Fishing
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Long time NVISEA volunteer, Bert Trirogoff shows
off a beautiful nine-pound chrome-bright
hatchery steelhead caught in the Quatse River,
which flows alongside the Quatse River
Regional Park and Campground. You camp
directly beside some of the Quatse’s best
Steelhead fishing, steps away from your site.
The Quatse is a small river and during normal
winter flows is easily waded. The Quatse River
Hatchery now stocks 20,000 adipose clipped
steelhead smolts annually, resulting in a
fantastic and easily accessed recreational
fishery. With this increased production, the
future of Quatse Steelhead returns are
brighter than ever. The steelhead fishing
season begins in December and peaks in
February and March. The Quatse River allows
bait use from December 1 to April 30 and
anglers may retain one of the abundant
hatchery fish per day. |
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fall is also a great time to fish the Quatse as
rain swells the low summer flows and draws the
returning salmon back to their home. The
prolific Pink salmon are first to return to the
Quatse River, as early as mid-August. The Quatse
Pink salmon fishery is catch and release only
but they are aggressive biters when fresh
instream and average 3-5 pounds each, a true
battle on fly gear or light tackle.
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| Hatchery staff has also worked hard to bolster
Quatse River Coho returns. 100,000 adipose
clipped Coho smolts are released each year. This
produces 2000 – 3000 returning, hard fighting
Coho, which may weigh up to 20 lbs. Current
freshwater regulations allow for retention of
two adipose clipped Coho per day. Wild Coho are
catch and release only. This fishery starts in
September and lasts well into October before the
fish mature. |
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| From June to September, the North Island offers
world-class ocean salmon and bottom fishing. For
guests who wish to bring their own boats, the
Quatse River Campground provides trailer
storage, freshwater wash down and flushing
facilities, as well as fish freezing services.
The Quatse River Campground is located 5 minutes
away from the Port Hardy boat launch and full
service marina.
For those seeking a West Coast fishing
experience, we are only 15 minutes from the boat
launch in Coal Harbour. This gives you access to
the sheltered waters of Quatsino Sound,
the communities of Quatsino and Winter Harbour,
and the offshore open waters of North Western
Vancouver Island. Crabbing and prawning are
excellent in the Quatsino Sound area year round.
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For those seeking a guided ocean experience we
recommend NoBull Charters. You can fish
comfortably for salmon and bottom fish aboard a
24 foot Trophy, complete with an enclosed cabin,
radar, chartplotter and marine head.
Owners/Guides Graeme Bull, the previous Quatse
River Hatchery Manager and Ken Fuller, the
present Manager, strive to make your North
Island fishing experience the best it can be.
Both are members of the North Island Sport
Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB), of which Graeme
is the Chairman. NoBull prides itself on their
experience, knowledge and affordability.
Combined they offer 35 years of North Island
experience. Booking inquiries can be directed
through the campground or the web link. |
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© Quatse
River Campground 2008 |
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