Port Hardy Story/Pic Report 8/8 -8/12

[Brandonkop]

After living in BC for a summer it was time to take the whole family out on the ocean. They all wanted to come after seeing our pics from last year. Wasn't sure how everyone would manage on my 16 foot Spectrum and it didn't take long for my brother to convince me I needed a bigger boat. So, I had to get a bigger boat to fit everyone. Turns out I'm a little under powered with only a 150, although on a calm day we were still going 28 mph.

We booked back in April but it was still hard to get our days all at the same place. So we ended up staying at North Coast Cottages for the first half and Bear Cove for the second half. I worked the weekend day, night, day shift then rushed home to pack up and catch the 5:45 pm Ferry to Duke Point from Tsawwassen. After we hit the island we made the four hour journey up to Port Hardy and arrived at 2AM. The people below our cabin complained about us partying and drinking the next day. Sorry, we just arrived late. No partying going on for us.

First day at port hardy caught 4 beauty wild coho a nice ling and rockfish. Also got up close and personal with a pod of 20+ killer whales. What a day on the ocean for getting out at 1 pm after arriving at 2am.

Day 2 my Brother and Dad got up earlier and took off to Castle, made a few passes and didn't see any hookups of the 14 or so boats there. So we pulled up and headed to Jeanette. Soon after arriving hooked up on something good, but drifted in and snagged my lead and it broke off. I was upset but still fighting the fish when it all of a sudden broke off too. Lost the flasher and all. An expensive loss probably over 100 bucks. Tip, always bring spare lead and lots of flashers, haha. From that point on the fishing went wide open. Wild Northern coho one after another and landed... or gaff released by the boat rather till we had to go back in around 11 am to pick up the rest of the family and drop my Brother off to go enjoy his first wedding anniversary with his wife.

That afternoon went out with the remaining family and we were nailing the salmon around Duval, put a few hatchery Coho in the box. Stopped by a hump and nailed a beautiful Yelloweye. Then headed back to Jeanette where we picked up a big hatchery coho and a nice chinook. On the way back to the dock at 9 PM we were driving into Hardy Bay when a bunch of salmon jumped infront of us. We stopped and dropped the balls, before I had my rig ready by dad was hauling in another beauty marked Coho. Then we headed to the dock before dark.

Day #3 was seriously a blow out. I'm amazed Serengeti was out and still doing well because around Hardy bay it sucked. Went out early with my dad and picked up one hatchery coho, long line released a few then it died. Wind picked up big time and we just did some fishing around the bay when my brother and sister in law returned for some shakers and sub legal chinook. Called it a write off and headed to town to pick up some supplies and food.

Day #4 Our goal was to find Chinook and after three days of only catching one legal we decided to go in search. We reviewed Navionics and decided on a location. Headed out early am to the spot and as we neared, it appeared we had picked a good location as many charter boats were there as well.

The wind was blowing, swell was growing, fog was thick, competing with guides for the mighty chinook salmon and we did what we came here to do. Double header insanity for my dad and I. Running around the boat, switching rod over and under each other. Then miss netting mine three times and finally the net bent. Luckily the fish was still on and my other brother came in for the clutch net job with a backup net. One landed. Now my dad was still working on his and we finally got it to the boat and another stellar net job by my youngest brother. Two tanks as far as I'm concerned. We were super pumped. I wanted my brother Dallas to catch one so we kept pounding the rock pass by pass until he hooked up. Lines zinging straight for the shore and kelp. Luckily she came out and landed another beauty after a great fight. We tried several more passes to catch my other brother one and sister inlaw, but the wind was picking up and fog rolled in. We were a little worried about the wind warnings on Environment Canada so headed back to Jeanette where we got a few more nice coho so that the others could have some action. It got so windy that we really couldn't fish in the afternoon so another short day.


Day # 5 went out early and caught a Chinook out at Castle then headed to Jeanette but it was dead. Stopped to bottom fish and picked up a ling and a quilback before heading back to check out.

Went out for a couple hours before leaving to the ferry and we hooked something very memorable.
The hook that Dallas snagged and lost on Monday, he hooked by accident on Friday in the middle of the Queen Charlotte Straight in over 200 feet of water and we were able to break it free and retrieve both.... Seriously what are the chances!!!

It was a great trip up to port hardy with the whole family. Tried a lot of spots, burned a bunch or gas and caught a bunch of fish. What a blast and what more could we ask for! Oh yeah less wind next time. Didn't do as hot on the bottom fish this year but caught a few. We were focused more on catching chinook. Hooked a lot of wild coho and some hatchery fish to keep. I love it up there and can't wait to get back!

Day #0-1
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[Brandonkop]

Day #2
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Day #3 was a bust for us… pretty much a blow out.
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Had to stick around the bay and only picked up some shakers and undersize chinook. So called it a day early and went shopping and prepped for a big

[Brandonkop]

Day#4
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[Brandonkop]

Day #5 was too rushed, had to go fishing, get back, check out, go fishing with the rest of the gang and then drive 4 hours to the ferry…. So no pics were taken but we got a nice Chinook, Lingcod, Coho and a Quillback rockfish.
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And we saw a humpback whale showing us his tail feathers a few times.
spot the whale... didn't get any of the tail unfortunately.

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[TBark]

Good for u guys, I've always wanted to do a trip in my own boat.
It's been 4 years since we went off Hardy, Dave Conners took us out, it was great.
Did you guys stay in the Island area or did you go over to the mainland straights ?

TBark

[Brandonkop]

Good for u guys, I've always wanted to do a trip in my own boat.
It's been 4 years since we went off Hardy, Dave Conners took us out, it was great.
Did you guys stay in the Island area or did you go over to the mainland straights ?

TBark

We were all over the place as I wrote above, from right in the bay, around the islands all the way to 29 miles out of the bay on the mainland.

A guy on the dock from Alberta said he saw my post last year and he decided to go. He was staying at North Coast Cottages as well. I think all the trucks at North coast had Alberta Plates. So guys make the trip frequently.

[hiddenwalleye]

Hi Branden; It was great to finally meet you at the Squid Dock's...lol............And back at the Cottages before you moved to BCC!!....We had a Great Trip as well!!...Finally figured what was the hot ticket for the Springs!!......Sure wish I had a couple of more days there!!.....I had a close to 40lb Spring on Friday and had him to 2 feet of the net and one solid headshake he was GONE!!......I was Heartbroken!!....But hey, there is always next year!!!!!!:sHa_shakeshout:


Your Friend



HW

[Brandonkop]

Nice meeting you too! Wow a 40 pounder would be unreal! When we landed those double header 24s we thought we had 28s. I can't even imagine a 40. One thing I've learned salmon fishing is to remain calm and take your time at the boat. Rushing at the boat we lose more fish. Just have to let them swim in circles till you get the right angle.

I've been reading Ukee reports and they're nailing limits of nice chinook. I'm wondering if I could get back out there in a week. Have to convince the wife though :) might slow down by then but things seem late this year so maybe not.

Maybe we will see you out there again next year.

[creighton]

Great story! I hope to do a trip like this someday! I love the lingcod such beautiful colors!

[Kingfisher]

That's a serious upgrade from the old boat. Must be nice to have all the room with the family along. It looks from the one picture around the table that you had the whole family plus a few more along.

We were south of Hardy in Port McNeill for the last 2 weeks in July. We caught fish. But we put a lot of time on the water. The bottom fishing was non existent for us. We must have tried a dozen times in a dozen different locations. We caught a few small rock fish and that was all. Very few hali were even coming into the dock. We fished on the east side of Malcom Island and south down Blackfish Sound. There were a lot of boats on the east side of Malcom Island. About half were guide boats and the other half were weekend guys. We saw one fish caught in that area. Most of our fish were caught on the west side of Swanson Island down to Flower Island. My wife and I had about 3 double headers. Which my wife quickly called the "chit show". She is not too proficient with the net or reeling in fish. But we managed to only loose one fish out of the 3 double headers. So I'd say that was a success.

Next year we will probably go into August and see how that goes. When we go in August everyone says you should have been here in July. When we go in July then they say man it is slow. Should have probably come in August.

We had lots of shakers, and brought in a few keepers almost every day. But others were not so lucky. Our biggest producers were Gibbs Delta, Madi flasher in yellow, with a Skinny G Gold Nugget (50/50 gold and silver) spoon. Also a Gibbs Delta, Lemon Lime, green flasher with a G Force, Bon Chovy spoon, or Ry's Davis chrome green teaser head with an anchovy. I also added in a chunk of stainless steel wire about 3 1/2 inches long into the teaser head to keep the bend in the salted anchovy. You stick it in through the eye and feed it along the anchovy spine. That way it maintained its bend even when it got soft later in the day. We also had some crazy good luck with the No Banana's flasher and the No Bananas flasher and Skinny G combination.
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/attachment.php?attachmentid=124362&stc=1&d=1471593973

[SNAPFisher]

Great report and pics! Love that area. Just think what next year holds :)

[Brandonkop]

That's a serious upgrade from the old boat. Must be nice to have all the room with the family along. It looks from the one picture around the table that you had the whole family plus a few more along.

We were south of Hardy in Port McNeill for the last 2 weeks in July. We caught fish. But we put a lot of time on the water. The bottom fishing was non existent for us. We must have tried a dozen times in a dozen different locations. We caught a few small rock fish and that was all. Very few hali were even coming into the dock. We fished on the east side of Malcom Island and south down Blackfish Sound. There were a lot of boats on the east side of Malcom Island. About half were guide boats and the other half were weekend guys. We saw one fish caught in that area. Most of our fish were caught on the west side of Swanson Island down to Flower Island. My wife and I had about 3 double headers. Which my wife quickly called the "chit show". She is not too proficient with the net or reeling in fish. But we managed to only loose one fish out of the 3 double headers. So I'd say that was a success.

Next year we will probably go into August and see how that goes. When we go in August everyone says you should have been here in July. When we go in July then they say man it is slow. Should have probably come in August.

We had lots of shakers, and brought in a few keepers almost every day. But others were not so lucky. Our biggest producers were Gibbs Delta, Madi flasher in yellow, with a Skinny G Gold Nugget (50/50 gold and silver) spoon. Also a Gibbs Delta, Lemon Lime, green flasher with a G Force, Bon Chovy spoon, or Ry's Davis chrome green teaser head with an anchovy. I also added in a chunk of stainless steel wire about 3 1/2 inches long into the teaser head to keep the bend in the salted anchovy. You stick it in through the eye and feed it along the anchovy spine. That way it maintained its bend even when it got soft later in the day. We also had some crazy good luck with the No Banana's flasher and the No Bananas flasher and Skinny G combination.
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/attachment.php?attachmentid=124362&stc=1&d=1471593973

Yup had the who family; mom, dad, one brother and his wife, my other brother, my wife and two girls and myself. 9 of us on the tub in the afternoons.

Nice Report! Yeah we were using similar gear. My favorite Flashers are the UV and Green Lemon Lime and the Purple Crush. Seem to have good luck with those. We were using spoons, similar to you. Anything in Green/White worked. Like the G Force No Bananas, Irish Cream and some others I'm not sure of the name all in 4 inch. I had one Silver Horde Herring Aide spoon which seems to be a hot spoon this year. First pass hooked a good spring and broke the main line. Lost my flasher and all.

I think the first two weeks of august are probably the most consitent in the port hardy area. Should always be some springs and coho around even if its slow.

[Serengeti Charters]

Nice fish bud! Glad you enjoyed your time out here...9 people on that boat...holy smokes, pushing its limits for sure. May need to upgrade again ;) :lol: Hope to see ya around next year and maybe even share an adult beverage. :)

[Brandonkop]

Nice fish bud! Glad you enjoyed your time out here...9 people on that boat...holy smokes, pushing its limits for sure. May need to upgrade again ;) :lol: Hope to see ya around next year and maybe even share an adult beverage. :)

Yeah the boat was full when we had everyone on board in the afternoon. But then we just stuck to Duval or the Gordon chain. AM went out with fewer peeps and got out where you guys were fishing one day. Thanks for pulling gear and turning out when you or one of your boats realized we had the double header on. Much appreciated. I'll upgrade the boat in a few more years after the house renos are done. For now this one worked alright. See you out there next year.