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As we peered hopefully into the calm, placid waters of Kitimat Harbor, larger-than-life snow-capped mountains reflected off the surface and into our imaginations. Nothing my wife, Lois, and I have seen throughout our travels had come close to the lingering beauty before our eager eyes.

Scenes like this rarely go beyond the borders of postcards. But not in Kitimat, where lengthy ocean channels, towering mountains, cascading waterfalls and lots of fish join together to create one of the world’s most beautiful and best, I’ve-gone-to-heaven-fishing destinations!

When Ray and Ellen Hepting, owners of Spring King Charters, invited us for a springtime adventure aboard their 32-foot cabin cruiser, Dawn Marie III, we gladly accepted the invitation, but had no idea what the area had to offer. Ray told us the weather could bring snow, rain or bright sunshine during our five-day fish-n-cruise adventure. Unbelievably, I secretly hoped for snow to enhance the area’s beauty. Little did I know, the area doesn’t need enhancement at any time of year, during any weather condition.

Ray also regaled us with stories of quiet bays filled with dungeness crabs and the occasional king crab. With hopes high, I boasted to several friends about the northern B.C. paradise we hoped to visit and the king crab we hoped to catch. Those familiar with B.C.’s northern coast laughed at the mention of king crab. “Someone’s pulling your leg,” they’d say. “You need giant pots to catch king crab.”

But knowing Ray Hepting’s knowledge far exceeded my friend’s, I kept the faith and looked forward to a feast of long-legged king crab. Before our trip, I told Ray we’d like to try and live off the sea and eat our daily catch. Of course this posed no problem since Ray’s knowledge of the area and how to catch everything that swims or crawls under the sea could easily feed us indefinitely.

As we continued to stare hopefully into the deep waters of Kitimat Harbor, on our first night of the trip, the mountainous reflection disappeared as Ray, and his friend and First Mate, George, pulled a shrimp pot full of shrimp aboard. When possible, Ray sets several shrimp pots before each trip to provide a healthy supply of shrimp for the trip.

After re-baiting the shrimp pots, Ray turned the boat west, and headed toward a secluded bay – our anchorage for the night. The journey took two scenic hours down Douglas Channel. Along the way, we enjoyed several waterfalls that emptied directly into the sea. Springtime offers the best viewing time for these natural wonders, when snow-capped hills begin to yield their white blankets to sunny skies. Instead of snow or rain, our trip began with record high temperatures, which added volumes to the white frothy waterfalls throughout the area.

Upon our arrival, Ray placed two custom-made crab rings where he knew we might catch a king crab or two. Few people, if any, know where and how to take king crab throughout the area. Ray’s lifetime experience throughout the region has served him and his clients well by providing everything the sea has to offer. While waiting to pull the crab pots, Ray prepared a feast of shrimp, salad and chicken. As we silently and slowly drifted in the bay, a lone eagle swooped down, talons locked, and captured an unfortunate fish. Flocks of geese flew overhead to provide the only noticeable noise beyond the confines of the boat.

Before setting the anchor for the night, we pulled two heavy crab rings aboard. All totaled, we captured several dungeness and three king crabs – our feast for tomorrow! Ray re-baited his rings and sent them overboard. In less than an hour, Lois and I rowed Ray’s Zodiac a short distance to the rings. Once again, Ray’s knowledge paid off with several more dungeness and one prized king crab.

Darkness soon covered the secluded bay, leaving behind a multitude of reflections from the clear, star-filled sky. The only unnatural, man-made lights, other than the boat’s, came from satellites and jets overhead. The tranquil surroundings provided one of the best night’s sleep Lois or I have had in years.

First light and breakfast comes early for hopeful anglers aboard Dawn Marie III. Our next destination, Ursula Channel, promised to be, scenic and fishy! Ray uses downriggers most of the time, this day would be no exception. He rigged a Hot Spot flasher with a Point Defiance spoon. This combo, he claimed, would catch spring salmon and halibut. Sure enough, before I could drink a half cup of coffee, my line came to life with an eleven-pound spring salmon.

“Halibut love these spoons. We should catch one along that rock wall,” Ray claimed.

Within minutes of Ray’s words, Lois’ rod arched into action. Could it be a halibut I wondered aloud? The steady constant pull proved Ray’s claims and provided Lois with her first-ever halibut. Adding further proof to Ray’s claims, I caught another chicken-sized halibut from the same spot, while trolling the Point Defiance spoon just off bottom.

Vistas of snow-capped mountains surrounded us as we trolled toward our next destination, Bishop Bay Hot springs. Around every corner and along every rock wall, large or small waterfalls emptied into the sea, leaving a frothy reminder of the snowy winter. Instead of constantly agonizing over our rods and waiting for action, we kicked back and enjoyed the most relaxing fishing trip of our lives. Never before had either of us shared such tranquil scenery and fishing. The hot springs would surely add to our relaxation.

Few places compare to Bishop Bay. The bay has creeks running into it, wildlife galore and one of B.C.’s best natural hot springs, just a short walk from the bay’s secluded dock. Before lunch, Ray, George, Lois and I enjoyed the 110 degree warmth of the hot spring. Unlike most hot springs, Bishop Bay has no odor – only clean, clear hot water.

Fully refreshed, we helped Ray boil a feast of dungeness and king crabs. Nothing quite compares to a hearty supply of crab legs dipped in butter after a muscle relaxing break in the hot springs. Lois and I both agreed, this is our favorite place on earth – a place we hoped to visit again. Realizing our love for the bay and hot springs, Ray suggested we spend the night on our way back to Kitimat – a suggestion we gladly accepted.

Our feast and stay at the hot springs ended at 3:00 pm, when Ray nosed the boat away from the dock and toward our next destination, Butedale – where we hoped to catch a supply of white-fleshed bottomfish. As promised, Butedale provided ample opportunity for bottomfish, an activity Lois has learned to enjoy, but only when the fish bite, which seemed like always.

After our first night, I didn’t think it possible to find a bay or inlet more secluded than the first. Throughout the area, Ray has many beautiful anchorages picked out, depending on each group’s wishes and desires. Since I’d shown a specific desire to crab, Ray’s choice of anchorage for our second night was Aaltanhash Inlet, an area rich with dungeness crab. Sure enough, the first pull of the rings proved successful with 18 legal crabs, more than enough to feed us during our trip and few to take home as well.

Early in the season the near shore waters of the ocean provide great halibut, lingcod and rockfish angling. It also provides the first chance at migrating tyee. Lois and I desperately wanted to visit the “outside” waters, in hopes of catching a monster halibut or tyee. Reaching the area aboard Ray’s boat is no problem – It’s sure pleasure! As soon as we reached the near shore waters, our rods bent from the pressure of fish. Lois maintained a mile-wide smile as she out fished the rest of us. Her secret weapon, a Luhr Jensen Krocodile spoon, continuously attracted fish after fish.

My lure of choice, a glow-in-the-dark Spinnow, has taken countless halibut, lingcod and salmon in the past. Since Lois had my light-line outfit, I rigged with 110-pound test Berkley Ultra Max braided line. While catching bottomfish after bottomfish, we drifted into 40-feet of water. Just before Ray called lines up, something grabbed my lure with enough strength to nearly yank me overboard. At first I imagined the monster on my line had to be a halibut. With the drag tightened all the way down, I felt the fish shake its head repeatedly. Before I realized what I had on the end of my line, the fish headed toward the surface and away, taking line as freely as if my drag didn’t exist.

But the drag worked well, it just wasn’t any match for the bulk and muscle of the obviously huge chinook. Went my line finally went slack, I knew I’d blown an opportunity for one of the biggest chinook of my life. The hook on my line straightened out completely before the 110-pound test line could break. I never saw the fish, but I knew it had to be a huge tyee. After all, it stripped more than a hundred feet of 110-pound test line off my reel with a drag too tight for me to pull from the spool and it straightened a treble hook in the process!

All totaled, Lois and I caught enough lingcod and rockfish to keep our freezer full for the winter and our arms aching for a couple of weeks. Our visit proved a little too early for big halibut, but we did catch enough chicken-sized halibut to fill our limits and our stomachs during our trip.

On our way in from the outside waters, we kept our eyes trained on the shoreline of Princess Royal Island and Gribbell Island, in hopes of catching a glimpse of the rare white Kermodei bear . The Kermodei bear is a cousin to the black bear, and only lives near Terrace and on a few islands near Douglas Channel.

As promised, we spent our last night aboard Dawn Marie III at Bishop Bay hot springs. Our return trip to the hot springs proved every bit as rewarding as our first visit. While eating dinner on the back of the boat, a crane landed on shore 20-feet away. Watching the crane reinforced our love of the area, an area we desperately hope to revisit in the future.

The last morning of our trip dawned bright with rosy reds and pinks reflecting throughout Bishop Bay. Ray planned for us to troll the productive cliffs along the steep shoreline of Douglas Channel on our way back to Kitimat. This time, I rigged a chartreuse Luhr Jensen Coyote spoon 31-inches behind a chrome Alaskan Eagle flasher – a proven spring producer. And sure enough, while our attentions focused on the scenery, the rod with my favorite spoon bent all the way to the water’s edge.

I wanted Lois to claim the prize, but she wanted to stand back and photograph my efforts. Of course I didn’t disappoint her, and grabbed the rod with a smile. Ray’s inviting smile grew wider as he watched Lois and I share the experience of catching and photographing a fat 17-pound spring. With this fish aboard and well photographed, the fishing part of the trip ended with another successful day. We decided to spend the remaining time on board relaxing, and enjoying the area’s wealth of beauty.

We’ve been on many great trips in the past. Most of our great trips together did not include fishing. I can honestly say, this trip forever changed our lives. We grew closer together while experiencing an area we feel is the most productive and beautiful area we’ve discovered. Ray further enhanced the experience by sharing his knowledge and love of the area and by cooking great meals too.

Lois has always said she likes catching fish a lot more than fishing for them. Don’t we all! Cruising and fishing aboard Spring King Charters puts an end to that saying because the fishing, cruising and catching can’t be beat!

Spring King Charters can accommodate up to 5 anglers. While Spring King Charters can and will fish ‘till no tomorrow, couples typically love to cruise and fish in style and relaxing comfort, like we did. I don’t think there’s any better way to introduce a spouse to fishing than Spring King Charters.

Guests of Spring King Charters can drive to Kitimat or fly to Terrace, where a bus takes them to Kitimat. Central Mountain Air flies daily from Vancouver, and several other B.C. cities. Their flights are by far the most scenic. They can be reached at, {604} 635-3820.

Spring King Charters offers several multi-day year ‘round charter options. For reservations or more information on Spring King Charters, contact them at,

#16 584 Columbia Ave,
Kitimat, B.C.

Phone/fax , {604} 632-7431.