Salmon Fishing in Blackfish Sound, British Columbia

Text and Photos by Mary and Suzanne Peachin
Volume 26, No. 1/2
Nov./December,2022

Thrusting the throttle of the deHaviland Beaver, the “work horse of the North,” Max, our pilot, ascended over Vancouver’s iconic Lionsgate Bridge as we departed Coal Harbour. My husband David, daughter Suzie, and I were headed up the scenic Georgia Strait to Sonitula on Malcolm Island for several days of salmon fishing. Vision unlimited, the day was glorious.
Sonitula is family oriented with many repeat clients. The waters of Blackfish Sound are calm. There are bears to sight, killer whales (orcas) and humpbacks along with bald eagles and other wildlife. Guests sleep in comfortable log cabins.

Boats are nice especially with an interior cabin and flushing head. There is comfort and warmth on those chilly or rainy days.

British Columbia strictly controls the keeping or killing of fish. The day of our arrival the fishing season license permit allowed one Chinook per day, 2 total for trip. If the fish size was questionable, it had to be measured (in the net still in the water), to determine that it was neither too small or large. The same held true for Coho.

The days began at your choice of 5:30 or 7:00 in the morning. On one day, the “burger boat” delivered hot dogs and hamburgers to each fishing boat. Another day, we picnicked on the beach eating seafood chowder, and Dungeness crab that we each had to prepare for cooking. An effort to trap spotted prawn, a real delicacy, eluded us.

The Lodge offers a variety of things to do. There is kayaking, fly fishing, electric bicycling, hiking, massage therapy, visiting the historic Finnish village of Sonitula, or the First Nations village of Alert Bay. There is something for everyone, but little time to enjoy it. That is, if you plan to fish.

While we flew direct, the Lodge on Malcolm Island is a 30-minute ferry ride from Port McNeil, on the north eastern tip of Vancouver Island. From Seattle, it is a non-stop flight on a float plane to Sonitula’s dock.