FSC Daily Fishing Report - Friday, July 31, 2026
A birthday morning on The Hump turned into a banner day. This Campbell River fishing charter put Mike on his first-ever Chinook salmon — three kept, a dozen released, and a best fish pushing 16 pounds under a full moon.
Conditions Report: Friday, July 31, 2026
Some mornings the water asks nothing of you. This was one. High overcast at 16°C, a west wind that never climbed past 3 knots, and flat calm seas a metre or less. Visibility ran a clean 10 km, with breaks of blue overhead. Sunrise came at 5:48 AM and light stayed with us right through to a 9:05 PM sunset.
The tides shaped the day. High water hit at 5:41 AM at 11.8 feet before falling toward a 3.2-foot low at 12:48 PM. Seymour Narrows ran hard on the flood, peaking well over 13 knots, so we stayed south and worked the building flood off the 6:56 AM slack. That moving water pushed bait up onto The Hump and stacked the fish where we wanted them.
The Catch
We trolled hoochies behind flashers on the downriggers, set 80 to 120 feet down at around 2.5 knots. Classic summer program, and it worked. The bite was steady and generous. We kept three Chinook in the 12 to 16 pound slot and released a dozen more, all fins intact and swimming strong. The best fish went 16 pounds, chrome bright and hard fighting. Water temperature read 18.2°C, warm enough to keep the fish active and up in the column. A full moon at 97 percent illumination and a solunar rating of Excellent had them feeding, and the morning minor around moonrise got them going early. Best of all, this was Mike's day. First salmon trip of his life, on his birthday. The rod loaded, the drag sang, and his first Chinook came over the rail.
What's Running in July
Late July on Discovery Passage is prime Chinook time. Most fish run 12 to 16 pounds right now, with a real chance at a trophy 30-pounder if the day breaks your way. Under DFO Area 13 rules, from July 15 to August 31 it's one Chinook per day in a 62 to 80cm slot, which means the big ones go back to spawn. We fish that rule with pride. Coho begin filling in through late summer and fall as well, adding to the mix.
Book Your Trip
The summer Chinook bite is on and August is filling fast. Our Boston Whaler Conquest carries up to four guests in comfort, with a heated cabin, private washroom, and Starlink WiFi. Whether it's a birthday, a first cast, or a return trip, we'll put you on the fish. View our salmon fishing charters and Check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com.
Weather: Overcast, 16°C, light west wind 2-3 knots | Water: Flat calm, 1 metre or less, blue-grey with a light surface sheen
