Originally published in 2013, this 2010 Prince Rupert fishing report was updated in 2026 with refreshed photos, videos and presentation.
Our six-day 2010 Prince Rupert fishing trip was one for the record books. Neal arrived in Prince Rupert, his thumb freshly bandaged from a frozen bagel carving incident, to join the rest of the crew: Oak, Brian, and Ryan. We enjoyed some exceptional fishing, highlighted by Brian’s monster 62 lb Chinook, Neal’s 42 lb Chinook and a 71 lb halibut that would earn Neal our first Halibelt Champion award. It was also the year we began creating our own fishing awards, starting a tradition that would become part of FishinBC.COM.
The FishinBC.COM Fishing Philosophy
We’d been fishing the waters around Prince Rupert since 2001, refining our approach and learning from each trip, year after year. Over time, we’d come to appreciate how small details, from choosing fishing locations to understanding tides and refining our techniques, could collectively make a significant difference in our success.
By 2010, we were putting those lessons into practice more effectively than ever. The results reinforced what would become the FishinBC.COM fishing philosophy: paying attention to the small details can add up to a significant advantage on the water. Many of those lessons are explored in our article Chinook Salmon Fishing Tips: 10 Details put more Trophy Fish in the Boat.
Trophy Chinook Salmon: 62 lb and 42 lb
On one of our offshore halibut fishing outings, we made it out to our halibut fishing grounds. On our way back, we spotted a Steller sea lion thrashing a Chinook salmon at the surface, about 10 km offshore. Watching that sea lion tear into a salmon so far from shore was quite a sight, although we didn’t realize the potential significance of the encounter at the time.
Looking back, we suspected that a run of trophy Chinook was moving through the area from around Langara Island toward the mouth of the Nass River. The following morning, just before slack tide, we positioned ourselves in the right place at the right time. Brian landed a monster 62 lb Chinook that set a new high bar for our boat record, and Neal followed with a beautiful 42-pounder. Under normal circumstances, Neal’s fish would have been the talk of the trip, but Brian’s monster Chinook stole all the fame.
For more on the techniques we use to target big Chinook, see our article Cut Plug Herring Rig: How to Rig Herring for Chinook Salmon. We also cover the broader approach to salmon fishing in our Complete Guide to Salmon Fishing.
Neal’s 71 lb Halibut
Later in our trip, the weather changed and we couldn’t return to the location where we’d caught the trophy Chinook. We headed to closer fishing grounds near Stephens Island and spent the morning salmon fishing. In the afternoon, we decided to head offshore again for halibut. We attempted to reach our established halibut fishing grounds beyond Triple Island, but the conditions were still rougher than we liked. After making it partway offshore, we decided to turn around rather than push farther out.
Instead of giving up on halibut fishing, we studied our charts and identified a promising location in more protected waters. We used the techniques described in our article Halibut Fishing in BC: How to Catch Halibut to help select a suitable spot, then headed over and set our anchor.
We’d never fished this particular location before, so we weren’t sure what to expect. But we had confidence in our approach and were willing to give the spot some time. After a little more than an hour on anchor, we got the big strike. Neal landed a beautiful 71 lb halibut, turning what could have been a disappointing change of plans into one of the highlights of our trip.
The Beginning of the FishinBC.COM Fishing Awards
Our 2010 Prince Rupert trip marked the beginning of our formal fishing awards tradition. Neal’s 71 lb halibut earned him the inaugural Halibelt Champion title, establishing an award that would recognize our boat’s top halibut catch and add some friendly competition to future fishing trips.
We also established our own Tyee Club award to recognize Chinook salmon weighing more than 30 lb. Brian qualified with his record-setting 62 lb Chinook, while Neal joined with his 42-pounder. These awards became part of our Fishing Records, Awards, and Trophy Room, where we celebrate memorable catches and the anglers who landed them.
Our fishing adventures around Prince Rupert continued in the years that followed, with more memorable catches and a few improvements to the boat along the way. You can read about another trip with the same crew in our report Prince Rupert Fishing 2013.
Videos from Our 2010 Prince Rupert Fishing Trip
We captured some great footage during our 2010 trip, albeit on Oak’s old-school camcorder! The videos include Brian landing his record-setting 62 lb Chinook, a Steller sea lion feeding on a salmon offshore, and Neal battling his 42-pounder. They bring back some great memories of an exceptional few days fishing around Prince Rupert.
Your Turn: What’s Your Boat Record?
Looking back, our 2010 Prince Rupert trip stands out for more than the trophy fish. It was a memorable few days on the water and the beginning of a fishing awards tradition that continues to celebrate our best catches.
What’s the biggest fish ever landed on your boat? Share your record and the story behind the catch in the comments below.