Fishing · British Columbia
Fish Harder Charters, Port Hardy, BC.
A multi-guide saltwater charter in Port Hardy, BC, praised for hard-working guides and big catches of chinook, coho, halibut, lingcod and rockfish off northern Vancouver Island.
What visitors say
Fish Harder Charters operates out of Port Hardy at the north end of Vancouver Island, with owner Ryan and a small team of guides. The name gets repeated in the reviews for a reason: guests say the guides keep lines in the water, keep searching and work harder than anyone to find fish.
The results are impressive. Anglers describe limits of chinook, coho, lingcod and halibut plus plenty of rockfish, with one couple taking home 286 pounds of fillets from a three-day trip. A veteran angler of 65 years called it the best day of his life, with more than 20 salmon hooked in two hours. The main boat is heavy and rides smoothly in chop, and one guest mentioned staying in a guest suite during their trip.
Beginners and seasoned anglers both do well here. Prairie walleye fishermen, first-time chinook anglers on a ladies' trip, and experienced ocean fishers all say they learned a lot about gear, tides and fish behaviour. Some groups saw whales too, and the guides help arrange fish processing locally.
There's little to warn about. Two low ratings carry no explanation. The owner is praised for moving bookings when the forecast looks rough, which is worth taking up if offered. Fishing grounds can be an hour's run, so dress for a long, cool ride.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 36 Google reviews. Details change — confirm hours, prices and bookings with Fish Harder Charters, Port Hardy, BC. directly.