port hardy b.c.

the bear · 02-09-2008, 04:30 AM

i was wondering if anyone on here has hauled a boat to port hardy?if so your experiences,,,while at the sportsmans show seen the point duvall booth and talk to the chap there a bit, seemed like an awsome place to haul the boat for a week of fishin fun,,,,,just wondering what anyone elses experiences are this far up there,,was it worth it,what are the do's and donts and would you do it again,,,thanks for any input

wetonwhite · 02-09-2008, 05:06 AM

five or six years ago hauled a 22 ft. up and fished for a week. well only four days becuses we had our limit so the rest of the time we just goofed off, just about as much fun as you can have. with the ferry cost and fuel not cheep, but not as much as a week at the lodges. plan on two days up and two days back. we did it with no stops but the ferry rides and it was to much, asleep at the tiller.

wow

1pump · 02-09-2008, 10:41 AM

I went through there with my boat, but I was on my way to AK. Caught the ferry to Prince Rupert.
It sure was cool to get the chance to drive the length of Vancouver Island, though. It was June, so it was more crowded than I expected, but the turistas thin about a bit when you get that far north.
Awesome country, and someday I hope to go back.

Duckwheat · 02-09-2008, 02:47 PM

I have been there the past 4 years. Haul the boat from Boise, catch the ferry in Twassen to Nanaimo.

There was a problem with Tom the first year when they were going bunk someone in the cabin with us. It got worked out and no additional problems until last year. Keep in mind I am taking my family with women and teenage females. I have always taken enough people to where the occupancy was not an issue. I also pay a year in advance.

Last year he calls me the week before and let's me know there will be two guys in our cabin. "They will fish all day and not be in the way," Tom reports. Their boat had to be towed from Port Hardy by Rick to the cabins and it ran maybe 30 minutes all week. They were under foot, in the way, and a pain in the a_ _. I had a crew of 7. When I needed to cook dinner, I needed to cook dinner. They were in the cabin all day, but decided they needed to start cooking in the middle of my preparations. I am not the bashful type and we quickly came to a agreement that worked.

You can tell by my tone that I have not quite gotten over it. The fishing was better the first two years. Halibut was good last year. The cabins at Duval are handy. I would stay on land if you have a choice. There is nothing unique about them. It would be cheaper to stay at the Quarter Deck Marina & Hotel. It would allow you to fish Winter Harbor easily. Somethng you should do. The fishing is better on the west side, but your subject to the open ocean in most of the fishing spots. Port Hardy side very protected, unless you get a south east wind. We did 3 years ago and it was rough. We still caught fish, but rough and we fished right in front of Duval. Could not make it across the strait safely.

I am not going back to Duval, unless Hell gets a lot colder. I ahve thought about Doing the Quarter Deck, they have kitchenettes. If it is an all guy trip, I'd say Duvall is fine.

If you want any additional info PM me and I send you my cell#

Duckwheat

Pilar · 02-10-2008, 07:55 AM

I have been to Pt Mcneil a few times. Love the Broughton archipelago. We camped on the boat and stayed with friends there.

Getting there is not a big deal if you plan it out. The fishing is good and the scenery is amazing.

Sounds like the big deal is finding a place to stay.

BTW Winter harbor is pretty remote.

the bear · 02-11-2008, 04:03 PM

wow thanks for the heads up guys,,,,,,,might just check out the quarterdeck or another alternative

BARCHASER · 02-11-2008, 06:59 PM

I used to go up to the northern end of Vancouver Island. I got tired of the drive and the last 7-8 years I've been going to Ucluelet on Barclay sound. I went up there twice last summer and I have a reser for another trip in August this year and I'll probably make another reser for early July.

It isnt as good as the northern areas but we got poss limits of Chinooks last summer and some Halibut. I see you live in Oregon city. My buddy lives in Gladstone, I live near Seattle and we can make it there in one day usually by 5-6:00. About 8-9 hours from Seattle.

A lot less guys there than there were 6-8 years ago. Marina only 1/3 to 1/2 full. The Manager of Island West was complaining about the lack of US guys, due to exchange rate, gas cost and border hassle.

If you have any interest in that send me a PM.

Hagar · 02-12-2008, 10:15 AM

The Northwest Steelheader Spring 2008 magazine that just arrived had an article on Duval.

Complimentary about the location, nature, outdoor experience, etc. They took their own boat.

They too shared lodging with another group. Fishing comments:

"Chinook fishing was depressed as it was all along the Pacific Coast in 2007. Those at the lodge who concentrated on chinook did manage to average one of these fish per day"

"Those who also used part of their trip to target halibut and other species during our week pretty much wish they hadn't. The commercial fleet out of Port Hardy appears to be taking its toll. Halibut long-lines were set within a mile of the lodge..."

"Small bottom fish and rockfish were abundant but very small---nothing you would want to take the time to fillet."

"Only three fin clipped coho were taken by lodge clients while we were there." (Wild fish release)

Ferry cost for a 20 foot Trophy with outboard was $200 each way.

Just fyi. I too talked to Duval at the show. Think I may try something else.

OB1 · 02-12-2008, 05:18 PM

You might want to contact a realtor. We went 5 years ago and did some calling around and found a house to rent for two weeks.
Awesome deal, can't remember the who's who but it never hurts to call city hall.

tunaorlater · 02-12-2008, 07:30 PM

I went there with a group of guys last year. We brought up 3 boats, two 19' footers and a twenty three footer. We camped at the Quatse river campground and moored our boats at the Quarterdeck marina. The scenery is awesome, we had killers whales swimming around our boat and had perfect weather for most of the trip. The fishing was good, lots of pinks, several decent Chinooks and a handful of beautiful native coho's that went back to the drink. We did see some guide boats come back with very large chinook and large yelloweye. My suspicion is that they ran for a while as we never saw them at any of the fishing locations close into Hardy.

The rockfishing was disappointing....we caught at least 30 small rockfish that would hit on a hoochie or spoon. Unfortunately they were all about the size of bluegill..if you weren't paying attention you would troll one around and it would act like a giant cutplug herring. We tried halibut fishing one morning with poor results, we had three boats drifting Taylor bank for at least 4 hours without anything, I was a little surprised about that. I think that the commercial fleet has taken a heck of a bite out the bottomfish stock. Make sure that you check Rockfish conservation areas, print out a map and have it onboard.

The year before we fished at Barkley Sound and stayed at a lodge there. You can PM me if your curious. We ran our boats down from Port Alberni to the lodge (about 21 miles) the lodge was small but very clean. It included three and half meals a day plus all the beer you could drink. It was cheaper than Duval Point lodge and you had a lot more included. The bottom fishing was great, we came back with limits of ling and rockfish. The salmon fishing was poor, the fish were about twenty miles outside of the sound, too far for us to run our river boats out into.

Both places had pluses and minuses. We will go back up to Port Hardy again this year because its much more protected and easier to fish in small boats. I will spend a few days fishing the west coast out of winter harbor to try something new.

Good luck on whatever you choose, if you need anymore information please PM me and I will share what I learned.

Mr. Carp · 02-13-2008, 08:56 AM

We fished Telegraph Cove near Port McNeil in the past. Awesome place to go. Scenery is awesome and fishing was great. We went for two weeks one time. I was tired of fishing.

The only thing I remember is if your boat has a removabel top and can be under a certain height, the ferry ride is much cheaper. Otherwise, they put you with the log trucks.

fishinmagician88 · 04-04-2008, 01:52 PM

I guide up out of Hardy, if any of you guys are up that way give me a PM and maybe we can BS over a beer.

Cheers,
David