FBM Group

Welcome to the Guidebook to Fishing

This page is tailored to alleviate any questions your group may have about the adventure! With our own private page, there is no need to search through endless emails to find those details again – this is our one-stop-shop! If for some reason you have a specific question not answered on this page, then you’re likely not the only one wondering! Let me know and I’ll have the information added for us. So in-between counting down the days until our departure, please continue to refer back to this page as Queen Charlotte Lodge will be updating it from time to time. This trip promises to be an unforgettable experience; I hope you’re all excited as we are!

When is your Trip?


We are booked on Trip #23, from July 26-29, 2024.

Travel Details

When: Friday, June 26, 2024

Where: YVR South Terminal – 4440 Cowley Crescent, Richmond BC, V7B 1B8

Check-in time: 7:00 am PT – it’s early but the fish are calling!

Airline:  Summit Airways (QCL Chartered Plane)

Boarding: 8:00 am PT

ETA Masset: 10:00 am PT

Once we arrive in Masset, we’ll board a Helijet Sikorsky S76 helicopter for your quick 12-minute hop to QCL. From there you’ll have a brief orientation over brunch and you’ll be fishing in no time! You can expect to be fishing by mid-to-late morning.

  • To ensure no delays in your departure, please arrive on time for check-in.
  • A government-issued photo ID is required to complete check-in
  • A boarding pass will be issued at check-in
  • The Café within YVR South Terminal opens at 5:30 am serving coffee and breakfast.
  • Complimentary refreshments will be provided on your flight.
  • Parking at YVR South Terminal is approximately $12.50/day.

Return Flight Details:

  • When: Monday, July 29, 2024
  • Arrival at YVR South Terminal: Approx. 1:30 pm
  • Note: It normally takes approx. 30 minutes to unload all luggage and fish boxes

Weather delays can occur, so it is recommended not to book any connecting flights until after 5:00 pm MT.

Luggage Restrictions

Maximum Allowance is 25 lbs per person

  • Should you have that special rod/reel you’ve been waiting to use, please ensure they’re suitably packed in a hard-sided case.
  • 25lbs per person includes all checked bags, carry-ons, computers, purses, etc.
  • The lighter the bag, the more you can bring in it! Soft-sided duffle’s recommended.
Pre-Trip Questionnaire


Complete the Pre-Trip Questionnaire

Keep in mind that completing and returning this form allows QCL to have everything fully prepared for our trip prior to our arrival at the Lodge. This will allow us to get out on the water as quickly as possible!

Group Accommodation

We have arranged accommodations for the group in the Charlotte House and Main Lodge. Are you curious who your bunkmate will be? Look no further:

Charlotte House

  • Bryan Reck & Paul Leva
  • Jarrett Wilson & Jason John
  • TJ Rinomato & Paul Marshall
  • Thomas Marchese & Richard Brady
  • Henri Bergeron & Dave Lucas
  • Duane Winstanley & Erik Stella
  • Colin Ramsden, Hus Sanatgar & Lennon D’Souza (Yatze Cabin)
  • Jeff Schoonover & Jeff Walls (Northern Cabin)
  • Richard Lopez & Fred Van Houten (Northern Cabin)

Main Lodge

  • Joe Kirkendall, Mike Britten & Terry O’Brien
  • Brandon Wisely, Jared Swenson & Jay Conlin
  • Scott Brown, Jason Thomas & Pete Welly
  • Scott Mann & Kurt Fisher
  • Ken Troup, Mike Pollock & Jeremy Winter
  • Simon Kavanagh, Ben Poulsen & Henry Banderas
Dining Program

Culinary Offerings at QCL
Let’s just say… you might leave with a few extra pounds around the waistline. QCL accepts no responsibility for the sheer volume of delicious food consumed during your stay! Jokes aside, there is no shortage of exceptional fare — and yes, it’s all included.

Breakfast
Ease into your day with a hot, made-to-order breakfast in the Main Lodge Dining Room, where a variety of menu options await. Prefer something quick before heading out? Swing by the Bell Ringer Café on the dock for a breakfast sandwich and coffee to go.

On-the-Go Snacks
Need something for the boat? A selection of snacks and treats is available at the Bell Ringer Café — perfect for packing before a day on the water.

Lunch
A hot lunch will be served right on the fishing grounds at The Hook Bar + Grill, located aboard the MV Driftwood — a mid-day dining experience like no other.

Afternoon Appetizers
Once we’re back from the water, starting at 4:00 pm daily, you’ll find an assortment of appetizers waiting at the Bell Ringer. It’s the perfect way to wind down before dinner.

Dinner
Friday Night – We’ll kick things off with QCL’s Signature Welcome Buffet in the Main Lodge Dining Room at 8:30 pm.
Saturday Night – Join us for a group dinner on the dock at the Bell Ringer at 9:00 pm — relaxed, yet refined.
Sunday Night – To wrap up your stay in style, a private chef and hostess will serve our final dinner in the Totem House at 8:30 pm — a truly special evening in an exclusive setting.

Fishing Details

We have secured the GUIDED boat package which includes a combination of 22′ & 26′ Bridgeviews, 24′ Broadwaters and 24′ Grady White boats.

The 90-Series Bridgeviews feature a fully-covered, walk-around centre console, built-in head facility forward and ample space for the guide and up to 4 anglers.  The 80-Series boats are identical but feature an enclosed, walk around, centre cabin – offering additional shelter and comfort.  These are really well-designed fishing machines with lots of room to move around and play the fish. We’ve outfitted these stunning 26-footers with Mercury’s 300 hp SeaPro engine to provide ample power and excellent ocean fishing performance. The Grady White Gulfstream’s are extra wide with a 9’3” beam and are 24’ in length. In addition to the large fishing deck, each boat has an onboard toilet which is a welcome feature – especially for mixed company. The hull design provides a soft comfortable ride, and gets you out to the fishing grounds and back safely, swiftly, in ultimate comfort. All boats are set up with the state of the art electronics, Scotty downriggers and our premium tackle, a true north coast fishing machine! Each boat has a Sirius Satellite radio, GPS and depth sounder. All vessels are equipped with full safety gear and the best fishing gear and equipment.

Check out the QCL Fishing Grounds

Boat Pairings

To stay organized, here are the daily boat pairings.

BoatFriday July 26Saturday July 27Sunday July 28
22′ BridgeviewKen Troup, Mike Pollock & Jeremy WintersSimon Kavanagh, Ben Poulsen & Henry BanderasDave Lucas & Bryan Reck
22′ BridgeviewBrandon Wilsey & Jared SwensonDuane Winstanley & Erik StellaRichard Lopez & Fred Van Houten
22′ BridgeviewHenri Bergeron & Dave LucasRichard Lopez & Jeff WallsJarret Wilson & Mike Pollock
22′ BridgeviewScott Mann & Kurt Fisher
Henri Bergeron & Paul Leva
Scott Brown, Jason Thomas & Jay Conlin
Grady WhiteJarret Wilson, Paul Leva & Hus SanatgarJeff Schoonover, Fred Van Houten & Jay ConlinHenri Bergeron & Ken Troup
Grady WhiteScott Brown & Jason ThomasBryan Reck & Mike PollockScott Mann, Kurt Fisher & Brandon Wisely
Grady WhiteBryan Reck, Jason John & Lennon D’SouzaJared Swenson, Brandon Wilsey & Mike BrittenErik Stella, Thomas Marchese & Jeremy Winter
Grady WhiteJoe Kirkendall & Mike Britten
Ken Troup, Jeremy Winter & Jarret Wilson
Joe Kirkendall, Jared Swenson & Mike Britten
Broadwater 24′TJ Rinamato, Paul Marshall & Richard BradyScott Mann, Jason Thomas & Kurt FisherRichard Brady & Jason John & Duane Winstanley
Broadwater 24′Jeff Schoonover, Jeff Walls, Richard Lopez & Fred Van HoutenRichard Brady, Thomas Marchese & Jason JohnJeff Schoonover & Jeff Walls
Broadwater 24′
Erik Stella, Duane Winstanley & Thomas Marchese
Joe Kirkendall, Scott Brown, Terry Obrien & Pete WellyTerry O’Brien, Hus Sanatgar & Lennon D’Souza
BV – 26′ CabinSimon Kavanagh, Ben Poulsen & Henry BanderasDave Lucas, TJ Rinamato & Paul MarshallSimon Kavanagh, Ben Poulsen, Henry Banderas & Pete Welly
Fish FinderColin Ramsden, Terry O’Brien, Jay Conlin & Pete WellyColin Ramsden, Hus Sanatgar & Lennon D’SouzaColin Ramsden, Paul Leva, TJ Rinamato & Paul Marshall

Fishing at QCL

We offer an unparalleled fishing experience set against the breathtaking backdrop of Haida Gwaii’s pristine wilderness. Our prime location grants access to some of the richest fishing grounds in the North Pacific, teeming with Chinook and Coho salmon, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish. Below you’ll

Do I have my Fishing License?

2024/2025 Canadian PACIFIC Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licence MUST be obtained prior to your trip. You’ll need to print a copy and bring it with you to the Lodge.

Where do I get this? https://recfish-pechesportive.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm 

Complete online by following these steps:

  1. Register Now & Enter Info (or log-in for any returning guests)
  2. Get a Licence – Select Region “Pacific” – Select Licence Type – “3-Day (or Annual) Licence for Resident OR for Non-Resident”. Note: The Start Date is the day you arrive at the lodge – you will need a valid licence for the duration of your trip (minimum 3-day licence, with the start date of July 26, 2024)
  3. Add a Licence Stamp – Choose the “Pacific Salmon Stamp 2024/2025” (you need this to retain your catch!)
  4. Accept the Terms & Conditions (checkbox)
  5. Pay
  6. Print a copy of your Licence and bring it with you on the trip

Having difficulties? Forgot your password? Call DFO’s licensing help desk directly at 1-877-535-7307

Fish Catch Limits
SpeciesDaily Possession LimitTotal Possession LimitStipulation
Salmon (all species combined)48Chinook/King salmon possession limits; max. 2/day, max. 4/trip
(Between June 14-July 31, limit is 1/day and 2/trip)
Halibut12The daily and possession limit for Halibut is EITHER of:
one (1) Halibut measuring 85 cm to 126 cm in length (Head On)
OR
two (2) Halibut, each measuring under 85 cm in length (Head On).
No person shall retain a Halibut greater than 126 cm head-on length (head on)
Lingcod36Possession Limits are twice the Daily Limits for Lingcod as described below.
Daily limit: Lingcod – three (3)
no minimum or maximum size in our area
Rockfish36Possession Limits are twice the Daily Limits for Rockfish as described below.
Daily limit: Rockfish, all species combined – three (3), only one (1) of which may be a China rockfish, a Tiger rockfish, or a Quillback rockfish.
No person shall catch and retain more than 1 Bocaccio.
Zero (0) retention for Yelloweye rockfish.

How will my fish be processed?

There are many options when it comes to processing your fish! To ensure you get what you want – here are all the options available. Please note that included in our package, QCL will process your catch into fillets (2-4 pieces per fish); vacuum pack and flash freeze them for transport home.

You can further elect to utilize QCL’s Licensed Sport Fish Processing facility and have your fish further processed into 1-pound portion packs, vacuum packed and flash frozen. There is an additional cost of $2.10/lbs. (round wt) to $159 max. to process all of your catch.

You can also choose to send some of your catch to the QCL Smokehouse, where you can have your fish smoked utilizing various processes, or see your fish canned and smoked. This option would incur additional costs determined once the product has been processed (usually takes approx. 10-12 weeks – any guests selecting this option will be billed for the processing at this time). 

QCL also offers a program called the Taste of B-Sea which offers a wide selection of Ocean Wise fish and shellfish from British Columbia. Majority of these tasty treats we are not able to catch/retain during our trip. But that doesn’t mean you can’t purchase some and add to your fish box to take home. 

Worried about getting your fish home? QCL offers its QCL Fish Care Program, which includes their Home Delivery option which enables us to travel home without having to lug our fish boxes through to all our connecting flights.  For ease of mind, we can leave our fish with QCL and they can hold it in their freezer and ship our fish boxes the following week direct to our addresses.  This option would incur additional shipping costs which are billed after the trip once the product has shipped.

Other Activities at QCL

QCL TERMS & CONDITIONS

At QCL we strive to make every visit to our facility a truly enjoyable and memorable experience.  To enable all of our guests to enjoy their QCL experience to the fullest, we have terms and conditions which apply to all our guests and are aimed at ensuring that all our guests comport themselves in a way that is respectful of the lodge, our staff and their fellow quests.  By agreeing to participate in a trip with QCL, all guests will be deemed to have agreed to the following:

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR

All of the staff and guests at QCL have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.  As a responsible employer and host, we believe that we have a duty to our staff and guests to protect them from inappropriate behaviour by any guest.  Inappropriate behaviour will include drunkenness, profanity, racial or discriminatory comments, unwelcome physical contact or innuendo, excess noise and any other behaviour which is rude, disrespectful, discriminatory or otherwise considered to be inappropriate by any member of QCL’s staff or any other guest.  Final decisions regarding inappropriate behavior and the appropriate consequences for the applicable party will rest with QCL’s Duty Manager.  The Lodge reserves the right to take such action regarding the party found to have acted inappropriately as the Lodge determines to be appropriate, which may include requiring the party to leave the Lodge immediately (all associated transportation costs being borne by the party found to have acted inappropriately) and where necessary involving the police or other appropriate outside agencies.  

RELEASE OF LIABILITY

QCL is a wilderness fishing lodge and guests are participating in sport fishing activities on the open ocean, all of which carry inherent risks.  All guests therefore use QCL’s lodge, boats and other facilities, as well as the aircraft and helicopters with which they travel to or from the Lodge, at their own risk, and all guests voluntarily assume all risks associated with their travel to and from the Lodge and all sport fishing activities, including all risks or personal injury, including the potential for serious injury or death, whether as a result of their own actions or the actions of QCL staff, guides, suppliers, contractors or other guests, or through other circumstances, including weather conditions.  

Therefore, all guests, by choosing to travel to and from QCL, stay at the QCL Lodge, use any QCL equipment or facilities, and/or participate in any sport fishing activities (collectively, the “Trip Activities”) and in consideration of QCL permitting them to do so:

  1. voluntarily assume all risks associated with participation in any Trip Activities, including all risks of physical injury, however caused;

  2. release Queen Charlotte Lodge Ltd. and its directors, officers, shareholders, employees and contractors (collectively, the “QCL Parties”) from any and all claims, liability or causes of action whatsoever which arise from or relate to any Trip Activities, from any cause whatsoever and whether or not caused or contributed to by any defect or other condition in the Lodge property or any dock, boat or other piece of equipment, or any act, omission or negligence of any QCL Party.  

SMOKING

In British Columbia, the Tobacco & Vapour Products Control Act prohibits smoking or vaping in any common areas of the Lodge such as lobbies, hallways, and restaurants.  QCL, as a matter of Lodge policy and because our buildings are wood frame and located in a remote area with limited firefighting facilities, also prohibits smoking or vaping within any guest rooms.  Smoking and vaping are permitted outside of Lodge buildings, as long as guests are more than six metres away from all doorways, open windows or air intakes around the Lodge.

Any breach of these smoking rules is subject to a fine/additional fee of $200, on account of QCL’s costs associated with rectifying the affected environment.

DAMAGE TO LODGE PROPERTY

Guests will be charged for all costs and damages incurred by QCL, including the full cost of rectifying any damage to any Lodge property (including boats and motors, dock structures and any Lodge building), which such guest causes either deliberately or through negligence or recklessness.  Should this damage come to light after the guest has departed, the guest authorizes QCL to charge the full amount of such costs to the guest’s credit/debit card, or send an invoice for the amount due to the guest’s address in our records.  While QCL will take reasonable steps to keep the costs chargeable to the guest to a minimum, if the damage is such that a room or boat is rendered unusable for a period of time, the guest will be liable for any loss of revenue that the Lodge suffers while the room or boat is being repaired.

REMOVAL OF LODGE PROPERTY

Guests will be charged for all costs of replacing any items that are removed from the premises by the guest without QCL’s consent or which are so damaged or stained by the guest as to be unusable.  The charge will be the full replacement amount of the missing or damaged item, including any carriage charges.  Should the fact that the item is missing or damaged come to light after the guest has departed, the guest authorizes QCL to charge the full amount of such costs to the guest’s credit/debit card, or send an invoice for the amount due to the guest’s address in our records.

TAMPERING WITH FIRE DETECTION SYSTEMS AND FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT

Tampering or interfering with any fire detection or fire suppression equipment at the Lodge is an extremely serious matter.  QCL reserves the right to take immediate action against any guest found to have tampered or interfered with any fire detection or suppression equipment throughout the Lodge, including detector heads in public areas and bedrooms, break glass points and fire extinguishers. Guests found to have tampered with any fire detection or fire fighting equipment will be charged for all costs incurred by the Lodge due to their actions and additionally may be asked to leave the Lodge. Depending on the severity of the guest actions, the Police may become involved at the Lodge’s discretion.  Should the fact that fire fighting or detection equipment had been tampered with come to light after the guest has departed, the guest authorizes QCL to charge the full amount of such costs to the guest’s credit/debit card, or send an invoice for the amount due to the guest’s address in our records.

LOSS OF PERSONAL ITEMS

None of the QCL Parties is liable or responsible for any loss of or damage to any guest’s personal property or valuables while the guest is staying at the Lodge. 

DIETARY OR ALLERGY CONSIDERATIONS

At QCL we do our very best to accommodate our guests with dietary requirements, food sensitivities, allergies and health conditions to the extent possible.  If a guest advises us in advance that they suffer from a food sensitivity or allergy or have other dietary requirements, we will endeavor to provide suitable menu or beverage options, such as gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan options.  However, QCL does not and cannot operate a gluten-, allergen- or meat or dairy-free kitchen, and cross-contamination from work surfaces, cooking utensils and other sources may occur.  Our cooking facilities and ingredients are not kosher or halal-compliant.  Many allergens such as nuts, gluten and shellfish may be present in our kitchen and we cannot ensure that cross-contamination or simple human errors will not occur.  Any guest with a food sensitivity, allergy or dietary requirement must discuss their needs with QCL staff prior to arrival at our Lodge, to determine whether we will be able to accommodate their needs appropriately.  QCL cannot accept any responsibility or liability for our guests’ food sensitivities, allergies or dietary requirements. 

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Guests are responsible for, and will pay to QCL on demand:

  1. the full balance due under their account at the end of each trip, including amounts payable under any of the above terms and conditions as well as alcohol and other purchases and staff tips charged to the guest’s account; and

  2. where the guest has booked the trip on behalf of multiple persons in a single party (a “Group”), the full balance due under the account of each Group member, if such Group member has failed to pay all or any portion of their account, including any amounts payable by such Group member under any of the above terms and conditions as well as alcohol and other purchases and staff tips charged to the guest’s account.

Guests specifically authorize QCL to charge the full amount of such costs to the guest’s credit/debit card, or send an invoice for the amount due to the guest’s address in our records.

BREACH

Management of the Lodge reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to ask any guest to leave the Lodge in the event of non-compliance with any of these terms and conditions (all associated transportation costs being borne by the non-complying guest).