halibut Archives - Page 3 of 10 - Queen Charlotte Lodge

Fishing is not the only wonderful part of your QCL Experience.

While it’s often what brings us all together, QCL has developed into a first-class experience that extends beyond the rods. Much of your time on the water is looking along the coastline, taking in the marine ecosystem and wildlife that seemingly puts on a daily show for us.

Our waters are frequented by majestic marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, humpbacks, orcas and from time to time porpoises. While most hangout around the rugged coastline to sunbathe or hide from predators, you’ll often encounter them swimming alongside your boat.

And the wonders don’t stop there! Low tide reveals starfish, sea urchins and more. The dark rugged rocks teem with vibrant colours.

Seals

Harbor seals are the most abundant marine mammal that can be found in our waters. They spend their days hunting for fish and sleeping on the rocks throughout our fishing grounds. They are one of the smaller species of seals, weighing in at a maximum of 300 pounds. These seals are very common around the docks at our lodge, typically you can find 6-10 of them bobbing around the waters of our dock. During the summer months they give birth to their young, which can be seen swimming around our docks with their mothers. If you ever see the harbor seals at our lodge all tucked into shore; that is a good sign that there may be Orcas around as they are a favorite prey species for transient Orcas

Sea Lions

Steller sea lions spend their summers on the north end of Haida Gwaii where they congregate in large groups for the breeding season as well as feeding on the large populations of salmon and bait fish. You can either find them patrolling the waters of our fishing grounds in search of bait or sunbathing on the costal rocks. Stellar sea Lions are the largest species of seal in our North Pacific waters and the 4^th largest species in the world with the males reaching up to 11 feet and 2,500 pounds.

Humpbacks

Humpback whales migrate north in the summers to feed in our cool productive waters after they spend their winters raising their young in the warmer southern waters. These whales can reach up to 60 feet and 36.3 metric tons. You can typically find them on the grounds searching for large schools of bait fish. They will often slap their tails, fins or fully breach out of the water as a way to communicate with other whales or as a dominance display towards rival whales. They are quite common on our grounds and it is important that we respect their space and insure that we shut our motors off when the whales are passing by to insure their safety and ours.

Orcas

Orcas can also be found hunting in our fishing grounds throughout the summers. These whales are actually the largest species of dolphin in the world measuring up to 27 feet and weigh up to 13,000 pounds. There are two ecotypes of orcas that we encounter on our fishing grounds, Transient and Resident Orcas. Resident Orcas specialize in hunting fish such as salmon and have been known to try and steal fish from anglers. These Orcas have a smaller home range and won’t venture far out of those ranges to hunt. Transient Orcas do not stay in a home range and will instead travel throughout the waters reaching from Alaska to the Oregon Coast. These whales specialize in hunting marine mammals such as seal, sea lions and even whale calves.

Starfish

Starfish used to be extremely common along all the shores of Haida Gwaii. Unfortunately, in recent years a disease called Sea Star Wasting disease has decimated the population starting in the early 2010’s. However, in the last couple of years we have seen the population slowly bounce back. This change has been most noticeable for us along the piers of our docks. In the last two years at low tide we have started to see the population of Ochre Sea Stars bounce back as more and more of them populate our docks. These creatures are extremely resilient and are even able to completely regrow limbs once they have been ripped off by predators. The Ochre Sea Star is the most common species of starfish that you will find in our waters and typically feed on snails, barnacles and muscles.

So the next time you’re on the water, take a moment to take in the beauty of your surroundings, before the reel screams and your next fish is on!

The fishing scene is starting to heat up!

Chinook salmon are stealing the spotlight, ranging from 10 to 15 pounds, these beauties are keeping anglers on their toes. With the occasional 20+ pounder adding excitement to the mix and cheers in the Bell Ringer. Coho and Chum salmon are also making appearances, adding variety to the catch. Despite intermittent rain during the week, the weekend has brought clear skies and sunshine, perfect for a day out on the water.

As the annual Kingfisher Derby unfolds, anticipation is high among anglers vying for the winning hog and its coveted prize. Popular fishing points such as Klash, Eagle, Green, Naden, and Edenshaw are bustling with activity as enthusiasts try their luck. With the weather on our side and the fish biting, it’s shaping up to be a memorable season for fishing enthusiasts.

QCL Guide, Mackenzie Adam

The Kingfisher Derby is our annual fishing derby, hosted by QCL. With competition and spirits high, it always makes for a great trip at the Lodge. Inquire with our Sales Executives about 2025’s derby, entrance fee and more by calling now | 1-800-688-8959

Welcome to the 2024 Season, It’s a Guide’s Life, blog series.

A little different than our Kingfisher Report, this blog will provide insights into what a day in the life of a guide at Queen Charlotte Lodge entails! Whether it be a big fish, amazing wildlife or just a great day with guests having fun. For this first entry I wanted to share what my favorite part of the day is and surprisingly it happens before even hitting the water.

Each morning, the excitement of every angler and guide on the dock is truly amazing – No matter the weather or the misfortune of a lost fish from the day prior.

Every day is a chance at the fish of a lifetime. The enthusiasm and optimism is what keeps bringing me back.

I look forward to seeing you all, every morning, and talking about what spot we are headed to! Keep an eye out for all the fishing tales coming your way over the course of our first class fishing season.

Lead Guide, Ryan Kelly

Welcome back folks to another Kingfisher Report!

The season is flying along, already a handful of days into June.

This past weekend was windy with a series of Southeast fronts moving across the sound and fishing grounds. But anglers, Lodge wide, toughed it out and put some serious numbers up on the boards.

Solid Chinook numbers continue to hit the dock, in the 10–15-pound range, with the odd bigger one in the mix. Guests are ending their fishing days stoked and ready for what the tomorrow has in store. Cape Edenshaw, the Finger Dipper, and Green Point have all been protected points out of the weather and continue to hold fish. Bottom fishing out at the Pinnacles and the Peanut continue to be on point, with big hali and ling hitting the dock and rewarding anglers the chance to ring the Tyee bell!

As conditions persist into this week, our guests are demonstrating great determination.

We look forward to seeing you all here this 2024 season. Tight lines!

Lead Guide, Jake Hillier

Things are in full swing up here in Naden Harbour!

As is typical for May, we’ve had a mixed bag of weather; sunshine, overcast and torrential downpour, sometime all within the same hour. Winds have been fairly tame out of the south east this past week, and look to be getting stronger for the upcoming week.

Guests arrived last Friday, and Chinooks, mostly in the 8-15 pound range. Anglers have been enjoying success at Cape Naden, Cape Edenshaw, Bird Rock 2 and Yatze Bay, however the timing of the action has been hard to predict, so picking a spot and sticking it out has been the key to getting into fish. Both herring and anchovies have been producing fish, as well as smaller spoons and Kingcandy lures, at depths of 25 to 55 feet.

The pinnacles have been the favourite spot for anglers targeting “chicken” halibut, but some guests have been having success by fishing their regular salmon spots a little deeper, and getting their halibut “on the troll”. The weekend trip did see two Tyees on the board, one at 36.4lbs, so there’s always the chance of a big Chinook salmon out there! Tuesday we saw our first Pink salmon of the season, which means the Coho should be showing up soon!

Lead Guide, Liam Longacre

We’re only a few weeks away from another season of first class fishing! Which means that soon enough you’ll be bringing your catch home to enjoy while sharing stories of your time on the water.

Prepare your Halibut with this Signature Series recipe before your trip, or after. Our chef’s have crafted this to enjoy at any point of the year, with your favourite side dishes.

Materials

4x 170g Halibut Fillets
2g Garlic Powder
2g Paprika
4g Salt
1g Ground Black Pepper
30ml Neutral Cooking Oil
225g Butter
1x Medium Lemon, cut in half

Method

Mix spices together and use to season halibut fillets
In large saute pan place halibut fillets down and sear both sides until both are golden brown, cook 2-4 minutes on each side.
Remove fish from pan once ready, add butter into the hot pan and melt.
Simmer butter for 1-2 minutes and then add juice of lemon.
Simmer sauce for 2-3 minutes while stirring often.
Plate the fish alongside your preferred sides and drizzle lemon butter over top of the Halibut.
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

The 34^th season of operation for QCL is swiftly approaching and soon the doors will be open, reels will be screaming and smiles will be plenty.

Every season we welcome guests from around the world for the fishing adventure of a lifetime. From opening day to closing, our guests are in constant awe of the thought and consideration that goes into their vacation. Beyond the rich waters, that offer some of the best fishing grounds in the world, QCL is known for incredible hospitality.

With May 24^th just around the corner now, the months of working behind the scenes, both in our Richmond Office and on-site at the Lodge, will soon come to an end. Like every year, our team has been implementing your suggestions and bringing continued improvements to life.

We’re excited to share with you a few updates taking place at the Lodge – new boats, exciting programs (new and revised), and on-going upgrades to our infrastructure.

In 2023 we saw the addition of 10 boats to our fleet, and this year will see an additional 3! Partnering with Bridgeview, we have added to our premium vessel class with one 26” Cabin boat, and two 22” Centre Consoles.

As a testament to the high standard of client care and satisfaction that our guides provide on the water, this year will also see our largest guide team to date!

Without a doubt, one of the most exciting program additions this year is the introduction of our new Tyee Release Club! Designed to promote sustainable fishing by encouraging our guests to engage in salmon conservation, QCL will make a donation towards Salmon Enhancement for each Tyee released.

With our on-water program only a portion of your QCL Experience, the Lodge has seen updates across property.

Continuing to put an emphasis on sustainable choices across the whole property, don’t forget to pop your head into the Kingfisher Gallery or Pro Shop to see the new additions to our retail program. Our team has worked hard to partner with sustainable brands that continue to offer the best in the industry.

Now in the final push, Operations is in the midst of refinishing logs, replacing walkways, and updating finishings. Among these smaller projects, we have also seen completed larger projects – namely replacing the roof on the Main Lodge, and cosmetic changes to select guest rooms. Whether these changes are small or large, the Operations team works alongside the Hospitality team, ensuring guest rooms are well-appointed and comfortable after a full day of being on the water.

Although, these are only a handful of the noticeable updates happening at QCL this year there are plenty that we are anxiously awaiting to share. Together, we are certain that this season will be the best season yet.

With just under a month until Opening Day, we cannot wait until your helicopter lands.

We’re back with another Signatures Series recipe to wow your family or your guests. Our Back of House team has done an excellent job creating dishes that are easy to prepare and worth adding to your dinner lineup. This Ginger Soy Lingcod is a great addition to any plate.

Materials

Lingcod Fillets | 4 x 170g
Ginger Slices | x4
Cooking Oil | 60ml
Honey | 30ml
Shallot, finely minced | x1
Garlic clove, finely minced | x1
Soy Sauce | 125ml
Fresh cracked black pepper

Method

In a wok, heat oil.
Add ginger slices to the wok, lightly fry then discard.
Place Lingcod in the same wok and sear for 5 minutes on each side. Remove the fish and keep warm.
Add shallots and garlic to the same wok and saute slightly. Add honey and soy sauce and reduce until syrup. Pour over fish.
Pour the sauce over the fish, paired with your choice of sides. Serve and enjoy!

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

Last year, on World Water Day, we announced a new conservation initiative for 2023 – The Guest Water Bottle program.

Each guest was gifted a QCL water bottle for their use at the Lodge, and on the water, with the intention of reducing our plastic consumption. Paired with this was the addition of water bottle refill stations across the property. This program was developed, as most of ours are, by listening to our guests’ needs and suggestions.

There is no doubt that the creation of plastic bottles has a significant impact on our environment. With plenty of natural resources consumed, and pollution produced, we agreed that our consumption was out of balance with our values.

Proud to continue this initiative into 2024, we are excited to share with you the impact we saw in the 2023 season and adjustments we’ve made to better our conservation efforts this upcoming summer.

With 20oz bottle, our collective usage, by both guests and staff, saw a reduction in plastic bottles by over 65%!

Looking to better this number, we have increased the Guest Water Bottle size to 25oz. Additionally, you’ll notice that when on land, we no longer offer plastic bottles but rather will provide a glass or jug of water for your use.

We appreciate each of you in supporting our initiatives to better support the environment we all know and love.

We are looking forward to another exciting season of providing you continued excellence, known only as the QCL Experience.

Most anglers have their favourite fishing gear; special vest, best rod, lucky lures, killer flies, and the list goes on. But one item that seems to be high on the list of essentials is their fishing hat. And judging by the number of hats we see at the Lodge, we can confirm that is often the case!

For as long as QCL has operated, our guests have received an annual QCL Hat. Sporting this upon stepping off the helicopter has become a welcome tradition. While this tradition is not unique to QCL, we find ourselves excited when our guests love their new fishing hat.

Now, 33 years in, we’re still cooking up new ideas and fresh looks for the QCL cap. Obviously, the logo features prominently on any design and we’ve moved through a few variations. The original logo in 1991 was a beautiful Kingfisher, styled in a Haida design by Pat Wesley. It was front and centre on all Lodge hats until 2002 when we moved to a new logo design that featured the “hooked QCL” which was later simplified to the “hooked Q” that we often use today. Colour is always important; we’ve used various hues of blue, green, chestnut brown and shades from white to black.

Coming up with a hat that appeals to everyone is a daunting task. But every winter we go on a mission to design something fresh, in hopes that most everyone will love it. Thankfully, we’ve had our share of winners – in shapes and colours that fit just right with the times – and perhaps some that were loved a little less. It’s our good fortune that most guests are pleased to receive this unique keepsake and are happy to take it home with them. There’s no feeling quite like walking down the street, or across the world, and seeing the familiar Q.

As we always say, fishing is a pastime full of story and tradition, with maybe a touch of superstition involved there too. One tradition that many of our guests may not be aware of is what to do when your new hat blows off your head while out on the water. Of course, this happens more often than you might think. Keeping it protected from the breeze as you fly over the water is a timeless trick that needs perfecting. But of course, the proper procedure to follow is that as soon as your hat leaves your head, is to immediately turn the boat around and retrieve it before it sinks! And, doing so properly means pulling the hat straight from the water and putting it right back on your head, drips and all.

Our 2024 hat is well on its way to the Office, ready to continue the loved tradition. We cannot wait to share it with you all, you’ll only have to wait a little bit longer. For now, here’s a little teaser.