Trophy Chinook Building in Discovery Passage — 11 Days to Opener

Saturday Morning on the Water

Good morning from Campbell River! We're looking at a classic west coast summer setup this Saturday — 14°C, overcast skies, and light NW winds at just 7 km/h. The water is flat calm out there, with waves barely registering, and we're moving through morning slack into a building flood tide. These are the kind of conditions guides dream about: comfortable, glassy, and fishy.

Chinook Running Strong Through Discovery Passage

The Chinook show in Discovery Passage keeps getting better by the day. Most of the fish coming to the boat are in that solid 12-16 lb range, but we're seeing more and more trophy-class fish showing up as we creep toward Tyee season. That means every rod-bender out there could be a genuine 30-35 pounder — and there's nothing quite like the head-shaking runs of a big Discovery Passage king.

A quick but important reminder: Chinook is catch & release only right now under DFO regulations. Retention opens July 15 — just 11 days away! We're building toward that opener, and the fish stacking up now are a great sign of what's to come. For now, we'll get you tight to some beautiful kings, snap the photos, and send them back to fight another day.

Coho Just Starting to Show

On top of the Chinook action, early Coho are beginning to trickle in. It's still early days for them, but the first arrivals are always exciting and add another dimension to the day. Expect that to build steadily through the weeks ahead.

Technique This Week

With the flood tide building, we're focusing our efforts along the tide lines and current seams in Discovery Passage where bait gets pushed together. Trolling glow and green spoons and anchovy in teaser heads down in the water column has been producing well. When the light is low like this overcast morning, the bite window can stretch long — so we'll be making the most of it.

What Guests Can Expect

This week is all about steady catch & release Chinook action with a real shot at a trophy fish, plus the bonus of early Coho. Calm seas and cooperative fish make it a perfect stretch for both seasoned anglers and first-timers.

Book Your Trip

With the July 15 retention opener just around the corner, now is the time to lock in your dates. Whether you want in on the pre-opener trophy hunt or you're eyeing that first keeper Chinook of the season, our calendar is filling fast. Give us a shout and let's get you on the water!

Ready to experience world-class fishing in Campbell River? Book your charter trip with Fishing Storie Charters today. Captain Jason and the crew are ready to put you on fish.