Fishing Boat by Jonathan Lundqvist

People have been fishing for almost 40,000 years. This incredibly popular activity, now entertaining and employing over 38 million people, started to spread from lakes to the ocean in the 16th century, when fishing vessels were able to cross oceans in pursuit of fish for the first time. Fishing currently employs over 500 million people. The worldwide per capita consumption of fish has reached unbelievable 14.4 kilograms.

The plentiful Canadian waters have always attracted fishers. The tradition of fishing in Canada was initiated by the Ojibwa and Chippewa First Nations, who spent hours fishing on the waters such as Lake Superior in Ontario. Commercial fishing in Canada began in approximately 1820. Now, Canada is one of the most popular places to go when you want to go fishing. The Vancouver area is famous for its hospitality and very good fishing opportunities. So let’s not waste such opportunity and discover the beautiful fishing sites of Vancouver and its surroundings!

Fishing Tackle

Hooks

A fish hook is used for catching fish by impaling them in the mouth. The early usage of hooks was very primitive and hooks were usually made of bones, horns, shells, or even the thorns of plants. This part of a fishing tackle is crucial since you use hooks to catch both sea and freshwater fish. According to Wikipedia, in 2005, the Forbes magazine chose a hook as one of the top twenty tools in the history of man.

It’s very important to choose the correct type and size of hook for the intended purpose. This depends on whether you want to use dead or live bait and many other considerations. Here is a video that might help you answer your questions.

Lines

Modern lines are made from artificial substances, including nylon, Dacron, polyethylene, and dyneema. The most common type is very strong and it’s able to stretch under the load. This type is called monofilament, and it’s made of a single strand.

The parameters you’re looking for are length, weight, and of course, material. The thicker the line, the more visible it is to fish. To choose the right line, consult your local retailer, or watch this presentation, which might be helpful.

Fishing Rod

Salmon Fishing Michigan
by huntfishguide.com

A fishing line is attached to a fishing rod to be controlled more easily and to give you the edge in the struggle with fish. One end of a line is attached to a fishing reel and the other end of the rod holds the rest of the line with a hook at the end.

A rod is usually made as light and strong as possible, consisting of carbon fibre and fibre glass. You can find sizes between 24 inches and 20 feet. The longer the rod, the further you cast the hook attached to a line.

Fishing Reel

Fishing reels are traditionally used in angling. A fishing reel is a device used for the deployment and retrieval of a fishing line using a spool mounted on an axle. It’s a good idea to consider the type of your fishing rod when choosing your fishing reel to reach maximum effectiveness. Here is a video that might help you with that.

The other parts of fishing tackle you’ll need:

• sinkers
• fishing bait (natural or artificial)
• bite indicators
• nets
• tackle box

If you don’t know of any fishing shop in your neighbourhood, you can check this registry.

Fishing Licences

If you want to go fishing in Vancouver or elsewhere in BC, you’ll need a fishing licence. It can be purchased at your local fishing shop or online. You can find prices here. You can also check regulations in the link for online licence registration.

For more information, read about Canadian fishing associations and regulations.

The Most Popular Places for Fishing in Vancouver

Horseshoe Bay

Horseshoe Bay by fujitariuji

This popular West Vancouver location is known for its calm and peaceful village atmosphere, wonderful scenery, and easy access to Bowen Island and Howe Sound — one of the best fishing grounds in Vancouver. Boat rentals and fishing charters are available. The lighthouse near Horseshoe Bay offers a magnificent view, and Whytecliff parks are a nice place for a walk if you’re tired of fishing.

Fishing Charters from Downtown Vancouver

There are many fishing charters that operate from the heart of the city. Many options are available from Coal Harbour, while Granville Island, one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations, provides anglers with numerous fishing, sightseeing, or boating options ideal for family fishing trips or group fishing trips to the nearby surroundings of the city.

Capilano River

Capilano River by Dave O

This salmon fishing spot in West Vancouver offers anglers easy shore access and an incredible view. Anglers line the shoreline and cast for coho and chinook. The nearby Capilano Fish hatchery offers you valuable insight into the life of these fish.

Rice Lake

Minutes from the city, this urban fishing ground provides a great opportunity to introduce fishing to your children or first-time anglers. It’s located near the Seymour demonstration forest in North Vancouver. A large, wheelchair-accessible dock provides easy access to all anglers and washrooms, and picnic tables are also provided.

Stanley Park Seawall

The Stanley Park seawall is one of the most popular and scenic locations in the entire city. With miles of shoreline to choose from, anglers can cast a line into English Bay or Burrard Inlet. Fishers might not hook the “big one,” but for the pure enjoyment of fishing, the seawall is hard to beat.

Enjoy your fishing experience, and let us know what your favourite places and greatest catches are!