are seen more shallow using spoons, hoochies and plugs. Of course, the boats that are fishing inshore have seen some success, though not as action packed as the offshore troll but as the NW winds continue for the next few days that should shift.

Bottom fishing has been steady, with many nice Halibut and other bottom dwellers in the mix. Proof that if you work hard and jig hard, you’ll be rewarded!

Wildlife has been plentiful – Humpbacks, orcas and of course those pesky sealions. Black bears have been seen roaming the beaches regularly, so guests have been keeping their eyes peeled between bites!

Good luck to those coming these next few trips, let’s all do a fish dance!

QCL Guide, Max Hadrich

This past trip was a rare Haida Gwaii Gem, filled with relatively calm waters, sun, and an accumulating abundance of grey whales, orcas and humpbacks as the large mammals make their migration north in anticipation of one of the largest herring runs in recent years.

Despite the ample conditions, estimated returning salmon and herring numbers, onshore fishing has been tough due to a fairly constant south easterly wind causing both epipelagic and mesopelagic life to be either blown offshore or to seek shelter in deep water rock structures to find relief from the currents. This has lead to the majority of the fleet fishing out by the pinnacles for all of their needs. Despite the atypical fishing conditions there are plenty of salmon to be caught in deeper waters, but it is most certainly a numbers game that must be played in order to get the fish you want to keep.

However, there is a silver lining. As early runs of Coho are also starting to show up in the myriad of species to be caught offshore, allowing guests seeking their full limits to achieve their goals as long as they put their hours in.

Coho and Pink seem to be more common in the upper regions of the water column while Chinook are being caught as low as 150ft on the downriggers. Beyond that and some extremely aggressive halibut start being tossed into the hodgepodge of fish to be seen at the other end of your line. Some days it feels like the 71cm Halibut is the biggest aggressor in the Pacific Ocean.

Another added bonus is deep water Lingcod seem to have realized the abundance of smaller life attempting to hide down low, and have also moved in closer to our grounds, with many boats finding their Lingcod limit, and several large 30-40lb lings being caught this past trip alone.

This upcoming trip the weather looks like it is turning in our favour, as on the 15th it is projected to swing and start coming from the northwest, and will continue to do so for a few days. This is a change we are eagerly anticipating so that larger migrational Chinook can be more efficiently targeted across our points.

Anchovies and smaller spoons, replicating sandlances, or other needlefish species, seem to be working the best, with hoochies and squid taking a close second. But if the contents of the stomachs of fish being brought up from deeper waters is an indicator of what is to come, herring will soon be the go to.

QCL Guide, Jaxon Jones

The excitement is palpable as the fishing season kicks into high gear, with reels spinning and guides cheering on anglers from all over. The first few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, showcasing why we’re so passionate about our career.

The QCL fleet has been in the thick of the action, with flurries of fish making their presence known earlier in the week, especially during the serene early mornings. Chinook salmon have been the stars of the show, boasting healthy numbers and sizes ranging from 8 to 15 pounds. As May transitions into June, we welcome the varied weather conditions of sun, rain, and south easterly winds, adding an extra element of excitement to our fishing expeditions.

Despite a mid-week wind pushing us towards Cape Edenshaw for a brief period, the waters have since calmed, and the fishing remains excellent, particularly during the transition from the early ebb tide into the flood. Prime spots like Cape Naden, Cape Edenshaw, Bird Rock 2, Parker Point, and Yatze Bay continue to produce impressive results, with anglers of all skill levels reaping the rewards.

The Chinook action has been fun, with guests experiencing success at various locations around QCL. While the timing of the action has been somewhat unpredictable, sticking it out in a chosen spot has proven to be the key to success. Both herring and anchovies, along with smaller spoons and Kingcandy lures, have been effective at depths ranging from 25 to 55 feet.

As more guests arrive, the excitement only continues to build, promising even more memorable moments on the water. Stay tuned for further updates as we navigate the thrills and triumphs of the QCL fishing season!

QCL Guide, Karly Barker

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A Wrap on 2024