Fly-fishing for striped bass in Quebec

If you have fished the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec Province, more than likely you have been lured there by the promise of landing Atlantic salmon.  Unfortunately, this is a species with declining numbers resulting in reduced access and significant fishing restrictions.  The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), which monitors marine ecosystems globally, estimates that spawning adults returning to Quebec have declined over the past fifty years from more than 100,000 per year to less than 30,000.

This poses a challenge for traditional Atlantic salmon fishing lodges in Quebec, including Camp Bonaventure, which is situated on the Gaspé Peninsula.  The lodge is experimenting with a new fishing product in the hopes of broadening its client base. I recently had the opportunity to join an Orvis-sponsored excursion there to experience the striped bass fishing that the destination has begun to offer.

I am based in the mid-Atlantic and have no shortage of opportunities to pursue stripers.  But the visit to Bonaventure provided a chance to fish for migrating sea-run salmon which are protected in the USA.  So, combining the experience of fishing both species in the idylic waterfront community of Bonaventure on the Gaspé Peninsula seemed compelling and a unique topic for this blog.

The first stop for our group was Montreal International Airport, after which we transferred to regional air service from the Montreal city airport to Bonaventure.  There we were greeted by our hosts and transported to Camp Bonaventure, which is an Orvis-endorsed lodge.  We occupied the self-contained Main Camp, where we slept, dined and socialized.  It was very pleasant accommodation, and also appropriately rustic and remote.

Heading out to fish the flats on Chaleur Bay near Bonaventure on the Gaspé Peninsula

After breakfast in the morning, we met our guides and were assigned a destination – either striper fishing on flats or wading for Atlantic salmon on the Bonaventure River.  For those of us fishing for stripers, we were transported to a nearby marina near the bay and we loaded our gear onto a flats boat.  From there we motored to a coastal lie and began tossing flies to various forms of structure, sandy bottoms that appeared to hold pods of fish or storm water outflows dumping into inlets.

Bonaventure on the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec Province has a healthy population of striped bass

What was unique about this fishing experience is that our guides were being cross trained to elevate their skills relative to striper fishing.  This included discovering sites holding fish, identifying attractive fly patterns that would attract the fish and leveraging electronic technology to locate the fish (e.g. sonar).  All the participants of our Orvis expedition were offering advice and experiences to this effort.

What impacted me most was that stripers have been considered an unwanted by-catch for years in Gaspé.  Anglers have not appreciated striped bass as a sport fishing target, nor as a gastronomic delicacy.  I remember remarking to one local how lucky they were to have such a delicious fish readily available; I was answered with a “really?” and a quizzical look . Clearly the striper is under appreciated in these parts!

stripers were caught in sheltered coves and along rocky shoreline

If you fish for striped bass, the technique and approach will not be much different here than on the East Coast of the USA.  On the first day, I used a 9 foot, 9-weight Recon rod with a Hydrox reel loaded with Scientific Anglers striper line accompanied by a 12lb to 16lb leader.  We fished traditional streamers, particularly a pink or chartreuse Clouser, casting to riprap or storm water outflows during an incoming tide.  On the second day, I fished an 8½ foot, 10-weight Helios D rod with a Mirage reel and saltwater floating line, while sight fishing for stripers in sheltered coves along shore.  Conditions were best when the water was slightly colored and sky was partly cloudy.  Most fish put in the net were in the range of 20 to 25 inches, although there were some fish bordering on 28 to 30 inches.

Camp Bonaventure is focused on diversifying its positioning as a fishing destination on the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec Province and I think making great progress in that regard.  If you are looking for a unique fishing experience focused on Atlantic salmon and striped bass, I would recommend this destination.

Note:  I am not being compensated for my mention of Orvis or Camp Bonaventure.  I am only a happy client.