Who’s been to Duval Point Lodge in Port Hardy

[fuzzybiscuit]

Myself and a buddy are looking at booking a trip to Duval Point Lodge in Port Hardy this coming July as long as COVID numbers look good.

Anyone on here been to the lodge?

I’ve thought about going fully guided to simplify things but the few trips I’ve been on haven’t been nearly as much fun as running the boat myself. Since selling the Whaler a couple years back I don’t have use of a boat when I come out now. So Duval Lodge provides a guy with lodging and a rental boat. The 16’ aluminum boats they have are underpowered with only 30hp Yamaha’s on them but I actually had the same hull back in the late 90’s so it’s a bit nostalgic. I still have my Sage rods with original MR2’s and all my tackle sitting at my parents place in CR, so all I really need is something to get us out on the water.

What do you guys know about the place? Reviews online are mixed so kind of looking for personal experiences.

Thanks.

[Blacktail]

dont need a lot of boat for off of Duval point or even south to the airport area of the Keogh.
A couple good bars just off the mouth for Halis as well .
If you gonna go let me know I can give you my sons Phone number so he can let you know where to go.
He lives in Hardy

[fuzzybiscuit]

dont need a lot of boat for off of Duval point or even south to the airport area of the Keogh.
A couple good bars just off the mouth for Halis as well .
If you gonna go let me know I can give you my sons Phone number so he can let you know where to go.
He lives in Hardy

Thanks Roy, much appreciated.

I’ve launched out of Hardy and run up to Rivers Inlet and Hakai a dozen times in my own boat, but never actually fished around Hardy itself. I see though year after year they have some of the best fishing on the coast though.

[Harv]

Make sure you check the regs before you go, last year there was no retention of spring salmon until after a certain date, can’t remember what it was, guys were having to run all the way up past the nawitti bar in order to keep anything.

[fuzzybiscuit]

Make sure you check the regs before you go, last year there was no retention of spring salmon until after a certain date, can’t remember what it was, guys were having to run all the way up past the nawitti bar in order to keep anything.

Good reminder. Our early trip to Campbell River last summer was just before the July 15th opener. There was tons of Springs around but you couldn’t keep one. We’re planning a July 19-23 trip so all things are leading up to believe we will be able to keep some fish.

[IronNoggin]

Give me a shout on your way through.
Commercially fished that area a few times back in the day, and worked it a few times sportying.
Be nice to shake mitts and have a quick BS...

Cheers,
Nog

[fuzzybiscuit]

I’d love to Matt, but I’ll be flying with the family into Comox more than likely. We usually fly Westjet then get picked up by the in-laws. My buddy that I’m taking was from Fort McMurray too but he moved his family down to the Lower Wasteland when he was transferred to the Suncor plant in Burrard Inlet. I haven’t seen him since last summer so it will be a chance to read-connect and get into some fish. We went to Nootka a couple years ago on a trip through work, but fishing was kind of slow with nothing over fish in the low twenties at the lodge while we were there. This will only be his second time on the chuck so I’m thinking there is a good chance of bettering that trip.

My partner wanted to go with Seregeti charters out of Hardy but I’ve managed to steer him to the self-guided route. Nothing against Serengeti, they are a great outfit and a better choice for those who don’t know what they are doing. The guided thing is just not for me. We also looked at doing the self-guided thing out of Nootka Marine Adventures, but they have a lot of crazy rules when using their boats like being in at 8:00pm. That’s the magic hour. I’ve also probably spent 250 days on the water fishing Nootka back in the hay-day when it was not uncommon to be into half a dozen Tyee a day. The last 6-8 years some lodges out there don’t land half a dozen Tyee a season all boats combined. Pretty sad compared to what it once was but I’m looking forward to some new scenery.

I’ve launched out of Hardy a bunch but this will be my first time fishing the local area. At this point it just comes down to the Covid numbers and how things are doing closer to the date.

[MichelD]

Funny. I'm in the middle of completing a story about the time my friend Kevin and me "borrowed" his dad's boat and rowed out to Doyle Island on the other side of Goletas channel from Duval Point when we were 13 year old kids in Port Hardy in 1966. A full day's adventure.

My dad's favourite spot for fishing was Duval Point but he'd often tack over to the Masterman islands and back to Duval. Some days he'd run across the strait and fish the Jeannette Islands in his 16-footer.

[Sitkaspruce]

FB, the thing about Duval is that is about all you can fish. They wouldn't let you run the "tinners" to the islands, across Golitas, to Castle Point or pretty well any place else.

So if the fish are not there, and a lot of time they not, then you are fishing in the wind. Very little bottom fish near there. If you are allowed to run down, in front of the airport will get a few hali.

If you are going to fish Duval, fishing the last week of July, first week of Aug will get you the returning springs to the Nimpkish and other east side rivers. With the silly rules for springs and coho, that area can be a lot of effort for little return. But it sounds like you have been around the water and caught a few fish, so maybe catching fish is not the top priority.

Was my back yard for years and still go back every year.

Cheers

SS

[fuzzybiscuit]

Thanks SS. I remember reading your stories about fishing out of Hardy.

It’s a gamble the fish will be there but when it comes to self-guided trips at a reasonable price the options are limited.

[Bugle M In]

Hoping to maybe get a trip up there this year, during retention!
Never been so cant help, but good luck.

[fuzzybiscuit]

So, we have July 19-23 booked at the lodge. It’s going to be cool fishing somewhere different.

I’ll post up what I think of the place once we get back. Might even have some pics to add.

If anyone has any hot spots for Springs they want to share within 45 minutes of the lodge I’m not too proud to take the info. We are a bit limited in where we can go with the 16’ welded aluminum boats they have since in my mind they are a bit underpowered, but the owner doesn’t mind us venturing out away from the lodge.

[Bugle M In]

Might want to see if you can contact the "Bait Shop".
Think his name is Jim Henchke. (spelling??)
I think he would be willing to share some info if no one hear can/will.

[fuzzybiscuit]

Might want to see if you can contact the "Bait Shop".
Think his name is Jim Henchke. (spelling??)
I think he would be willing to share some info if no one hear can/will.

Thanks Bugle. I’ve read a bunch of Jim’s updates in years past. We are planning on stopping by the Bait Shop for sure.

Probably a safe bet to follow the boats too. If there’s been a bite on in a certain spot guys tend to head back there. I never used to be that guy when fishing the west coast but with never having fished in Hardy before it should put you in the right spots.

[fuzzybiscuit]

The day has finally come. Driving up to Hardy tomorrow for our stay at Duval Point lodge.

I had a buddy who figured a morning out in Campbell River would be a good warm-up so he offered to take me out for first light. We were off the water for lunch with 9 Springs between 8 and 20 pounds brought to the boat. We actually fished light gear in the shallows off the south end of Quadra for the first 3 hours and while we did land a couple Springs in the teens we missed the best part of the bite out off Wiliby Shoals. From 9-noon we landed the other 7 Springs. There’s a slot size here right now based on length so it’s 1 fish per day in a weight range basically from 8-17 pounds or so. I can’t remember exactly the length needed but my partner had the size marked off on the gunnel of the boat.

Not a bad warm-up for the trip ahead…

https://i.postimg.cc/XYt3y8PR/3379707-F-6-F1-E-456-A-AF48-8-D0-C49-E9-F6-FE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/180bkpsB)

https://i.postimg.cc/y8Dsd5Lh/E1301-B8-C-6-A58-4275-A30-B-628-A649190-C3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Bjfd7h9t)

[wildcatter]

The day has finally come. Driving up to Hardy tomorrow for our stay at Duval Point lodge.

I had a buddy who figured a morning out in Campbell River would be a good warm-up so he offered to take me out for first light. We were off the water for lunch with 9 Springs between 8 and 20 pounds brought to the boat. We actually fished light gear in the shallows off the south end of Quadra for the first 3 hours and while we did land a couple Springs in the teens we missed the best part of the bite out off Wiliby Shoals. From 9-noon we landed the other 7 Springs. There’s a slot size here right now based on length so it’s 1 fish per day in a weight range basically from 8-17 pounds or so. I can’t remember exactly the length needed but my partner had the size marked off on the gunnel of the boat.

Not a bad warm-up for the trip ahead…

https://i.postimg.cc/XYt3y8PR/3379707-F-6-F1-E-456-A-AF48-8-D0-C49-E9-F6-FE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/180bkpsB)

https://i.postimg.cc/y8Dsd5Lh/E1301-B8-C-6-A58-4275-A30-B-628-A649190-C3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Bjfd7h9t)

Nice fish Fuzzy, someday I would like to try that.

[fuzzybiscuit]

Made it to Port Hardy! It’s been 12 years but it’s just as I remember it.

https://i.postimg.cc/kXvvGJj8/E9-EF0-F64-FD26-4-C65-95-A3-8-EB9-BF43-D1-AE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Lnh10pF6)

[Bubbacanuck]

Made it to Port Hardy! It’s been 12 years but it’s just as I remember it.

https://i.postimg.cc/kXvvGJj8/E9-EF0-F64-FD26-4-C65-95-A3-8-EB9-BF43-D1-AE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Lnh10pF6)

Hahaha someone had a good time last night. Good luck with the fishing and keep the updates coming!! I am hoping to do something similar

[Harvest the Land]

The day has finally come. Driving up to Hardy tomorrow for our stay at Duval Point lodge.

I had a buddy who figured a morning out in Campbell River would be a good warm-up so he offered to take me out for first light. We were off the water for lunch with 9 Springs between 8 and 20 pounds brought to the boat. We actually fished light gear in the shallows off the south end of Quadra for the first 3 hours and while we did land a couple Springs in the teens we missed the best part of the bite out off Wiliby Shoals. From 9-noon we landed the other 7 Springs. There’s a slot size here right now based on length so it’s 1 fish per day in a weight range basically from 8-17 pounds or so. I can’t remember exactly the length needed but my partner had the size marked off on the gunnel of the boat.

Not a bad warm-up for the trip ahead…

https://i.postimg.cc/XYt3y8PR/3379707-F-6-F1-E-456-A-AF48-8-D0-C49-E9-F6-FE.jpg (https://postimg.cc/180bkpsB)

https://i.postimg.cc/y8Dsd5Lh/E1301-B8-C-6-A58-4275-A30-B-628-A649190-C3.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Bjfd7h9t)

Beauty fish! I'd say that's a stellar start to your trip. Good luck up in Hardy and let us know how you do. Good to know there's still some salmon to catch somewhere in this province

[fuzzybiscuit]

Fishing was pretty good. The weather was pretty wet and not exactly warm but we didn’t have very much in the way of wind to deal with.

Quite a few boats around but we saw zero legal-sized Springs caught on the inside while we were there. The area in front of Duval was just covered with immature springs and a mid-water variety of Rock Fish so it was impossible to get your line down for any length of time without catching one.

We tried a few spots relatively close to Duval with not a lot of luck. Lots of big Lings on the inside waters though so we got our limit of them quite easily.

The small 16’ aluminum boat we were in was too small to go to the north end of the Island where we heard fishing was red-hot and all the guide boats were congregating. You need to hit open water for a bit to get there and the owner of the place said it was off limits to us. We did however go down to the north end of the Gordon group of Islands and fish the area 12/11 boundary. I wouldn’t recommend that either in these small boats unless a guy had spent a lot of time on the water before and had some additional safety gear. We had brought a couple hand-held gps’s and a hand-held vhf radio, so we felt comfortable making the trip.

We had the place to ourselves down there. A few other boats passed by heading out to the halibut grounds but for the most part there was no one else around. We kept an eye on the weather channel for any wind warnings and for the 2 days we spent out there it was pretty much flat calm.

As for the fishing, the Chinook and Coho were there and while not what I’d call red-hot it was pretty consistent with a Salmon of some sorts every half hour or so. There were also a ton of Otters, a bunch of Humpback Whales and a couple Orcas passing through. It was a great couple days out there but again, I wouldn’t recommend a guy renting a boat from Duval and heading out there by themselves. The owner has now placed this area as off-limits in his boats too so if you stay at Duval you’ll have to go fully guided at $1,000+ additional cost per day and in a bigger boat if you want to head out there. It’s a good hour to hour and 20 minute ride in these small boats and without a vhf and monitoring of the weather channel a guy could get himself in trouble pretty quick and most people renting a boat probably don’t have the experience to pull it off safely. That’s one of the downsides to renting a boat from Duval though. If we had just stayed on the inside waters there is a good chance we never would have seen a legal Spring because they were just not there in numbers. Other years, it’s the place to be but not this year for the few days we were there. The bait robbers were also so bad on the inside that it forced a guy to go to a big plug just to keep them off and then you weren’t matching the bait…

In the end we landed a dozen Springs between 14 and 23 pounds. A few good sized Coho and we did luck out with a mid-sixties Halibut. That was a bit of crap-show because measuring a big Halibut that is getting close to the maximum slot size of 133cm when it is still alive is lot easy. We marked out the 133cm mark with a sharpy on a paddle and did our best to measure it each time it came along side the boat. We figured after a few tries it was about 4cm short of the maximum size. After realizing we could keep it we managed to get a rope around the tail and kill it outside the boat. The rope then went up through the Gill plate and we could hog tie it. It was bled and after a while we safely brought it in the boat. Once layed out it was actually a couple cm bigger than we thought but still under the legal limit. It all worked out but again, despite our best efforts to measure it in the water it was bigger than we thought it was so it shows how careful a guy has to be when you get a Halibut close to that legal limit. You can’t just bring one in while it is live and quickly measure it like you can a Spring. They can do a lot of damage as anyone who has seen one flip around in a boat can attest to.

My partner is camera-shy but here’s a few pics of me to show our success.

https://i.postimg.cc/bN2GdgLn/14-AB2-AA0-5-D18-46-DC-9-AC5-A7-A10-DA73-D45.jpg (https://postimg.cc/QHhNyp2N)

https://i.postimg.cc/KzqK3sdP/198-AB309-B87-D-443-B-B9-FE-2-D44-EBB9-BE41.jpg (https://postimg.cc/dkCQznQ3)

https://i.postimg.cc/bwGgQsHS/CF5-C1866-80-F1-44-B3-A805-1174940269-C7.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

https://i.postimg.cc/RCY6My19/B7-D97637-FA9-A-42-D8-A6-BC-D8-ABDCA4695-E.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Z0rKHfDD)

[Bugle M In]

Good job.
Never got up there as hoped.

[browningboy]

I had friends go up there a few weeks back and they said it was different to say the least..

[MichelD]

I grew up there and my dad pretty much fished Duval Point exclusively.

Talk about getting in trouble, when I was 13 a buddy and me "borrowed" a rowboat and rowed out to the Gordon Group from Port Hardy, climbed to the top of Doyle Island and then just about got swept out to sea by the tide in Goletas Channel on the way back.