Fishing in The Village of Masset

Photo By Guy Kimola

Graham Island, the largest of more than 150 islands that make up Haida Gwaii, is home to the beautiful Village of Masset. The beautiful Village of Masset is a quaint village that prides itself on its rich maritime and fishing history. The Village is home to a population of about 1,400 people, making it the smallest and oldest incorporated village on the island. People from all over the world, from celebrities to tourists, and fishing enthusiasts flock to the Village of Masset to take in the beauty, culture, and fishing.

Escott Sportfishing is located in this beautiful village, giving our guests access to beautiful beaches and world renown hiking trails, just to name a few of the nature activities this island has to offer. But what we are most known for is our excellent fishing waters. Our rivers are filled with some of the best quality Salmon and Halibut in the world.

Salmon fishing is the true heart and soul of the Queen Charlotte Islands. We offer some of the best Chinook and Coho fishing waters in the world. The location of our lodge gives us a prime spot to intercept the salmon as they migrate up stream. Salmon fishing on the island starts as early as the first week of May. During this time frame, you can be guaranteed to catch some good-sized salmon, from 15 to 50 pounds. As the season progresses on, our salmon grow, reaching up to 90 pounds! The biggest salmon caught to date in our records is 73 pounds. You’ll be sure to catch a big one to take home and share.

Halibut season the island starts early May and runs all the way to late September.  Just a quick half hour ride to the grounds and you’ll be on your way to catching some of the best quality Halibut this world has to offer. Saltwater fishing in the deep water is the sure fire method to catching good Halibut; however, it is not uncommon to catch Halibut while fishing for Salmon near the grounds.  On average, the Halibut caught weigh 15 to 50 pounds, but the largest one on record at Escott Sportfishing is 173 pounds! That’s a good size Halibut.

So, whether it’s saltwater or freshwater fish you’re looking for, we have it. This island is well known for its beauty and bountiful waters, making all of our lodge guests happy customers when they leave.

What’s Biting!? Discover the Escott Experience

Photo By: Guy Kimola

Looking to plan your next great fishing trip? Well, look no further! Located on the scenic northern tip of Graham Island, Escott Sportfishing provides a true fishing experience unlike any other that can be found. Haida Gwaii, also popularly referred to as Queen Charlotte Island, is home to an assortment of saltwater fish, beautiful views, and top of the line accommodations for all.

The serene, blue waters are home to two excellent types of fish, Salmon and Halibut. Our waters are teeming with the best Chinook and Coho salmon, which makes our property so well known and highly sought after for fishing excursions. The deep blue waters offer some of the healthiest, strongest salmons (30-90 pounds) that can be easily found while feeding on Herrings within minutes from the lodge. Due to our great location, it’s easy to catch large amounts of salmon migrating up stream, heading to the British Columbia coastline.

And what an excellent location it is. In fact, the Queen Charlotte Islands are well known for such natural beauty and a great emphasis on First Nations culture. Everywhere you look, you can find signs of the land’s rich history, from totem poles to ancient carvings. It’s no wonder this area attracts visitors from all parts of the world, year-round.

No matter your interests or thrill level, there is always something for you to do. Whale watching, hiking, biking, and trail walking (just to name a few activities) are some of the many excursions and activities that are available for you to enjoy and really take in the nature. While you’re out exploring, make sure you take in all this land has to offer and visit many of the other towns scattered across the island. Each town offers something unique and exhilarating to make your trip special and truly exciting.

Escott Sportfishing offers top-notch accommodations for all guests. Cozy, scenic rooms that overlook the water, and 5 star dining services guarantee a simply amazing and comfortable experience for you. This lodge is spacious, making sure everyone is accommodated without feeling as if everyone is right on top of each other. The grounds offer an outdoor fire area, hot tub, and each room comes with its own private bathroom. The amenities, décor, and beautiful scenery help to create a feeling of community where many people share their fishing tales and trip experiences. It’s definitely something you won’t want to miss.

There really aren’t any words to accurately capture the essence that is Haida Gwaii and all she has to offer. This land is rich with culture, life, and a good time to be had by all. So when looking for your next fishing excursion and nature trip, look no further than Escott Sportfishing.

Haida Gwaii

Photo By Guy Kimola            

                  If you are looking for a wonderful place to go sport fishing for the first time or you are a pro at it the Haida Gwaii is the perfect place for you to go. Not only is there spectacular fishing experiences there, but a lot of culture to submerge yourself into. The Haida have lived on these islands for thousands of years. Their culture is evident everywhere you go on these islands. If you decide to go fishing you can choose to salt water fish as well as fresh water fish.

                First of all everyone should go fishing at least once in their life. If you are an avid fresh water fisherman then you should visit Haida Gwaii, The Queen Charolette Islands, to have the experience of a lifetime while you try salt water fishing. Fishing is an activity the whole family can enjoy. It allows everyone to relax and enjoy nature. As well as allowing uninterrupted, no technology, bonding time. This will change everyone’s life for the better.

                  If you visit the islands to pursue fishing then you can seek amazing guides at Escott Sportfishing. They will make sure you have an unforgettable experience. Fishing is an amazing activity because not only is it fun, but you can learn so many new things. Whether you have been fishing for years or you wanted to experience something new, you will never have the same experience twice.

                  When I started fishing I was really young. So now I am an avid fisher and still having the time of my life. Fishing gives you the ability to sit back and relax. It lets you forget about the world around you. If you want to have a truly relaxing experience then fishing is perfect for you after a long week of work, as well as any other time. Fishing is what taught me patience. It is a completely unpredictable activity where you have absolutely no control. Yes you can do things to increase your chances like specific baits and lures. Although it ultimately depends on whether that fish bites or not.

Photo By: Guy Kimola

                  Haida Gwaii has something that every person in your family can enjoy. You can go whale watching as well as hiking. There are beautiful beaches that you can have a romantic walk on with your significant other. It does not matter if you are a fisherman or not, there is something for all outdoorsy type people.
   So if you are looking to find somewhere to enjoy the outdoors, then you need to visit Haida Gwaii. Their culture revolves around nature. You can explore the cities and other communities that are located all over the islands. You will see their ancient Haida villages. Their carvings and totems scatter the islands, so not only is it fun and relaxing you can learn a lot about a very ancient culture. This is an experience that the whole family will love with all of the outdoors activities and the amazing culture that just keeps drawing you in.

               

Salmon

Photo By Guy Kimola

Haida Gwaii is one of the best places in the world for sports fishing. Situated on the northern Pacific Ocean, this group of islands is home to a great many wonders in marine ecology. Also known as Queen Charlotte Islands, the archipelago is a great place for water sports.

Haida Gwaii are considered to have the best salmon fishing grounds in the world. This area is considered the starting line for salmon migrating southwards beginning May.

Chinook Salmon (or King Salmon) and Northern Coho Salmon (Silver) are the two types of salmons found near the islands. From May to October, thousands and millions of spawning Herrings pass through the islands. As a result, the waters around the island are brimming with salmons feeding on the Herring as they prepare their bodies to be strong enough to endure their long journey down the British Columbia coastline towards the rivers. As a result, you will find a number of salmons that are over 30lb in size. These salmons are called Tyee.

Chinook Salmon, which start arriving as early as the first week of May, feed on the abundant schools of spawning Herring right at the harbour in Masset which is just 5 minutes from the lodge.
These salmon can be anywhere between 15lb and 50lb. However, the number of fish heading south increases as June approaches, and this is when the Chinooks grow rapidly both in terms of number and size. This makes the six-month period a fantastic time for sport fishing. In June, Chinook grow enough for our sport fishing expedition to catch a 30+ Chinook Salmon, or Tyee, daily. These waters are known to have Chinook salmon of up to 90 pounds, our record is a massive 73 pounds.

Northern Coho Salmon are another salmon showing up near Masset in late June. All through the season, the size of the Coho increases at a rate which is noticeable from week to week, due to their rapid feeding on the Herring. In September, they go into a feeding spree and there are plentiful Cohos in the water, 15lb to 20 lb in size, for as late as October. These fishes are a handful as they are brimming with energy, dancing along the water, testing your skill level and are great on light tackle. You will not find a fresher and tastier fish than these chrome beauties. Our lodge record Coho is 20 pounds.

Pinks, Chum and Sockeye are also available in these waters. However, sport fishing is for the brave and strong and why aim for anything simple. So, lets prepare our lines for the catch of a lifetime, bait up, and take our salmon fishing adventures to the extreme. Your first bite may very well be a Tyee.

Haida Gwaii

Photo by: Guy Kimola

North of the Vancouver Island, along the west coast of British Columbia, on the North Pacific Ocean, lies the Haida Gwaii, or Gwaii Haanas, an archipelago formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. With its breathtakingly landscape and natural habitat, it is clearly one of the most beautiful group of islands in the world. It gets its name from Haida, a local tribe that has inhabited the islands for thousands of years.

Haida people comprise over half of Haida Gwaii population. Not just the islands’ natural beauty, but its strong culture, argillite carvings, totem poles and ancient Haida villages attract visitors from around the world. The islands are mystical, and what adds to its ethereal attractiveness is the ocean.

The four main towns of Haida Gwaii are Masset, Queen Charlotte City, Sandspit and Skidegate.

The archipelago is an ideal place for outdoor activities such as whale-watching, hiking, mountain biking, relaxing on beautiful beaches and numerous natural trails. Plus, many freshwater streams provide excellent opportunity for the avid angler. Northern Haida Gwaii is, however, one of the best places for sports fishing. Haida Gwaii are considered to be the best Chinook Salmon (or King Salmon) and Northern Coho Salmon (Silver) fishing grounds in the world. This area is considered the starting line for salmon migrating southwards between May and October.

During this period, thousands and millions of spawning Herrings pass through the islands, and therefore the waters are brimming with salmon feeding on the Herring as they prepare their bodies to be strong enough to endure their long journey down the British Columbia coastline towards the rivers. As a result, you will find a number of salmons that are over 30lb in size. These salmons are called Tyee.

In fact, you can find scores of salmon feeding on Herrings just five minutes from the Escott’s lodge just near the harbour in Masset, which is at the northern tip of the Haida Gwaii archipelago.

There is something for everyone at Haida Gwaii, be it sport fishing enthusiast, an explorer, a cultural enthusiast, or someone looking to spend some calm time with the nature. Besides the Haida people, there are a number of communities with unique cultures, customs and art forms.

So welcome to Haida Gwaii and once you are here the cozy accommodations and a 5 star dining experience at Escott’s lodge would guarantee this to be the best vacation of your life.