Tuck Into Discovery Passage Shelter for Winter Chinook
Resident winter Chinook are stacked along Discovery Passage shorelines, and the sheltered inside waters keep us fishing hard despite SE winds and chop.
Where the Fish Are Holding Today
Discovery Passage is our bread and butter this morning, and for good reason. With SE winds blowing at 37 km/h and wave height running around 1.9m, we're keeping tight to the protected shorelines where resident winter Chinook are stacked up and feeding. These fish don't need to roam far right now — the baitfish are holding along the structure and drop-offs of the Passage, and the Chinook are right there with them. When it's snotty out on the big open water, the inside waters of Discovery Passage give us the calm pockets and productive seams we need to get bent.
Conditions and What They Mean
It's a classic November morning here in Campbell River — 9°C with rain showers moving through and a steady SE breeze pushing 37 km/h. That wind is kicking up some chop, so we're working the lee and the shoreline tucks rather than fighting the exposure. The timing is in our favour: we've got morning slack transitioning into the flood, and that tide change is the switch that flips the feed on. As the flood builds and pushes bait against the shoreline structure, those winter Chinook get aggressive.
Technique Hints
Resident winter Chinook in the 8–15 lb range are our target, and they respond beautifully to a slow, deliberate presentation. Get your gear down into the strike zone and troll naturally with the current. Glow flashers paired with anchovy or a glow hoochie are reliable producers on these grey, low-light days. Watch your sounder for bait balls along the shoreline contours and put your gear right in the mix. Patience and attention to detail on the flood will reward you.
What Guests Can Expect This Week
Retention is 2 Chinook per day with a minimum size of 62cm, so there's real opportunity to put dinner in the box. The resident fishery in Discovery Passage and the inside waters is one of the most consistent bites of the season — these fish stay local and feed hard through the winter. Johnstone Strait gets rougher in this kind of weather, but the Passage keeps us fishing comfortably and productively even when the wind is up.
Book Your Trip
Winter Chinook season is in full swing, and the protected inside waters mean we can get out and fish even on blustery days like today. Bundle up, bring your game face, and let us put you on the bite. Spots are filling — reach out and lock in your date with Fishing Storie Charters.
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.
