FSC Daily Fishing Report - Monday, August 3, 2026

Conditions Report: August 3, 2026

Some mornings the coast gives you everything. Today was one of them. Captain Trevor pushed the 17' Boston Whaler Montauk off A Dock at Coast Marina for the 6am departure and idled out into a Discovery Passage lying dead flat.

The numbers backed up the feeling. Air temp 18°C, feeling like 17. Wind out of the north at just 5 km/h, gusting to 7 — barely a ripple. Clear sky, visibility a full 10 km, with the forecast fog banks dissipating near noon well out in the strait. The Environment Canada marine forecast called for NW 5 to 15 knots and seas one metre or less; on the water it was glass calm. Sunrise came at 5:53 AM and we were rigged and fishing for it. The overnight low bottomed at 3:10 AM, and we worked the ebb building off the 8:21 AM high toward the 9:17 AM slack before ebb at Seymour Narrows, where the current had been running a hard 10.4-knot ebb.

The Catch

The plan was simple and it produced. We trolled hoochies — plastic squid lures — behind flashers, downriggers set to 100 feet in the main channel between Vancouver Island and Quadra Island. Water temp read a warm 18.2°C, so the Chinook were up and feeding shallower than they run in winter. We kept the Montauk around 2.5 to 3 knots to keep those hoochies rolling right, and worked the softening tide on the front side of the slack. Three Chinook came to the boat, all released clean under this season's slot rules. The best fish went a chrome bright 14 pounds — fins intact, sea lice still on her, fresh from the salt. Chrisand ran the rod well and earned every one. The rod bent, the reel gave line, and the fish came up silver.

What's Running in August

August in Campbell River is prime Chinook time. Most fish we see run 12 to 16 pounds — solid feeder Chinook — with always a chance at a trophy over 30. In DFO Area 13 from July 15 to August 31, the rules call for one Chinook per day within a 62 to 80cm slot, meaning anything over 80cm goes back to keep the run strong. Warm water keeps the fish active and often a little shallower, and the tidal push through Seymour Narrows concentrates bait and feeding salmon right through Discovery Passage. Coho typically fill in through the summer and fall as well.

Book Your Trip

The Boston Whaler Montauk is nimble and perfect for one or two anglers who want a hands-on morning with a guide who takes the time to teach. We run three departures daily — 6am, 11am, and 4pm — from Coast Marina A Dock, with free parking at the south end of Tyee Plaza. View our salmon fishing charters and Check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com. August is filling up — come see a Campbell River morning for yourself.

Weather: Clear sky, 18°C, light N wind 5 km/h gusting 7 | Water: Glass calm, deep blue-green, no whitecaps