Zayas Island

Zayas Island sits at the outer edge of the Dixon Entrance approach to Prince Rupert, a rugged offshore rise where working depths run from 60 to 300 feet over rock, reef edges, and current-swept structure. The ground holds Lingcod and Rockfish through their February to July peak, Pacific Halibut across April to August, and Chinook Salmon in two windows spanning February to April and April to July. Anglers work Lingcod and Rockfish with jigging using leadhead jigs and swimbaits or metal jigs along the harder structure, while Halibut come off drift jigging with heavy metal jigs or bait fishing on anchor with whole herring and octopus over the deeper flats. Chinook are targeted with downrigger trolling using whole herring, anchovy in teaser heads, and hootchies behind flashers, with mooching cut-plug herring effective on tide changes. Strong tidal exchange through the island's channels concentrates bait and keeps predators active across the water column.