Discovery Passage Holding Fish: Trophy Chinook on a Glassy Flood
Trophy Chinook are stacking along Quadra shorelines and Discovery Passage on a glassy flood tide — plus Coho on the surface. Best fishing of the year.
Where the Fish Are Holding Today
Good morning from Campbell River! The trophy Chinook are stacking up right where we want them — along the Quadra Island shorelines and through the heart of Discovery Passage. This is classic mid-summer positioning: fish push up on the tide lines and hold tight to structure, and right now the migration is running strong through the Passage before spilling toward Johnstone Strait. If you've been waiting for the best fishing of the year, it's happening now.
Conditions on the Water
We couldn't ask for a nicer morning. It's sitting at 17°C under partly cloudy skies, with a gentle N wind at just 4 km/h and wave height of about 0.1m — dead calm, glassy water that makes for a comfortable day on the boat. We're working the morning slack rolling into the flood, which is exactly the tide window that fires up the Chinook bite in Discovery Passage. When the water starts moving on the flood, so do the fish.
What's Running and Why
Chinook retention has been OPEN since July 15, and trophy season is in full swing. Most fish coming to the net are solid 12–16 pounders, but this is the best time of year for a shot at a true 30+ lb Tyee-class Chinook. That's the fish that stops the whole boat. Alongside the kings we've got Coho hitting surface gear aggressively, plus Pink Salmon keeping rods bent between the bigger bites — great action for anglers of every experience level.
Techniques That Are Working
Anchovy in glow teaser heads has been the go-to producer, and glow hootchies fished deep are earning their keep on the trophy Chinook. For the Coho, keep some gear up in the top of the water column where they're feeding on the surface. As always, when a fish crushes anchovy shallow, be ready — it happens fast on the flood.
What to Expect This Week
Remember, Chinook retention is one per day, with a slot of 62cm minimum to 80cm maximum — so guests can absolutely take a beautiful fish home for the table. Between the calm seas, the strong migration through the Passage, and the trophy potential, this is the week to be here.
Spots are filling up fast during peak Tyee season. Book your Campbell River charter with Fishing Storie Charters and let's get you on the fish of a lifetime.
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.
