FSC Daily Fishing Report - Friday, July 31, 2026
A grey, rainy summer morning turned into a hot bite at the green can. This Campbell River fishing charter put a first-timer from Edmonton on Chinook salmon, coho, pink and lingcod aboard the Boston Whaler Montauk.
Conditions Report: July 31, 2026
It was a classic Campbell River summer morning — the grey kind, with a low overcast sky and a light rain falling steady off the water. Air temp held at 17°C. The wind came soft out of the northwest at 4 knots, gusting to 12, nothing that gave the boat any trouble. Visibility ran a clean 10 km.
Out on Discovery Passage, the Johnstone Strait forecast held true — seas 1 metre or less, just a light green chop. Sunrise came at 5:48 AM and we had lines wet shortly after. High tide stacked up at 6:28 AM at 11.5 feet, and we worked the early ebb that followed. Slack before ebb at Seymour Narrows came at 7:39 AM, and with the Narrows running hard on the ebb, we stayed south and let the current push bait around the green can.
The Catch
Captain Bruce ran the 17' Boston Whaler Montauk on the early departure with Alla aboard, a first-timer up from Edmonton for a taste of the salt. We fished Tomic plugs on the downriggers, run 80 to 120 feet down where the 9°C water held the fish. Cold water means a slow, lazy troll, and it paid off.
The bite was hot. Five kept, fourteen released, and four species came over the rail — Chinook, coho, pink and lingcod. The Chinook ran a solid 12-16 lbs, with a chrome-bright 12-pounder taking fish of the day. Anything over the slot limit went back healthy. The morning bite lined up neatly with the tide change and a minor solunar window at moonrise. Didn't take much to hook Alla on this place.
What's Running in July
Late July is peak summer salmon season in Campbell River. Chinook are the headline fish, running a honest 12-16 lbs with an outside shot at a trophy 30-pounder. Coho are showing well, and in odd years like 2027 the pinks push through in numbers. Lingcod round out the mix on the bottom, open since May 1. Under DFO Area 13 regulations, Chinook run a 62-80cm slot through August 31 — one per day, and anything over 80cm goes back to keep the run strong.
Book Your Trip
The nimble Montauk is perfect for first-timers and small groups looking for an intimate day on the water with a veteran captain. If a grey morning and a hot bite sounds like your kind of fishing, come see for yourself. View our salmon fishing charters and Check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com.
Weather: Overcast with light rain, 17°C, NW wind 4 knots gusting to 12 | Water: Light chop, green and cold, 1 metre or less
