FSC Daily Fishing Report - Saturday, August 1, 2026

Conditions Report: August 1, 2026

August opened soft and generous on Discovery Passage. Air temp sat at 20°C, feeling like 19°C, with a light ESE wind around 9 knots and no gusts to fight. Scattered clouds stacked into tall cumulus towers over the strait, dramatic against the water, but visibility held near 6 km with an open horizon. Sunrise came at 5:50 AM and we were on the troll early in that soft eastern light.

The marine forecast called northwest 10 to 15 knots with seas one metre or less, and that's just what we found - light chop, easy running, blue-grey water silvered on top. Tides worked in our favour: high water at 6:28 AM into the long run-out toward the 1:08 PM low, with Seymour Narrows slack before ebb at 7:39 AM. The hour ahead of that slack pushed bait and switched the fish on. Water temp read a warm 18.3°C, which kept the salmon active and holding higher in the column.

The Catch

We ran the nimble 17' Boston Whaler Montauk out of Coast Marina A Dock on the 6 AM departure with one angler aboard - Steven, visiting from the Netherlands on his first-ever day of salmon fishing. Warm water meant we didn't have to go deep, so we pulled Tomic plugs on the downriggers at 55 feet through the main channel between Vancouver Island and Quadra Island.

The plugs earned their keep. Five fish moved through the morning - two kept, three released. Steven's best was a chrome-bright 19 lb Chinook, fresh from the salt with sea lice still on it and every fin intact. Coho showed too, feisty and silver. The rod loaded, the line came tight, and the fish was there. First salmon, first trip, and a grin that said the rest.

What's Running in August

August is peak summer Chinook season in Campbell River, with Coho building in numbers as the month goes on. Most Chinook run 12 to 16 pounds, with a real chance at a trophy in the 30-plus range. Under DFO Area 13 rules through August 31, Chinook fall in a 62 to 80 cm slot - one per day, and anything over 80 cm is released to keep the run strong. Coho are open at two per day. Warm water this time of year keeps fish active and shallow, which makes for lively fishing and a great time to learn.

Book Your Trip

We run three departures daily - 6 AM, 11 AM, and 4 PM - and the summer calendar is filling fast. Whether you're a first-timer like Steven or a seasoned angler chasing a Tyee, Captain Trevor and the Montauk are ready. View our salmon fishing charters and Check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com.

Weather: 20°C, ESE wind 16 km/h (9 knots), scattered clouds with big cumulus building over the water | Water: Light chop, blue-grey water with silvered highlights, 1 metre or less