Port Hardy - Unreal Fishing! [Archive] - Alberta Outdoorsmen Forum

Brandonkop

09-09-2015, 09:03 PM

Hey guys I know I'm in BC now so if you don't want the BC posts I can cease them. But I know that many like to or would like to do some saltwater fishing in BC. So I'm doing all the research I figure I'll help you out by pre-fishing for you to help you find new places to possibly try on the coast for a trip of a lifetime.

Anyways this last week we drove up to Port Hardy and had Fabulous weather. First week of September the internet said can pick up the odd big Chinook, but mostly Coho and some Big northern Coho to 20 pounds should be moving in. As well bottom and halibut fishing should be good.

Going over on the Ferry to Nanaimo, Duke Point terminal.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150902_191123.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150902_191123.jpg.html)

Our first day we drove up didn't get to the cabin until 2AM... so following morning was a late start. I don't think we got on the water till 1 pm. Oh well we headed out to the edge of the Hardy bay and trolled around for salmon like everyone else. Nobody was hooking up and we ended up catching a Coho and then we saw one nice spring caught. So we decided to go catch a few rockfish for dinner and found some Black Rockfish in 20 feet of water, sight fishing, it was awesome. Caught a flounder, copper, and a couple greenling as well.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150903_140810.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150903_140810.jpg.html)
My brother hoping for something to try out our hockey stick harpoon on.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150903_142117.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150903_142117.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150903_145817.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150903_145817.jpg.html)
There were thousands of Jellyfish... kind of messing up the fishing, but the kids loved them.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150903_151418.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150903_151418.jpg.html)
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Not bad for getting out at 1PM our first day... little did we know how good it could get.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150903_201402.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150903_201402.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150903_210528.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150903_210528.jpg.html)

Brandonkop

09-09-2015, 09:14 PM

Day #2 we decided to go after some bottom fish since our host at the cabins said this was an off time for Salmon and if we wanted some fish to take home go do some bottom banging. So we went in search of structure and we found a nice pinnacle with a top out at 100 feet, a plateau at 140-160 and dropping quickly to 300 feet. Well let me tell you it turned out to be the jackpot! We tried a few spots first for nothing, but as soon as the hook hit bottom here I hooked a monster fish... I couldn't move it, giant head shakes, for all of thirty seconds then unbuttoned... as I look over to my brother and his rod is bent over. I say you got a fish! He lands a nice ling to start things off.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150904_201212.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150904_201212.jpg.html)

It just got better from there... I'll let the pictures talk.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150904_112553.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150904_112553.jpg.html)
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Day 2 to be continued...

Brandonkop

09-09-2015, 09:19 PM

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150904_151002.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150904_151002.jpg.html)
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Caught our limit of rockfish and lingcod so decided to go for salmon. During the morning a Salmon chased my big cod jig right to the surface beside the boat so I knew they were in the area. Once the lines were down we hooked up with a nice coho pretty fast.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150904_164059.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150904_164059.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150904_171648.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150904_171648.jpg.html)
Caught a rockfish and things shut down. We decided to cut it short to go get some nice sunny pics on the dock.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150904_182523.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150904_182523.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150904_182753.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150904_182753.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150904_212935.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150904_212935.jpg.html)
Going to need a bigger boat.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150904_213411.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150904_213411.jpg.html)
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Continued

Brandonkop

09-09-2015, 09:20 PM

Sorry for the repeat pics these doc pics turned out so nice with great colors had to share.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150904_213737.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150904_213737.jpg.html)
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Brandonkop

09-09-2015, 09:27 PM

This is where we stayed: http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150905_105509.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150905_105509.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150905_151431.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150905_151431.jpg.html)

Well it wasn't all over... still one day to head out. Our plan of attach was to head out into the fog and nail some ground fish during slack and if the tides picked up go after the salmon... if time permitted go slam a hali.

Here is what happened.
All rigged and ready to go! http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150906_101818.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150906_101818.jpg.html)
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Brandonkop

09-09-2015, 09:31 PM

Halibut fishing the last hour of the day was a bust...
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150906_192407.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150906_192407.jpg.html)
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http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150906_203236.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150906_203236.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150907_025040.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150907_025040.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150907_025607.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150907_025607.jpg.html)

Just some better pics:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150907_024749.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150907_024749.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150907_024419.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150907_024419.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150907_021057.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150907_021057.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150907_020516.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150907_020516.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150907_020306.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150907_020306.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/IMG_20150907_015416.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/IMG_20150907_015416.jpg.html)

Brandonkop

09-09-2015, 09:36 PM

Most exciting moment was just after the Disney ship passed us my brother spotted a Dorsal Fin headed our way. A large killer whale came right by us and surfaced many times and we went after the school of fish we were on. Pretty amazing stuff to see in the wild.

Then instead of fishing the last day in Campbell river... our coolers were full. We decided to go to the fish hatchery and see the pink salmon run.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150907_115736.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150907_115736.jpg.html)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150907_122838.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150907_122838.jpg.html)
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Last but not least stopped at the new Cabelas in Nanaimo. We were walking through the store and my daughter says, "Daddy there is the red one like we caught" I hadn't even noticed it and she picks it out from across the store. Good times! What a trip.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/20150907_152637.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/20150907_152637.jpg.html)

tight line

09-09-2015, 11:54 PM

Great pics!

Rafter1

09-10-2015, 01:01 AM

Great Pictures Brandon. I was in Port Hardy in mid July got into some nice fish but nothing like that!!!!!

KegRiver

09-10-2015, 01:07 AM

That is why I love fishing the Pacific. Thanks for sharing.

58thecat

09-10-2015, 05:30 AM

Ok so I want to shed some clarity to this " do not stop posting"! You and yours are blessed, family, friends and great fishing adventures, keep sharing so the rest of us can only dream and enjoy your outings. Thank you for sharing, awesome!:sHa_shakeshout:

Fishslayer99

09-10-2015, 09:55 AM

Unbelievable Brandon, thanks for sharing those incredible pictures!

huntsfurfish

09-10-2015, 11:16 AM

Awesome pics Brandon!

omega50

09-10-2015, 12:34 PM

You and your family are absolutely filled with a positive spirit that is contagious.
I enjoy your posts very much

iliketrout

09-10-2015, 12:46 PM

Great trip, looks like you all had a great time! Been following your posts on the FB group too. Congrats!

LutherDLG

09-10-2015, 02:45 PM

That's some unreal fishing.

I'm going to save this thread and look at it after every disappointing fishing trip!

thunderheart

09-10-2015, 05:55 PM

what a trip for a family .. love the gals included ..:sHa_shakeshout:

Kingfisher

09-10-2015, 07:03 PM

Brandonkop

09-10-2015, 07:15 PM

What a great trip Brandon. Too bad I didn't know you were heading up that way I could have steered you into some halibut. Been up there many times over the years. There sure are some nice areas to get the bottom fish like you got. Sounds like you hit the perfect spot. You got some great ling and gold eye. Can you imagine what it must be like down there at 150 feet? Too bad the go pro wouldn't work down that deep. It would be cool to see those ling going after a jig.

Yeah we thought about it, but kind of out of the range that is safe for a GoPro housing. It really is too bad, the water was amazingly clear. We could see our cannon ball down about 50 feet. Next time I have to find a shallower structure and try it out.

We really didn't try for halibut. We went infront of the airport since I've heard and read that is where most guys go. Just as we pulled up... mind you it was already getting dark a guy that was trolling for them hooked a nice one. So we got excited and got the rigs down but kept hooking the small ones, flounders or sand dabs whatever they are. I guess should have just gone with the big rigs I had and bait bouncing the bottom instead of trolling. I'm always open to locations to try, I'll be back there.

Riverbc

09-10-2015, 09:47 PM

great pics, I love ling and yelloweye,,,,and looks like u had them dialed in.

Pinhead

09-11-2015, 11:03 PM

Brandonkop

09-12-2015, 01:15 AM

Great post! You really are figuring out BC.

Quick question, the cottages where you stayed, is it a long ride to the fishing?

Can a guy get away with a normal Alberta boat? It have a 17 tiller with 50hp?

Thanks

Dan

Ok, so here are the stats.

The cottages where we stayed are called North Coast Cottages. http://northcoastcottages.ca/ The host there is super chill and friendly. We locked ourselves out of the Cabin the second day on our way to go fishing and they said don't worry about it go fishing. When we got home they had it open and waiting for us. We didn't have a lighter for a fire, so they brought us one. We payed the last morning right before leaving. Super chill. It is located right beside... literally you are right beside the marina.

But we didn't launch there... we drove around to Bear Cove which is a free launch. A great facility. Free Launch, free day parking, fish cleaning stations on the docks, and even a boat wash area, just bring a hose if you want to use it. http://www.islandcoastaltrust.ca/project/bear-cove-recreation-site Sorry the Green Square is the boat launch at Bear Cove in the picture.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/Port%20Hardy.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/Port%20Hardy.jpg.html)

We have a 16 foot Spectrum aluminum console fishing boat with a 2 stroke 75 hp and a 9.9hp get me back kicker.

Most guys fish right in the Port hardy bay or around the edges and the islands and the edges.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/port%20hardy%202.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/port%20hardy%202.jpg.html)

To get to the bottom fish you may have to drive from 10 to 20 miles. So only go in the morning when it is most likely calm and head back before it blows up or go on days it is forecasting for no wind.

Your boat sound like it would do just fine. I saw a bunch of guys out there with 30 to 40 horses on a 14 to 16 foot aluminum. You don't need much boat to get out there.... just need to make sure you don't get caught in a storm. Keep and eye on the horizon in the afternoon, you can see it blowing up.

Just make sure to rinse your boat after and flush the engine with fresh water.

bigrfish

09-12-2015, 12:14 PM

Great post and info Brandon...keep em coming

mikebossy

09-12-2015, 01:52 PM

great post and info brandon...keep em coming
x 1000 ^^^^^

Pinhead

09-12-2015, 02:45 PM

Thanks for the info, I would love to do that. Is the bottom fishing good into Oct?
How about salmon in that area? Coho are running now right?

Dan

waterninja

09-12-2015, 03:17 PM

Never worry about sending us threads of fishing in BC whether salt or fresh water. Always enjoy them, though this one really made me miss fishing on the pacific. Great trip and fabulous pics. Thanks for posting.
Don't know if you need a bigger boat, but you definetly need a bigger or 2nd freezer.

Sundancefisher

09-12-2015, 03:24 PM

Stop posting

Until I can get out to fish with ya.

Brandonkop

09-13-2015, 12:36 AM

Thanks for the info, I would love to do that. Is the bottom fishing good into Oct?
How about salmon in that area? Coho are running now right?
Dan

I think this is a good quick review about what you can catch throughout the year at Port Hardy, I found it helpful. http://www.porthardy.ca/visit/port-hardy-fishing-guide

The Bottom fishing is supposedly good all year, halibut is mostly from March to end of September they say. The problem with October is you can start to get some bad winter type weather. Weather makes it hard to fish in 200+ feet deep, can't keep a jig on the bottom when you're being blown around very easily. Hope that helps.

Don't know if you need a bigger boat, but you definetly need a bigger or 2nd freezer. Yeah I think you are right, I started vacuum packing all the fillets and it takes quite a bit of space. I'm going to have to eat a bunch and share with friends before the next trip.

Stop posting Until I can get out to fish with ya.

Someone was telling me that you organize a trip every year. Maybe we'll see you out on the water sometime. Let me know when / where you guys are going next year and I'll see if I can get some time off.

TBark

09-13-2015, 02:48 AM

Good stuff.
If only I could figure out a way to make AB money on the Island, I'd be living out there.

TBark

Nakoda boater

09-27-2015, 07:33 PM

I like to see more posts like these!
We make the trip ocean side once a year and never in the same spot so it's great to see your catch and it looks like your family enjoyed it too!:):):)

Marty S

09-28-2015, 09:47 PM

EZM

09-29-2015, 07:41 AM

Sounds like a great trip Brandon.

Looking forward to getting out there next summer.

Great Pics - keep them coming.

Brandonkop

09-29-2015, 09:49 AM

Right on, looks like you had fun! I went on a charter up there in August, but it was a bust, got a couple salmon, about $200 each! And most were little cohos. Maybe you should go guiding for the guy! No ling, no snapper, wife got one teeny little halibut that we should have released. I didn't even feel a Chinook this year! Woe is me... Woe is me...

But the water was flat and beautiful.

Oh too bad... maybe select a different guide next time. Sounds like fishing though, but I guess goes to show if you go on your own you can still have a good time if you don't mind the exploration part. Some people just want to get right on catching fish... that's when some local guides can be a helpful. We didn't catch any chinook either though.

saskpikeman

09-29-2015, 10:25 PM

Ok, so here are the stats.

The cottages where we stayed are called North Coast Cottages. http://northcoastcottages.ca/ The host there is super chill and friendly. We locked ourselves out of the Cabin the second day on our way to go fishing and they said don't worry about it go fishing. When we got home they had it open and waiting for us. We didn't have a lighter for a fire, so they brought us one. We payed the last morning right before leaving. Super chill. It is located right beside... literally you are right beside the marina.

But we didn't launch there... we drove around to Bear Cove which is a free launch. A great facility. Free Launch, free day parking, fish cleaning stations on the docks, and even a boat wash area, just bring a hose if you want to use it. http://www.islandcoastaltrust.ca/project/bear-cove-recreation-site Sorry the Green Square is the boat launch at Bear Cove in the picture.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/Port%20Hardy.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/Port%20Hardy.jpg.html)

We have a 16 foot Spectrum aluminum console fishing boat with a 2 stroke 75 hp and a 9.9hp get me back kicker.

Most guys fish right in the Port hardy bay or around the edges and the islands and the edges.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/Brandonkop3/port%20hardy%202.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/Brandonkop3/media/port%20hardy%202.jpg.html)

To get to the bottom fish you may have to drive from 10 to 20 miles. So only go in the morning when it is most likely calm and head back before it blows up or go on days it is forecasting for no wind.

Your boat sound like it would do just fine. I saw a bunch of guys out there with 30 to 40 horses on a 14 to 16 foot aluminum. You don't need much boat to get out there.... just need to make sure you don't get caught in a storm. Keep and eye on the horizon in the afternoon, you can see it blowing up.

Just make sure to rinse your boat after and flush the engine with fresh water.
The area you circled for halibut, is this where you fished ling and yelloweye???

baker9

09-30-2015, 05:04 AM

Unreal pictures, thanks for sharing!

Nakoda boater

09-30-2015, 11:41 AM

Hey Brandon,
What made you decide to fish at this time of the yr? Was it just the time you could get away?

At what depth were you catching salmon at? Around Campbell River they fish sometimes over 200' on the DR!

How about the Ling and Yellow Eye, was it caught in the yellow circle area?

Input would be great as I'm planning next yrs trip.

Cheers
NB

Brandonkop

10-06-2015, 06:54 PM

The area you circled for halibut, is this where you fished ling and yelloweye???
No that is not where we were catching the ling and yellow eye. The area I circled is a large sandy flat, not typical for rockfish and ling to be on but the halis like the area.

Hey Brandon,
What made you decide to fish at this time of the yr? Was it just the time you could get away?
At what depth were you catching salmon at? Around Campbell River they fish sometimes over 200' on the DR!
How about the Ling and Yellow Eye, was it caught in the yellow circle area?
Input would be great as I'm planning next yrs trip.
Cheers
NB

I had some time off then so decided to go up. From what I read it was a good time for the Big Coho and the odd big spring, good for bottom fishing and halis. If you're just looking for salmon mid july to mid august sounds are better times.

We caught the Salmon at 30', 40', 70' and 120' so all over the place.

No the yellow circle area is just halibut, no ling or rockfish there. You have to drive further out of the pictured area to find them.

Tofinoguy

10-07-2015, 08:04 AM

Brandonkop

10-07-2015, 01:59 PM

Thanks for the report.

Was curious, in that picture with the seagulls on the log....was that a fish farm in the background?

Also, that area you were fishing Halibut......did someone direct you to that area? Was it a well known spot or something?

Yes, we checked out one of the fish farm operations out there. There are a bunch of them in the queen Charlotte straight.

The halibut area that we tried seems to be a well known area. I do some online research before I go fishing anywhere and read all I can. Several people had previously recorded this as a decent halibut spot. We saw a local guy catch one there and we only tried for a bit right at sunset.

brohymn2

10-08-2015, 08:06 PM

Great thread

crazyfish

10-11-2015, 02:49 PM

Thanks for sharing Brandon ! We have a pla for next year to fish that area , that's a good boost of confidence that it should be a wise descision !

RACKER

10-12-2015, 09:05 AM

Great pics and stories as always.Maybe this winter I will run into ya out ice fishing.Best of luck and always post your adventures as they are always positive and exciting.

Brandonkop

10-15-2015, 02:08 AM

Thanks for sharing Brandon ! We have a pla for next year to fish that area , that's a good boost of confidence that it should be a wise descision !

Thanks, you shouldn't be disappointed. If the salmon don't want to cooperate something will!

Great pics and stories as always.Maybe this winter I will run into ya out ice fishing.Best of luck and always post your adventures as they are always positive and exciting.

Where will you be ice fishing? See you on the hard water. Hoping to come out for a couple weeks in January.