Kennedy Island

Kennedy Island sits in the tidal channels south of Prince Rupert, a forested landmass whose shorelines drop into working depths of 40 to 200 feet along kelp edges, rock walls, and current-swept points. Chinook salmon move through in two waves, with winter fish holding from February through April and the larger summer run building April through July, followed by coho salmon that dominate the surface layer from May into September. Rockfish hold tight to the deeper structure around the island year-round, with the strongest bite running February through July. Anglers work downrigger trolling with whole herring, anchovy in teaser heads, spoons, and hootchies behind flashers for both salmon species, switching to bucktailing or casting spoons for coho holding shallow on the tide lines. Over the rocky benches, jigging with metal jigs and leadhead jigs dressed in soft plastics puts anglers on rockfish sitting near bottom.