Big Tyee-Class Chinook Moving In on the Morning Flood

The Run Is Here — Trophy Chinook Are Moving Through

This is what we've been waiting for all year. The trophy Chinook run is now firmly in Discovery Passage, and we're seeing the size class we dream about starting to show. Most fish coming over the rail are solid 12–16 pounders, but the big Tyee-class fish — those 30 to 35 lb monsters — are in the system right now. If you're going to hook the fish of a lifetime in Campbell River, the next few weeks are your window.

Today's Conditions

We've got a beautiful mid-July morning out there. It's sitting at 15°C with partly cloudy skies and light NW winds at just 5 km/h, so the water is glass-calm with wave heights around 0.0m. We're working the morning slack transitioning into the flood, and that tide change is exactly when these big Chinook get aggressive. Flat water and a building flood is a recipe for putting fish in the boat.

What's Running and Why

The Chinook are stacking up along the shorelines and current seams of Discovery Passage as they stage before pushing further up. Bait balls of herring and needlefish are drawing them in, and the fish are feeding hard. Coho are also in the mix and hitting surface gear well, plus we've got Pink Salmon around to keep the rods bent between the bigger bites. It's genuinely the best fishing of the year right now.

Technique Tips

Anchovy in a glow teaser head fished 40–60 feet down the water column is the go-to for these Chinook, especially working the flood tide bite. For Coho, bump your gear up shallow and run flashers with hoochies near the surface — they're chasing bait right up top. Stay on the bait schools, watch your sounder, and be ready when the tide turns.

Retention & What to Expect This Week

Great news — Chinook retention is OPEN as of July 15! Guests can keep one Chinook per day (minimum 62cm, maximum 80cm) and take home some of the finest salmon on the coast. With the run building and the weather settled, this week is shaping up to be the peak of our season across Discovery Passage and into Johnstone Strait.

Book Your Trophy Trip

The window for a Tyee-class Chinook doesn't stay open long. Boats are filling fast during this prime stretch — reach out today and let's get you on the water while the big fish are on the bite.

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.