FSC Daily Fishing Report - Saturday, August 1, 2026

Conditions Report: August 1, 2026

Some evenings the water gives you every advantage. This was one of them. Saturday's 4 PM departure met a flat calm strait, overcast skies holding the glare down, and air sitting at a comfortable 16°C. The southeast wind barely registered at 2 km/h, and visibility ran clean out to 10 km — you could pick the mountains off the horizon across Discovery Passage.

The marine forecast promised seas of a metre or less, and it delivered. Barely a ripple. Northwest wind was set to build to 15 knots overnight, but our evening window laid right down. We worked the flood tide climbing toward the 8:25 PM high of 12.9 ft, with slack before ebb at Seymour Narrows landing at 8:17 PM. Seymour itself ran a strong 5.4 knot flood, so we stayed in the softer water of the main channel and let the tide push the bait.

The Catch

Captain Trevor ran the classic Campbell River program aboard the 17' Boston Whaler Montauk — Tomic plugs trolled deep on the downriggers at 180 feet. The surface read a warm 18.4°C, so the fish were holding down in the cooler water. The last hour before slack is where it came together, right around moonset with the waning gibbous overhead.

Federica had traveled all the way from Italy, and this was his honeymoon and his very first time on these waters. The rod bent, the drag ran, and the fish was there. Five salmon came to the boat over the evening — a mix of Chinook and Coho, all chrome bright and all released. The best of them was a solid 15 lb Chinook that came up silver in the low light. As his guide put it, he will remember this for the rest of his life.

What's Running in August

August is prime salmon time in Campbell River. Chinook are the headline fish, running mostly 12-16 lbs this season with always a chance at a trophy 30-plus pounder. Coho join the mix through summer and fall, bright and aggressive. Under DFO Area 13 rules through August 31, Chinook carry a 62-80 cm slot limit with one per day, and anything over 80 cm must be released — which keeps the runs strong for years to come. Warm surface water means running your gear deep, and the tide windows around slack remain the difference between a slow troll and a bent rod.

Book Your Trip

The nimble Montauk is perfect for one or two anglers who want an intimate, hands-on day, and Captain Trevor is at his best teaching first-timers the ropes. Whether you're celebrating a milestone like Federica or just chasing your first Chinook, we'll get you on the water. View our salmon fishing charters and check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com.

Weather: Overcast, 16°C, light SE wind 2 km/h | Water: Flat calm, 1 metre or less, light ripples, green-blue water