Big Coho Moving In as Trophy Chinook Prowl Bait Balls

The Run Is Peaking Right Now

Good morning from Campbell River. If you've been waiting for the run to hit full stride, this is the week. The bait balls are stacking up through Discovery Passage and the predators are pinned to them — big Chinook are shadowing the schools and Coho are pouring in fast. We're right at the meat of the season, and the variety on the water right now is honestly the best of the whole year.

Today's Conditions

Conditions couldn't be much friendlier. We're sitting at 15°C under partly cloudy skies, with a light N wind at just 5 km/h barely putting a ripple on the surface. Wave height is a glassy 0.1m, and we're working the morning slack into a building flood — exactly the tide change that gets these fish feeding. Flat water and a fresh flood is a recipe we love.

What's Running and Why

Chinook are still biting hard. Most fish are landing in that solid 12-16 lb class, but this is the month with the season's best odds at a true trophy — a 30-35 lb Tyee is absolutely on the table right now. Retention is open, so guests are taking Chinook home (one per day, between 62 and 80 cm). Coho are peaking too, with fish in the 12-16 lb range chewing well. Pinks round out the mix and keep rods bent between the bigger bites — great action for everyone aboard.

Technique Hints

Find the bait, find the fish. We're keying on those bait balls and working glow spoons and anchovy in the strike zone as the flood picks up. Vary your depth until you dial in the class of fish you're after — the bigger Chinook often sit deeper below the schools while Coho hunt higher. When that flood really turns on, be ready.

What to Expect This Week

With the run at its peak, calm seas, and Chinook retention open, this is prime time. Expect steady action, real shots at a trophy Tyee, and a great mix of species from Discovery Passage up toward Johnstone Strait. Whether you're chasing your personal best or just want a cooler full of salmon, the odds are stacked in your favour.

Book Your Trip

Days like these don't last long, and the calendar is filling up fast during peak season. Get in touch with Fishing Storie Charters and let's get you on the water while the fish are chewing.

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.