the Coast
cessing with the fish being shipped south to Vancouver and west to Japan for canning. When BC Packers sold Namu, in the early 1990s, an unsuccessful attempt was made to establish a resort here. Alas, it failed.
Shearwater Approximately 50 full-time residents live in Shearwater, located on Denny Island, 5km/3mi from Bella Bella. The current town-site was developed for an anti-submarine bomber-reconnaissance unit in 1941. The unit was disbanded in 1944, and the site was later purchased and developed into a full-service marina and fishing resort. Today, all that remains of the original air force base is the hangar, the airstrip and a few bunkers. In addition there is now a fish plant, bed-and-breakfast accommodations, resort lodgings, fishing-charter operators, moorage for pleasure boaters, a small store and post office and regular water taxi service to Bella Bella. Sport fishing is the community’s major asset. Surrounded by calm, protected waters, Shearwater is home to all five species of salmon. The local chinook top 32kg/70lb, while coho can reach 11kg/24lb. Abundant local bottom fish include ling cod, red snapper and rockfish, with halibut weighing up to 91kg/200lb. Shearwater also provides access to excellent eco-adventure opportunities. Bella Bella The large eagle head painted on its Native Cultural Centre marks the fishing and forestry community of Bella Bella. Also known as Waglisla, the town is the former site of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort McLoughlin established in the 1830s. Home to the Heiltsuk (hel-sic) First Nation, population of 1,400, it is the largest First Nations community on B.C.’s west coast. The village is located on Campbell Island, about 3km/2mi north of McLoughlin Bay where BC Ferries’ Queen of Chilliwack docks. The town’s services include a bank, large general store, police station and the only hospital and pharmacy on the island. South of Bella Bella, the pristine waterways of Hakai Pass are known worldwide for trophy-salmon fishing. Here, anglers find some of the biggest catches on the B.C. coast: huge runs of chinook, coho, sockeye, chum and pink salmon churn through the currents. Fishers can also drop a line for halibut, snapper and ling cod. The wildlife parade is just as impressive: orcas, humpbacks, grey whales, dolphins and eagles all make stops at Hakai Pass. Wildlife lovers may even spot sea lions, seals, wolves and deer along the shore. The resorts and floating lodges in the Hakai Pass area host excellent guided wildlifeviewing tours and fishing packages, with accommodations ranging from rustic to luxurious.
Doug Neasloss/Spirit Bear Lodge
Today the town-site continues to be visited and used as a stopover point by coastal travellers and fishermen, and the ancient shell midden (a midden is a mound containing shells, animal bones and other refuse that indicates the site of a human settlement) makes it a continuing source of curiosity for archaeologists who have discovered local evidence of cultures dating back nearly 10,000 years. Such research shows that Namu is the earliest radiocarbon-dated site on the B.C. coast.
Ocean Falls Fishing Lodge
Ocean Falls offers World Class Salt Water
and Trout Fishing. And, we have guides and gear for both.
ish Fun Food F in the spectacular West Coast Wilderness. www.oceanfallslodge.com 250-289-3293 1-800-663-5885
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