Wales Island

Wales Island sits at the southern edge of Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, a rugged shoreline of tidal passages and rocky drop-offs where waters run from 60 to 300 feet. Pacific Halibut hold on the deeper flats and gravel bottoms with the strongest fishing from April through August, while Chinook Salmon push through in two windows, February to April and again April to July, followed by Coho Salmon from May into September. Anglers work the deeper structure for halibut with drift jigging using leadhead jigs and heavy metal jigs, switching to bait fishing on anchor with whole herring or salmon heads when tides slack. Chinook and Coho respond to downrigger trolling along the tide lines with whole herring, anchovy in a teaser head, trolling spoons, and hootchies behind flashers. Strong tidal exchange through the surrounding channels concentrates bait against the island's points and shelves, keeping fish oriented to the current edges.