Explore BC Spot Prawns, Salmon, and Lingcod

Discover the rich diversity of BC's waters with our guides on fishing for BC Spot Prawns, Salmon, and Lingcod. Each species offers unique challenges and rewards for anglers of all levels.

BC Spot Prawns

Spot prawns are caught in traps that are lowered to the ocean floor. This fishery is recognized world wide for it’s sustainable framework. Fishers are permitted to haul and subsequently set their gear once a day, between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm. As the traps are brought on board, the traps must immediately be emptied and the prawns sorted to remove undersized prawns, females with eggs and bycatch. Bycatch includes many species trying to get a free prawn meal such as crabs, small fish, and octopus. All bycatch species are returned unharmed with a very high rate of survival, with the exception of octopus which may be retained if the fisher chooses.

Prawns have an enzyme in their heads that, when it begins to break down, spreads to the meat and makes the prawn mushy. This natural process is why we race the clock to ensure we preserve the premium quality of our prawns. Prawns are either kept live or frozen at sea. If they are frozen at sea they are either dipped in a preservative and left whole (the typical export format) or their head is removed and the tail is packaged in containers and covered in seawater. Frozen at Sea BC spot prawns are in high demand in countries such as Japan and China and approximately 80-90% of the prawns fished in BC exported to fill this demand. Due to the relationships we have built with local fish buyers through our scallop business, we have been able to pivot away from the export market and sell our prawns as premium frozen at sea prawn tails to our fellow Canadians. We also sell our prawns locally through our email list.

Salmon

We fish salmon by hook and line (troll) either on the north coast around Haida Gwaii (Area F) or between Vancouver Island and the mainland (Area H). Our seasons typically look like this, but it changes year to year:

July 1 - August: Pink and Coho salmon fished at the AB line, which is located just south of the Alaska border
August - September: Chinook Salmon, Coho and Pink fished around Haida Gwaii.
August - September: Sockeye Salmon fished in the Johnstone Strait and sometimes south near the Fraser River. This is usually only every four years.
October: Chum salmon fished in the Johnstone Strait and sometimes south near the Fraser River. This fishery hasn't opened in a the last few years.

Our salmon are caught as they are travelling from the deep ocean back to their spawning rivers. They are at the peak of their lifecycle and rich with Omega oils, essential fats and high in protein. They are caught on barbless hooks and pulled into the boat, one fish at a time. This allows us to only retain only those species we are permitted to keep, and gently release those we are not without even pulling them on deck. Our salmon are promptly dressed, the head and guts are removed, they are cleaned and put in our flash freezer. Frozen at Sea (FAS) salmon is considered premium fish and highly coveted in international markets and fine dining restaurants. Our goal is to ensure that our own local communities also have access to these fish which is why we choose to sell to local fish markers and business that sell their products to Canadians. We also bring fish back to our home town to sell through our email list.

Lingcod

This is our newest fishery. Our lingcod is caught by hook and line (troll). Trolling for lingcod looks a little different than salmon. We run a single line with a heavy weight on it. Attached to the line is a drag, which is a line that runs parallel to the bottom with approximately 7 hooks hanging vertically from it. I have no idea why they call it a drag, as it never touches the bottom.

Lingcod is open from April to November and is strictly regulated with quotas, camera monitoring and dockside catch validation. Lingcod are caught on barbed hooks and pulled into the boat, one fish at a time. This allows us to only retain only those species we are permitted to keep, and gently release those we are not without even pulling them on deck. The lingcod are promptly dressed, the head and guts are removed, they are cleaned and put in our flash freezer. While not well recognized, Frozen at Sea (FAS) lingcod is a premium fish and many fishers/companies are working on developing a better market that is representative of their quality.

How to Order?

Wholesale - We work with several businesses to supply them with prawns, lingcod and salmon using a pre-order system. Reach out to us through our Contact Us page if you are interested. Locally in Courtenay - Join our email list to find out when we are accepting orders for our various seafood options. Please note that we do not offer shipping. All orders must be picked up in Courtenay.