Getting to Joe's Is Half the Adventure

From the moment you check in at Vancouver's South Terminal to the second your water taxi docks at our barge in Hakai Pass, Joe's takes care of everything. Your package includes round-trip flights on Pacific Coastal Airlines and water taxi transfers — all you have to do is show up with your gear and a sense of adventure.

Here's exactly what to expect.

1. Before You Leave Home

A Few Things to Sort Out Before You Travel

BAG ALLOWANCE — IMPORTANT

Maximum bag allowance is 25 lbs. No carry-ons, please. Weights are specifically calculated before each flight, so please be mindful when packing. Pack smart — you won't need much out here.

PACKING LIST

What to Bring:

Waterproof boots
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof pants or bibs (highly recommended)
Breathable, warm layers
Travel mug
Sunscreen, sunglasses, toiletries, and medications
Camera (whale and porpoise sightings on the water taxi are common)
Note: Rain gear and rubber boots are no longer provided at the lodge. Please bring your own. We do not have a store on site, so come prepared with any personal essentials.

FISHING LICENSES

We do not allow guests to fish without the proper licenses. Please purchase the following online before your trip, and be sure to start your license on the first day of your stay:

Tidal Waters Sport Fishing LicensePacific
Salmon Stamp

Children under 16 fish for free but must still obtain a license. Get your license here.

A boater's license is recommended but not required. If you don't have one, we have a rental agreement at the lodge that allows you to operate our boats.

FOR AMERICAN & INTERNATIONAL GUESTS

Whether you're driving or flying into Canada, you'll need a valid passport from your home country. Please note that guests with a DUI or DWI history may be denied entry into Canada. Visit bordercrossing.ca for current entry requirements.

2. Getting to Vancouver South Terminal

Your Journey Starts at Vancouver South Terminal

All Joe's guests depart from Vancouver Airport South Terminal — a small, separate terminal located at 4440 Crowley Crescent, Richmond, BC. This is not the main YVR terminal, so give yourself time to get there.

HOTEL OPTIONS (NIGHT BEFORE)

If you need to stay in Vancouver the night before your flight, both the River Rock Hotel and the Radisson Blu Vancouver offer a Joe's Salmon Lodge guest rate and provide a shuttle directly to South Terminal. Contact details for both are available on our FAQ Page.

SHUTTLE FROM YVR MAIN TERMINAL

Flying into Vancouver's main terminal? A free courtesy shuttle runs between YVR and South Terminal approximately every 30–45 minutes. Visit YVR's Courtesy Shuttles page and download the A1 South Terminal Route Map for current times.

3. Checking in at Joe's Counter

Find Us at the Pacific Coastal Airlines Counter

When you arrive at South Terminal, make your way to the Pacific Coastal Airlines booth and look for the Joe's Salmon Lodge counter. Simply let them know you're heading to Joe's and present your government-issued ID — that's all there is to it.

Check-in time: 1:30pm

Flight departs at 3:00pm | Please do not arrive after 2:00pm

4. Vancouver to Bella Bella

The Flight In: 1 Hour and 20 Minutes of BC Coastline

Your flight departs South Terminal at 3:00pm on Pacific Coastal Airlines, bound for Bella Bella (BBC Airport). The flight is approximately one hour and twenty minutes — time to settle in and start getting excited about what's ahead.

Once you land, a Joe's Salmon Lodge representative will be waiting to meet you and get you to the dock without any fuss.

5. Bella Bella to the Lodge

Board the Clowhom Spirit 1: 1 Hour and 20 Minutes Through Hakai Pass

After landing in Bella Bella, you'll be shuttled down to the dock where the Clowhom — Joe's water taxi — will be waiting. The cruise to the lodge takes approximately one hour and twenty minutes through some of the most stunning coastal scenery in British Columbia.

Keep your eyes open and your camera ready. Whale and porpoise sightings are common on the run down to Hakai Pass.

6. Arriving at Joe's

You Made It. Now It's Time to Unwind.

When the Kloehome docks, Joe's crew will be right there to meet you. Don't worry about your bags — our staff will unload everything and deliver it straight to your room.

As you make your way down the dock and into the lodge, look for the fish board mounted on the wall. This board lists your name alongside your room and boat number — two things that go hand in hand at Joe's. Room 4 means boat #4. Simple as that.

Prefer to fish in your buddy's boat? No problem. Just know that your number stays yours for the entire trip — your fish, your bar tab, and your room are all tracked under it. You definitely don't want to take home the wrong fish.

Head upstairs to the Lodge Lounge where dinner will be waiting for you. Relax, eat, and enjoy a drink or two — you've arrived.

THE FISHMASTER SEMINAR

Your Briefing Before the First Cast

After dinner, the Fishmaster will call the group together for a 30-minute seminar covering boat safety, fishing techniques, equipment use, and the best spots in Hakai Pass. Whether you're a seasoned angler or casting for the first time, there's always something new to pick up. Don't skip it.

Once the seminar wraps up, you're free to head out. Fishing times vary by season with the amount of daylight — your Fishmaster and dock master will give you current times. As a rule of thumb: leave at sunrise, back before sunset.

7. Dining During Your Stay

DINING SCHEDULE

BAR SERVICE

We have a full bar available for purchase during serving hours. Please note that guests are not permitted to bring their own alcohol. Joe's operates under a BC Liquor License, which requires that all alcohol consumed on the premises be purchased from us.

8. Leaving Joe's

Making the Most of Your Last Morning

On departure day, breakfast service starts early at 5:00am so you can squeeze in a final morning on the water. To give your fish enough time to freeze properly before the journey home, please have your boat back at the dock by 11:00am.

CHECKOUT

Checkout runs from 11:00am to 12:30pm in the sitting area of the main barge. This is where you'll settle your bar tab, pay for merchandise, guided trips, or any equipment charges. Your trip package itself is paid prior to arrival — nothing to sort there.

Before you leave, please drop your questionnaire in the blue bowl on the table. Your feedback matters to us.

After checkout, head upstairs for lunch. Have your bags packed and left outside your room door by 12:30pm — our staff will bring them to the ferry once it arrives.

THE RETURN JOURNEY

The water taxi arrives at the lodge around 1:00pm – 1:30pm. Staff will load your luggage, and your fish boxes will be loaded approximately 5–10 minutes before departure.

After the run back to Bella Bella and your return flight to Vancouver, you can expect to be back at South Terminal by 7:00pm.

9. Your Catch Is Ready to Travel

We Handle Your Fish So You Don't Have To

Your catch will be cleaned, vacuum-sealed, frozen, and boxed by our team — ready to make the trip home with you. Each box will not exceed 50 lbs.

If you'd like your fish canned, candied, or smoked, we'll connect you with St. Jean's Cannery to arrange it. Ask the dock master during your stay to get that set up.