Two Chinook a Day: Winter Keepers Over 62cm Are On Right Now

What You Can Keep Today

Let's lead with the good news for anyone planning a trip this week: winter Chinook retention is open at two per day, with a 62cm minimum size. That's a solid limit for the local resident fish we're targeting in Discovery Passage right now, and there are no urgent DFO regulation changes to report, so the rules you see today are the rules we'll be fishing by this week. Bring a cooler — these feeders are table-fare gold.

Conditions on the Water

This Monday, October 19th, we're looking at a classic Campbell River fall morning. It's a crisp 5°C under overcast skies, with a light NW wind at just 8 km/h. Best of all, the wave height is sitting at a glassy 0.0m — flat-calm water that makes for comfortable fishing and easy rod-watching. We're working the morning slack into a building flood, and that transition is exactly when these resident Chinook switch on and start feeding.

Why the Chinook Are Here

Our resident winter Chinook, running 8 to 15 pounds, are stacked up in Discovery Passage and the surrounding inside waters, chasing bait through the tide lines. Unlike the migratory summer fish, these local feeders hang in our area all winter, which is why October through the cold months is such a reliable window. The flood tide pushes bait against the structure and the Chinook follow — that's your bite window.

How We're Fishing

Downrigger work is the name of the game. We're running glow spoons and bait deep, dialing in on the schools we mark on the sounder. On these overcast, low-light mornings the glow finishes work beautifully, and with the water flat at 0.0m you'll feel every tap. Precise depth control over moving fish is what separates a slow day from a full box, and that's where our local knowledge of Discovery Passage pays off.

Book Your Spot This Week

With open retention, feeding resident Chinook, and glass-calm conditions, this is prime time to get aboard. Johnstone Strait and the Passage are fishing well, the crowds have thinned for the season, and the fish are cooperating. Whether you're a seasoned angler or bringing the family out for a first salmon, now is the week to do it. Give us a call and let's get you on the water — these winter Chinook won't wait.

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.