Fishing in British Columbia: The Coast

Inside Passage and Discovery Coast
For those who'd 'rather be fishing' than riding a ferry, BC Ferries allows passengers to fish over the side of the Queen of Chilliwack at the various stops. You can use your own tackle or rent gear from BC Ferries. Just don't hook the anchor!

Hakai Pass in the Hakai Provincial Recreation Area is world-famous for its unsurpassed salmon fishing, particularly for chinook, which are commonly caught on cut-plug herring. For thousands of years, huge runs of chinook (king) salmon, coho (silver) salmon as well as Sockeye, Chum and Pink salmon crowd through Hakai Pass from the open Pacific Ocean headed for the rivers and streams where their life began.

Saltwater Fishing and Freshwater Fishing from early April to mid October produces five species of salmon; Chinook (Kings), Coho (Silvers), Chum, Sockeye and Pinks. Overall, saltwater fishing is best during the month of August, due to a number of contributing factors including the sheer number of fish and heavier average weights for most species. Bottom fishing is outstanding all season for Halibut, Red Snapper, Ling Cod and Rockfish.

Local streams and rivers teem with a variety of fish, and provide excellent holding water for Steelhead, five species of salmon, plus three species of Trout and Char; Rainbows, Cutthroat and Dolly Varden (Char). Wading in most rivers and streams requires very little expertise. There�s a place for everyone to fish regardless of your wading abilities.

The area has a number of commercial floating fish camps, and superb fishing Resorts that offer a true wilderness experience amid spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife. The Hakai Pass Area is situated on the central coast of British Columbia, approximately 3 to 4 miles offshore from the BC mainland.

The Bella Coola Road (Highway 20)
The Bella Coola River system is one of the most productive on the entire coast. East of Bella Coola on the Atnarko River, steelhead and cutthroat trout; chinook, sockeye, coho, chum and pink salmon; and dolly varden are fished at various times of the year. There is easy access to both the Bella Coola and Atnarko Rivers from Hwy 20. Anglers must be familiar with the conservation regulations in effect throughout this system.

North of Bella Coola, the Dean River and backcountry lakes and streams have productive rainbow trout fishing. The Dean River, reached by air from Anahim Lake, boasts world-record steelhead and full-service resorts.

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