What You Can Keep Now: Coho, Chum & Late Chinook on a Calm Flood
Coho are peaking at 10-15 lbs on calm, glassy seas, with chum arriving and late Chinook still in play on today's flood.
Know Your Limits: What's Legal on Discovery Passage Today
Good morning from Campbell River. Before we talk technique, let's cover what matters most out here — what you can actually put in the box. Right now coho are your bread-and-butter target, with hatchery fish in the 10 to 15 lb range coming over the rails daily. Chum salmon are just starting to show, and there are still late Chinook prowling the deeper edges. There are no urgent DFO regulation changes to report today, but always confirm your daily limits and any Chinook size windows before you launch — regs can shift quickly this time of year, and we'll keep you posted the moment anything changes.
Today's Conditions on the Water
We've got a soft, forgiving morning out here. It's sitting at 13°C under overcast skies, with light NW winds at just 5 km/h and wave height essentially flat at 0.0m — glassy, easy running. We're moving from a morning slack into the flood, and that transition is exactly the kind of window that switches these coho on. Calm surface conditions like this let you spot fish working bait, and that's a gift when you're chasing surface-aggressive salmon.
Why the Coho Are the Story
Coho are at their peak right now, and these are the fish that make Discovery Passage so much fun this month. They're aggressive, they hit hard, and they love surface presentations. Small bright spoons and surface flies are producing well — keep your gear moving with a little speed, because coho want to chase. When that flood starts pushing bait through the Passage, watch for surface disturbance and fish tight to the action. Meanwhile, if you want a shot at a heavier Chinook, work the bait balls deeper along Johnstone Strait, and don't be surprised when a fresh chum crashes your spoon along the way.
What to Expect Aboard This Week
Expect steady coho action with real trophy potential, mixed shots at chum, and the chance at a late-season Chinook to round out the day. With winds this light and seas flat, it's a comfortable trip for anglers of every experience level — perfect for families and first-timers. The peak coho bite doesn't last forever, so if you've been thinking about getting out on Discovery Passage, now is the time. Boats are filling fast through September. Give us a call and let's get you on the water while the fish are hot.
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.
