FSC Daily Fishing Report - Monday, June 15, 2026

Fifteen Chinook Released: An Australian Family's Best Day Ever in Campbell River

The water off the red can was flat and grey and perfectly still. Overcast skies sat low over Discovery Passage, the mountains behind Quadra Island just visible through the clouds. Twenty-two degrees on the air, a whisper of wind from the west-northwest at eight kilometres per hour, and seas under one metre. The kind of afternoon where the boat barely rocks and the only sound is the hum of downriggers and the occasional cry of an eagle. The Spragg family had flown from Australia for this. They had never fished the ocean before. By the end of the afternoon, they would release fifteen Chinook salmon and young Owen would declare it the best day of his life.

Conditions on the Water

The afternoon session lined up with textbook conditions for summer Chinook fishing in Campbell River. A dead-low tide of 0.0 feet bottomed out at 12:56 PM, with slack before flood at Seymour Narrows arriving at 12:38 PM. As the flood tide built toward the 7:19 PM high of 13.4 feet, bait pushed through the red can zone and the Chinook followed. Surface water temperature sat at 16 degrees Celsius — warm for Campbell River standards — which pushed the fish deep. Captain Jason set the downriggers at 220 feet aboard the 27-foot Boston Whaler Conquest and ran Army Truck hoochies behind flashers. The new moon, at zero percent illumination, drove an Excellent solunar forecast. The major feeding period from 11:31 AM to 1:31 PM overlapped with the start of the session and the slack water window. The fish were ready.

The Catch

Fifteen Chinook salmon came to the boat over five hours. Every single fish was released in excellent condition. Most were solid feeder Chinook in the 12 to 16-pound range — chrome bright, heavy, and full of fight. The best fish of the day was a 24-pounder that Owen, the youngest member of the Spragg family, brought to the net after a fight that had the whole boat on their feet. Jamie, Kathryn, Owen, and Alison all had their turns on the rod, but Owen's fish was the one that will get talked about at every family dinner for years to come. As Jamie said afterward, Owen called it the best day of his life. The rod bent, the drag screamed, and the fish was there.

What Is Running in June

June is prime time for summer Chinook salmon in Discovery Passage and the waters around Campbell River on Vancouver Island. Feeder Chinook in the 12 to 16-pound range are the bread and butter of the fishery, with a genuine chance at trophy fish pushing 24 pounds and beyond. Current DFO Area 13 retention rules require release of Chinook over 80 centimetres, which means the biggest fish go back to keep the run strong. It is catch and release at its best — the thrill of the fight, the weight in your hands, the photo, and then watching that silver shape disappear back into the green water. Coho salmon are also starting to show in increasing numbers as summer progresses.

Book Your Campbell River Fishing Charter

Summer availability on the Boston Whaler Conquest is filling fast, with afternoon and full-day charters running daily out of Coast Marina. Whether you are a first-time angler from the other side of the world or a returning guest chasing your personal best, the summer Chinook bite in Discovery Passage is the real thing. View our salmon fishing charters and check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com. Captain Jason and the Fishing Storie Charters team are ready to put you on fish.

Weather: 22°C, overcast, WNW winds 8 km/h gusting 11 km/h, visibility 10 km | Water: Calm with light ripples, seas 1 metre or less