Trophy Chinook Building in Discovery Passage — Opener 7 Days Out

Conditions on the Water

We've got a beautiful summer morning out here in Campbell River. It's sitting at 13°C with partly cloudy skies, a light NW wind at 10 km/h, and the water is laid right down at about 0.2 metres. We're working the morning slack rolling into the flood, and those transition periods are exactly when the bite tends to fire up. Comfortable, fishable, and honestly hard to beat for a day chasing salmon.

What's Running and Why

The Chinook are moving through Discovery Passage in good numbers right now. Most fish we're seeing are in that 12-16 lb range, but the trophy-class fish are starting to show up more and more as we build toward Tyee season. Every year around this time the big shoulders start to arrive, and this week we've already had a few brutes on the line. A quick reminder: Chinook are strictly catch & release until July 15 under DFO regulation — but the fight is every bit as good, and the timing couldn't be better. Retention opens in just 7 days. On top of that, the early Coho are just starting to trickle in, adding a fun bonus to the day.

Technique Hints

With the tides we're seeing, trolling anchovy in a glow teaser head or a green-splatterback spoon down deep has been the ticket through the Passage. Get your gear down into the 100-150 foot range and pay attention to your sounder — when you mark bait, the Chinook aren't far behind. For the early Coho, bump your gear up a bit shallower and add a little more speed to your troll. Sharp hooks and a smooth release are the name of the game while we're still in catch & release mode.

What to Expect This Week

Expect steady catch & release Chinook action with a real shot at hooking into a trophy fish. The Passage and the mouth of Johnstone Strait are holding fish, and conditions are lining up nicely. This is the perfect week to sharpen up your skills and get dialed in before retention opens on July 15 — imagine tangling with these bruisers now and coming back next week to take one home for the smoker.

Book Your Seat

The countdown to the July 15 opener is on, and the trophy fish are already here. If you want to be on the water when Chinook retention swings open, now's the time to lock in your date. Give Fishing Storie Charters a shout and let's go put you on a Campbell River giant.

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.