Fishing for a few answers?

When is the best fishing?

For the main species we target at Langara Island, fishing for Chinook salmon and Halibut is typically good all season long (May to Sept); fishing for Coho salmon is typically best from mid-July through September.

Unlike many other fishing areas that are targeting salmon returning to a specific river system, Langara benefits from being on the migratory path of salmon returning to rivers all along the west coast, from SE Alaska to northern California. So we see a more consistent abundance of salmon over a longer period of time.

What is included in my trip?

• Return air travel from Vancouver to Haida Gwaii, via charter Dash-8 plane;
• helicopter transfer to the Lodge;
• accommodations (double occupancy with ensuite bathrooms);
• all meals and beverages, including all alcohol consumed in the lodge (during and outside of meals);
• marine clothing (2-piece Mustang Catalyst jackets and pants, rubber boots);
• all fishing equipment for all targeted species;
• private guided boats (with no restricted hours for guide services);
• care of your catch (including vacuum-packing, flash-freezing and styro-box shipment to Vancouver, with no weight restriction for shipped fish).

What extra expenses do I need to consider?

There’s a very short list of things you’ll need to purchase in addition to your trip cost:

• Pre and/or post-trip accommodations in Vancouver;
• fishing licences (available at trip check-in, and payable at the lodge);
• gratuities for lodge staff and/or guide (at your discretion);

Optional purchases might include:

• spa treatments;
• additional fish processing (smoking, canning, etc…)
• items purchased in the lodge store
• charter helicopter excursions

Fishing limits, what are they?

The allowable limits for each species are subject to change. Current limits, as of September 1, 2022, are:

SALMON: total limit is 8 salmon per person; within that limit of 8, you can retain up to 4 Chinook (spring), and up to 8 of any other species (Coho, Chum, Sockeye, Pink).

HALIBUT: total limit is either 1 or 2, depending on the length of Halibut you choose to retain — you can retain a total of 1 Halibut if its length is between 90cm – 133cm (between approximately 20-70 lbs), or you can retain a total of 2 Halibut if both are under 90cm (up to approximately 20 lbs).

LINGCOD: total of 3 in possession.

ROCKFISH: total of 3 in possession. This excludes Yelloweye Rockfish and Bocaccio Rockfish, which are non-retention.

Within these retention limits, there is no weight limit for how much fish a guest can have shipped back to Vancouver at the end of your trip.

How do I get my fish home?

Your catch will be filleted, vacuum-packed, and flash-frozen at the lodge, and on the day of departure packaged in insulated styro-boxes with a waxed cardboard outer box. These boxes should keep your catch frozen for up to 24 hours, and are suitable for transport on any airline — just treat them as extra pieces of luggage.

If staying in Vancouver after your trip, our recommended hotels have freezers for storing your boxes until your flight home.

At the lodge, you’ll also have the option of having all or some of your catch sent off for further processing, such as smoking, canning, or portioning. This fish will be sent from the lodge to our processor, and shipped to you at a later date.

Children, is there a minimum or recommended age?

We recommend bringing young children only if they are capable of fully enjoying a trip to Langara — meaning they are able to spend multiple hours in a boat in relatively calm conditions and strong enough to handle a rod and reel with some assistance. Generally, children under 10 years are too young, but the appropriate age will vary based on their boating and/or fishing experience.