Northern Vancouver Island & Mainland Inlets

Gateway to Queen Charlotte Strait and the mainland fjords of Kingcome and Knight Inlet, as well as Quatsino Sound on Vancouver Island's west coast, the Port Hardy area is positioned centrally in a very productive fishing area. It is hard to imagine better fishing with huge halibut, large Chinook and Coho as well Pinks, Chum, and Sockeye just minutes from town.

Late May usually marks the beginning of the Chinook migrations with peak fishing occurring in August, Coho appear in late June with fishing starting in earnest in July. The best time to intercept large northerns is from early September through October. During odd years Pink salmon runs are strong and are best fished during late July through to mid-September. Sockeye are showing in small numbers by mid-June. Fishing picks up in July and August and then will start tapering off by early September. Look for Chum salmon to show during the month of August. Fishing for Chum will continue on through to October. April and May are Halibut months with some tipping the scales up to 250+ lbs. Rockfish are excellent throughout these waters as well as Lingcod when in season. (See Game Fish of BC)

There are many excellent resorts in the North Island area. Port Hardy, located at the northeasterly tip of Vancouver Island, is the region's largest community. Port McNeill can be found 44 kms. (27 mi.) to the south. Both towns are easily reached by car or plane and both offer the visitor a wide range of recreational pursuits, facilities, accommodations, and services. From Port Hardy, B.C. ferries offer ferry services to Bella Bella, Bella Coola, and Prince Rupert. Ferries also offer services to Sointula and Alert Bay, out of Port McNeill. The communities of Coal Harbour, Holberg, Winter Harbour, and Port Alice in the Quatsino Inlet area can be reached by car. Knight Inlet, Kingcome Inlet, and Blackfish Sound can be reached either by boat or float plane.

The Northern Vancouver Island area and mainland inlets offer the visitor great recreational opportunities and should be high on your list of future destinations.