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Simon Racliffe
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Simon Racliffe
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Simon Racliffe
Contributed by Matt Simmons
Wake up. Stumble around, grab gear. First, clothing: lots of layers, rain jacket, boots. Thermos, lunch, snacks. It’s dark out still, but dawn is on its way: you can hear it in the birds’ calls. Out the door, into the cool coastal morning. Meet with friends, find our guide, load the boat: rods, reels, lures, bait.
This could be anywhere, any bleary-eyed beginning to a fishing trip. But it’s not anywhere—it’s Prince Rupert. And on the water, as the sun crests the horizon and the world is suffused with a golden glow, this place is very obviously like nowhere else in the world. Lush evergreen-clad islands punctuate the ocean landscape, low foggy clouds float above the water like benign ghosts, eagles circle endlessly, and good fishing grounds are never far from town.
The North Coast is an old place that hasn’t lost its health. It’s still full of life. Countless waterfowl and shorebirds congregate on the protected waters, always a good sign. When the timing is right—which it almost always is—hooking a monster salmon or reeling in a colossal halibut is pretty much guaranteed. Add to that a bucketful of crabs and you’ve got the makings of the freshest, tastiest meal of your life.
So what to fish for? Depends on your method. Trolling for salmon with downriggers is a great way to play here. Your guide will steer you to the perfect spot, often following the ragged edge of some little island. Spring salmon (aka King or Chinook) are ubiquitous to northern waters. You can fish for them most of the year and they get big here, really big. Winter runs are pretty solid and nothing beats a frosty morning on the ocean, but summer is definitely the height of the season.
If trolling isn’t your thing, a short drive along the Skeena gets you out on the river at Polymar. Look for the smoke from campfires to find your way. You can only keep one fish a day when you catch it in the river, but battling one of these strong swimmers is worth it.
As for halibut, well, here’s where the not-so-tall tales come in. Your typical halibut caught in Prince Rupert weighs in around 30-50 lbs. and tastes amazing, but they get a whole lot bigger than that, too. How big? Try 500 lbs. Sure, anything that big is rare, but bringing in a halibut over 100 lbs. certainly isn’t unheard of. Your arms will protest. Other bottom dwellers worth fishing for here are lingcod and snapper, both delicious and caught regularly in Rupert waters.
Prince Rupert is a fishing town. It looks like one and feels like one. And there’s a very good reason for that: we still have fish, lots of fish. Getting out on the ocean here is the best way to see the town, be in its unique landscape, and bring home a bounty. Don’t forget your crabs on the way back in.
For more information about: Guiding, Accommodations, Regulations, Tips, Techniques, Tackle, Fishing Reports and a multitude of related fishing topics, check out www.visitprincerupert.com or contact the Prince Rupert Visitor Centre at (250) 624 5637.