New! check out John Beath's new halibut fishing site.

Bring Your Bay Boat To Kitimat
                     by Lois Beath

While visiting Skeena country, a trip to nearby Kitimat with a trailerable boat brings many
rewards. Majestic snow-capped mountains tower skyward from the sea. Dark blue waters
beckon anglers to fish its depths. In springtime, frothy waterfalls cascade into the sea. Shrimp
and Dungeness crabs are plentiful and call many nearby bays home. Occasionally, king crab
find their way into large ring-type pots.

The scenery around the Douglas Channel
would repay a visit even without seafood.


PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN BEATH

Tshimshian Natives, wintertime visitors to the
region centuries ago, gave Kitimat its name. They saw only the heads of the local Haisla people
moving back and forth as they walked along deep paths in the snow. The Tshimshians called
the area Kitimat -- "People of the Snow" in their native tongue. Kitimat is located at the head of
Douglas Channel and its two local sports stores, City Centre Hardware (604) 632-3522, and
Schooley's Sports (604) 632-3466 provide a wealth of information on current fishing conditions.
Both are located in the City Centre Mall, and carry licenses as well as fishing gear. Motels are
plentiful for those wishing to spend a night in town. Boat launches are located at Moon Bay
Marina, and M. K. Bay Marina. Both marinas offer overnight moorage, and M. K. Bay Marina
also has fuel, showers, and a campground.

Companies like Spring King Charters combine cruising and fishing

PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN BEATH


A trek through Douglas Channel to Devastation Channel brings
you to the hot tub built around Weewanie Hotspring. Venture
farther down to Bishop Bay off Urusula Channel to find another
natural hot spring hot tub. Bishop Bay also has a dock, log boom, sheltered picnic table,
barbecue pit, and pit toilets. So it's a great place to spend the night. For longer trips, fuel is
available at the Native villages of Klemtu on Princess Royal Island, and Hartley Bay near the
end of Douglas Channel. You may need cash at times.

Wildlife roams freely on many islands and throughout the mainland wilderness. A lucky few spot
one of the rare white Kermodei bears, who live on Princess Royal Island, Gribbell Island, and
the mainland near Terrace. Deer, Elk and moose inhabit the forests along with mink, otter and
other small animals. More likely, you will see aquatic delights like whales, seals, or sea lions.
Playful porpoises enjoy following in the wakes of boats for short distances. Many types of birds
populate the region, including eagles, herons, loons, seagulls, and ducks. Sea lions can
compete for salmon.

John Beath with a nice yelloweye rockfish.

PHOTO CREDIT: LOIS BEATH

Fishing holes abound. Drop a line, and if a fish doesn't bite
quickly, move on to another spot. While just about any jig catches
bottomfish including Halibut, Ling Cod, and Yelloweye Rockfish,
they seem especially attracted to Luhr Jensen's Krocodile jig.
Salmon are seasonal and, of course, when the salmon come, the
anglers aren't far behind. May - July is the peak of the salmon
season.

Crabs and Shrimps offer succulent treats in many of the area's bays. Shrimp and prawn pots do
best 150 to 250 feet down, and crab pots are most productive 40 to 100 feet deep. Crab pots
placed near the outlet of a fresh water stream produce the most crabs. Scraps of the day's
catch of fish make excellent crab or shrimp bait. You can bring your own or buy gear in town.
Other saltwater options include various clams.

Dungeness (short legs) and King crabs (long
legs) repay trapping efforts.

PHOTO CREDIT: JOHN BEATH

While you do well on salmon and steelhead in salt water most of the year, anglers catch many
large salmon and steelhead on the Kitimat River during fishing season. The river runs through
Radley Park, home of Kitimat's oldest resident, a 500+ year old Sitka Spruce tree. Radley Park
also offers a campground and excellent river fishing a few steps from your campsite.

Charters offer more options and the chance to get out on saltwater when small boats might not
be comfortable. Then too, if you would like to fish the Kitimat area, but are unable to bring your
own boat, Kitimat has many charter services including, Spring King Charters (604) 632-7431.

There's lots more to do too, but too many details could ruin your sense of discovery that's far too
rare in these coddled times. This is big country with big opportunities and incredible rewards.

For more information about Kitimat, or other charter options, contact the Kitimat
Chamber of Commerce @ 1-800-664-6554.