Are you looking for the best fishing in Canada? Lucky Sportfishing at Eagle Nook Resort is perfectly situated in Barkley Sound, one of BC’s premier destinations for salmon and halibut fishing. Whether you are an experienced angler or just beginning, our knowledgeable guides will ensure you have an unforgettable experience to last a lifetime. For all the information you need to know before booking your West Coast Salmon Fishing adventure keep reading!
Lucky Sportfishing at Eagle Nook Resort provides fully guided fly or drive in salmon and halibut fishing packages on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Our 26 – 28 ft fully equipped Grady White boats are perfectly set up for salmon and halibut fishing. High end rods, reels, tackle and bait are all provided, and your catch will be professionally cared for by Eagle Nook staff. If you’re interested in Canadian sportfishing, this is the way to do it.
If you’re looking to take a break from fishing for a little bit, there’s so much to see at Eagle Nook Resort in the Pacific Northwest. Unwind and escape to beautiful Barkley Sound, and take part in some of Vancouver Islands famous wildlife viewing. Keep an eye out for Humpback, Gray and Orca whales, seals, sea lions and eagles on a kayak right from our dock. Once back on land, explore some of the 17 miles of hiking trails right outside the Resort doors. And after a long day of exploring, come back and relax in the hot tub or sit back and watch the sun go down from one of our Resort patios. It’s the perfect way to end an exciting day.
At Eagle Nook Resort , you will find lush tree-lined shores and towering vistas. Explore the Resort hiking trails, take a kayak or paddleboard out from the dock, enjoy a gourmet meal in our dining room, or just relax on your vessel and meet a new friend. Our friendly and professional staff are more than happy to accommodate you and make your stay at Eagle Nook a memorable one.
At Eagle Nook Resort, sport fishing BC is one of our specialties. When combined with a corporate fishing retreat, it offers a fun, educational and riveting experience for your employees. We pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to the needs of each group depending on their size, interests, and unique needs. Here are 5 reasons to choose salmon fishing for your next team building event.
- Educational Experiences
- Group Fishing Trips
- Access to our Luxurious Amenities
- More Than Just Fishing
There are a variety of team building activities we can set up for your group while at Eagle Nook. Fishing derbies are a great way to create a friendly competitive atmosphere with your corporate team, whether you want to offer prizes at the end of the trip or make it strictly for fun! Our staff are happy to accommodate and help create a memorable experience for your group. We can set up relays on our frisbee golf course or one of our many hiking trails, an oyster cook-out at the fire pit, adventure cruises for groups to head out on the water to explore the Sound, or guided kayaking tours in the Broken Group Islands. The structure of your corporate package is entirely up to you!
Experience world-class fishing charters when you visit us at Eagle Nook Resort in Barkley Sound, BC. Lucky Sportfishing provides fully guided fly in or drive in salmon and halibut fishing packages on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Not an expert fisherman? Not to worry, what’s what our expert guides are for. They can walk you through it and ensure you’re reeling in those picture worthy fish in no time. Whether you’re going after Halibut, Salmon, Lingcod or one of the multiple species of Rockfish, our all-inclusive fishing packages will take care of all your needs. Our friendly, experienced guides will take you to the hottest fishing spots and share their extensive knowledge to make this a legendary fishing experience. All of our guides and boats are Transport Canada approved.
Included in our packages is the portioning, filleting and vacuum packing of all the fish you catch. Airline approved coolers are also provided to ensure your fish stay fresh and frozen on your ride home.
The truth is a lot of what you need to understand regarding salmon fishing has to do with the season and time of year. If you are looking for a Chinook Salmon fishing trip with great catch, you should know and plan for the following:
In June, many Chinook salmon are in the 15 to 35-pound range. Because these Chinook are preparing for their spawning runs, they avidly attack herring and your fishing lures.
In July, local salmon begin to show in ever-increasing numbers in the Sound.
In August, salmon fishing explodes as Coho salmon in great numbers join the mix.
Chinook Salmon are the largest and the most prized of the pacific salmon. Many seafood lovers agree they taste the best, making them the most highly sought after and most heavily regulated of the pacific salmon. Peak run is from June to September.
Your Fishing Canada Guide for Catching Chinook Salmon
A great time to pursue salmon is on a slightly overcast day when the water isn’t too clear. The sunnier it is, the deeper and less active the salmon will be.
Catching salmon can be done a number of different ways. For offshore salmon fishing, trolling with a downrigger or planer is a favoured technique and will help you reach depths of 100+ feet – perfect for chinook who are deep water fish. Drift fishing and mooching with in-tact live bait are also popular methods of salmon fishing if you are looking for a slower presentation of the bait.
Live bait like anchovies, herrings, sardines, or artificial lures are also essential. You can also experiment with big spoons, jigs, hootchies, spin ‘n’ glows, and flashers – any variety of glow, holographic, silver, or gold flasher will do. Scents can be helpful in masking human odours on artificial lures but are not entirely necessary.
When trolling off a boat, ensure you’re combining your bait with a razor-sharp hook (barbless hook only!) to effectively pierce the salmon’s thick jaw. DFO regulations make it illegal to use barbed hooks, use multiple hooks on one line, or to intentionally foul hook (snag a fish anywhere but its mouth) salmon in BC.
At Eagle Nook Resort, we provide you with the best high-end rods, reels, tackle and bait for catching saltwater salmon on the West Coast of BC.
Let’s start with a quick overview of the different types of salmon found in BC waters. There are five types of pacific salmon that are resident to the region, including Chinook, Chum, Coho, Sockeye, and Pink.
Chinook Salmon are the largest and the most prized of the pacific salmon. Many seafood lovers agree they taste the best, making them the most highly sought after and most heavily regulated of the pacific salmon. Peak run is from June to August. Chum Salmon are the second largest of the pacific salmon. They are highly abundant but do not taste as good as chinook so are a little less desirable. Peak run is from October and November. Coho Salmon are a bit more aggressive than the other pacific salmon, making them a bit of a satisfying challenge to catch for some anglers. Peak run is from August to September. Sockeye Salmon are medium-sized salmon that also taste great, especially in sushi. Peak run is from July to September.
Pink salmon are the smallest of the pacific salmon and the easiest to catch, making them a target for beginner anglers. However, they don’t taste that good, so they aren’t worth keeping. Peak run is from August and September.
If you’re new to fishing, review a pacific salmon identification guide before heading out on your next trip. Being able to accurately identify the species of fish you catch is essential to staying within your daily catch limits.
How to Catch Salmon:
A great time to pursue salmon is on a slightly overcast day when the water isn’t too clear. The sunnier it is, the deeper and less active the salmon will be. Catching salmon can be done a number of different ways. For offshore salmon fishing, trolling with a downrigger or planer is a favoured technique and will help you reach depths of 100+ feet – perfect for chinook who are deep water fish. Drift fishing and mooching with in-tact live bait are also popular methods of salmon fishing if you are looking for a slower presentation of the bait.
We hope that you’re looking forward to your upcoming trip to Eagle Nook Resort. To help with your trip preparations we’ve put together a list of items we suggest you bring along. Keep in mind that the weather on the West Coast can vary throughout the day, mornings can be cool and foggy while afternoons are often hot and sunny so clothing that is easily layered is recommended. The Resort will provide you with rain gear and rubber boots if necessary.
Some items that we suggest you bring along are:
- 2 pairs of jeans or casual pants
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 fleece or hoodie
- 1 long sleeve T-shirt
- 2 short sleeve T-shirts
- 4 – 5 pairs of socks, underwear
- Lightweight jacket (rain gear and rubber boots are provided at the Resort)
- Hat/sunglasses
- 1 pair of hiker type shoes (if you plan to use the hiking trails)
- 1 pair of casual shoes or runners
- Swimsuit (for the hot tub, towels are provided here)
- Personal medications and toiletries (soap, shampoo & hair dryers are provided at the lodge)
- Guest rooms are supplied with towels, terry bathrobes and amenities such as shampoo and soap, with hair dryers available upon request.
Salmon Season in BC
In British Columbia, anglers enjoy an abundance of both freshwater and saltwater salmon year-round, with the most fish being caught from May to November. The salmon fishing season in BC correlates with the migration schedule of salmon, known as the salmon run. The various pacific salmon all have slightly different seasonal salmon runs, as noted above.
Again, the top prize is the chinook salmon, noted above as being the tastiest. Due to their popularity and population numbers that ebb and flow, chinook can be tough to come by, but not if you’re with an experienced fishing guide who can take you to the best spots.
Let’s start with a quick overview of the different types of salmon found in BC waters. There are five types of pacific salmon that are resident to the region, including Chinook, Chum, Coho, Sockeye, and Pink.
- Chinook Salmon – The largest and the most prized of the pacific salmon. Peak run is from June to August.
- Chum Salmon – The second largest of the pacific salmon. Peak run is from October and November.
- Coho Salmon – A bit more aggressive than the other pacific salmon, making them a bit of a satisfying challenge to catch for some anglers. Peak run is from August to September.
- Sockeye Salmon – Medium-sized salmon that also taste great, especially in sushi. Peak run is from July to September.
- Pink Salmon – The smallest of the pacific salmon and the easiest to catch, making them a target for beginner anglers. However, they don’t taste that good, so they aren’t worth keeping. Peak run is from August and September.
When you book a Canadian Salmon Fishing adventure at Eagle Nook Resort you receive an all-inclusive experience. Our professional guides will look after all licensing and regulatory elements of your trip, all you have to do is book your trip today!
In Canada, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) regulates the amount of salmon people are allowed to keep (retain) and adjusts these limits as required, based on current and anticipated salmon populations.
Salmon fishing regulations on and around Vancouver Island, DFO regulations are as follows (subject to change):
West Coast Fishing Size Limits
- All retained Chinook must measure 45 cm or more from tip of nose to tail fork.
- All retained Coho must measure 30 cm or more.
- All retained Sockeye must measure 30 cm or more
Daily & Possession Limits for Salmon in BC
- At any given time, the total possession limit of salmon per licensed angler onboard is eight, of which no more than four can be Chinook/King salmon.
- Chinook Salmon: Daily limit of 2, possession limit of 4
- Coho Salmon: Daily limit of 2 or 4 (Seasonal), possession limit of 8 (without any Chinook)
- Chum Salmon: Daily limit of 4, possession limit of 8 (without any Chinook)
- Pink Salmon: Daily limit of 4, possession limit of 8 (without any Chinook)
- Sockeye Salmon: Daily limit of 4, possession limit of 8 (without any Chinook)
Annual BC Salmon Limits
The total annual limit for chinook salmon is 10. This number is down from 30 – a decision made by the DFO in spring 2019 to support the long-term viability of the salmon. You must immediately record in ink on your license all chinook you keep.
Bringing Your Salmon Home with You
Another advantage of chartering with Eagle Nook Resort is that we include in our packages the portioning, filleting, and vacuum packing of your freshly caught salmon. We also provide you with an airline-approved cooler to help keep your fish stay fresh and frozen on your ride home.
If you’re travelling outside of Canada, you can transport your salmon to the United States without any special paperwork required. If you are traveling somewhere outside of the US and Canada, check your destination country’s regulations to see if vacuum-packed frozen fish is allowable.
Contact us for more information about fishing in Canada today.
