Fishing
Fishing at sunset (Picture BC photo)
The scenery steals the breath. Orcas frolic. Chinook salmon, the largest of BC's five salmon species, migrate through Telegraph Cove waters.
Trophy-size chinook, sockeye and pink salmon abound. Halibut and lingcod of Jurassic proportions are the treasures of the depths. Crabbing and prawning further diversify the burgeoning catch. Yet what amazes many anglers most is the astonishing calm of the Broughton Archipelago, BC's largest marine park.
Big Fish
Size counts in these parts: the record chinook salmon caught locally weighed in at 39kg/68lb. Halibut have come in as large as 119kg/264lb and lingcod in the vicinity of 27kg/72lb.
Landing the Tyee
For newcomers to BC fishing, the gold standard for chinook salmon is the "tyee", in Aboriginal parlance a salmon of 13.6kg/30lb or more. Catch a tyee and join the great BC fishing fraternity.
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Freshwater Fishing
Freshwater streams, often accessible by logging roads, are prime for trout and winter steelhead fishing. Steelhead, an orange-fleshed member of the trout family, is one of BC's most prized game fish, at the end of a hook or on a fork.
Fishing Charters
Telegraph Cove's Tie-E Fishing Charters transports anglers to some of BC's finest fishing grounds aboard a 9.14m/30ft charter boat. The boat accommodates six and includes a large railed fishing deck and heated cabin. Charters run from May until mid-Oct.
Fishing guides with boats, tackle and gear are available directly at the Telegraph Cove Resort. The resort also has a fully stocked tackle shop.
Heli-Fishing
Nearby Port McNeill's West Coast Helicopters adds excitement with heli-fishing excursions to remote locations. Its fishing folio encompasses all five kinds of salmon, steelhead, two species of trout and Arctic char, the latter a rare delight and super game fish. The worst day of heli-fishing will be the best day of an angler's life, promise the whirlybird fly boys.
Fishing Lodges
Two all-inclusive fishing resorts are located on islands accessible from Telegraph Cove. The Farewell Harbour Resort on Berry Island has six guest rooms with private baths and wood-burning stoves. Double Bay Resort on Hanson Island has spacious waterfront suites and cabins joined by boardwalk.
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