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Where are we?
British Columbia is Canada's most westerly province, stretching from Washington State, all the way to Alaska. B.C. has the good fortune of thousands of miles of remote, pristine Pacific Ocean coastline. The interior of this beautiful Province boasts thousands of clean lakes and swift rivers. The B.C fishing regulations lists 23 species of FRESHWATER game fish available to the angler, not to mention the plethoria of saltwater species. Most waters are open for sport fishing 365 days a year*. Although most rivers and many streams have a healthy population of wild fish, B.C has a stocking program that sees 1200 lakes and streams stocked with 12 million fish each year! This truly is an outdoorsman's paradise!
The city of Prince Rupert is located 800 km north of Vancouver by airplane, and is the northernmost point for accessing Pacific salmon in Canada. Prince Rupert is also the northern terminus for the Inside Passage ferry trip originating from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, and is also the northwest end of Highway 16, 700 km from Prince George.
Fishing the waters in the Prince Rupert area provides many species to choose from. Some of the more popular include: salmon, halibut, red snapper and lingcod. The five types of salmon, Chinook, Coho, Chum, Sockeye, and Pink are found at various times during the summer. Halibut, however, is available spring through fall.
Halibut
Halibut are the largest game fish you will encounter on the north coast. This tasty white fish averages 15-50 pounds but many are in excess of 100 pounds. They are available through out the charter fishing season from June through September. Halibut are usually caught by bottom fishing in deep water. Ling cod, pacific cod, red snapper and rockfish are also available through out the summer and are often caught while jigging for halibut.
LOTS OF ROE!
Did you know a female Pacific Chinook Salmon carries about 3000 eggs (up to 6-8lbs.!)back to her natal stream? Out of three thousand eggs only about two will mature to adult salmon and survive to reproduce. The decaying carcasses of the spawned out parents will fertilize the river system to help insure the survival of their offspring. It is said that Salmon are born orphans and die childless.
A Good Time to Fish Rivers
After the salmon runs pass through a river system!
When the Salmon have passed is a good time to catch rainbow trout, whitefish and dolly varden, or bull trout. These fish have been feeding on roe and bits of the salmon carcasses. Fly fishers can count on strikes with patterns like glo bugs and bunny leaches, or flesh flies. Gear fishers will be using tiny yarn ties, spin bobbers and roe.
Whitefish also start to run after the spawning salmon pass through most of the river systems. These are activly feeding fish and will eagarly accept immitations. Fly fishing for whitefish is great sport, and it is not unusual to catch many fish in an afternoon. Whitefish are strong fighters, and are a distant relative to trout, living on nymphs and roe.
Protect our Pacific Salmon and Steelhead!
Net Pen Fish Farming in the open Ocean is Harming Native Salmon Stocks in B.C.!
Don't support the net-pen, ocean farmed Salmon industry! Be sure the Salmon you buy at the supermarket or restaurant is a Pacific coast variety! Better yet, catch your own. If it doesn't say 'wild' Pacific Salmon assume it isn't. Don't be fooled by slogans such as 'Fresh B.C. Salmon' or simply 'Salmon Fillets'. If it is a wild west coast variety it will be marked as such! Farming Atlantic Salmon in net pens in the Pacific Ocean is a BAD IDEA, and there are better methods of aquaculture available. The industry is largely owned by off shore interests who are unable to pollute their own waters at home. Some of the other hazards involved with open ocean fish farming include; A steady source of potentialy lethal parasites to infest our wild salmon smolts, introduction of antibiotics into the food chain, and the intoduction of unknown viruses from imported farm stocks and feed. The fish farmer uses a color chart to decide what color he wants the finished flesh of the farmed salmon, then puts additives into the feed to make the salmon's flesh the desirable color. If we don't stop net-pen fish ranching there may not be wild Pacific Salmon in the future. You can do your part to help by not purchasing the product. Studies have shown it is toxic to consume farmed salmon in quantity anyway!
B.C fish facts; For 20 of B.C.'s most interesting species of freshwater fish-and dozens of publications about B.C, and it's wildlife; http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/pub/pub.htm
Click on 'Whats New', then open 'Fish & Habitat'
B.C Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guige on-line: www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish
For Canadian Tide Tables on-line: www.charts.gc.ca
For B.C. weather predictions: http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/forecast/canada/bc_e.html
A Good Recipe For White Spring Salmon (really!)
Bleed the fish as soon as you land it. Cool, or put on ice ASAP.
When you get home, fillet the fish and remove the skin, taking care not to touch the outside of the fish to the clean flesh, or transfer slime on your hands to the meat.
Refrigerate at least over night.
Heat the BBQ. Cut the flesh into thick slabs and drench with Italian salad dressing.
Toss pieces of fish on the hot grill. Brush with Italian dressing and turn when the juices start to weep out the top side.
When the fish is done you can slather with BBQ sauce if you like.
Enjoy!
VISIT MY FRIENDS' SITES
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For some great handmade lures, and awesome trophy pics, check out Carolina Chip's site @ http://www.carolinachip.com
A great forum for lure makers; www.tackleunderground.com
Have a great day- release a fish today!
CONTACT ME: bigsplashlures@msn.com
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