FSC Daily Fishing Report - September 13, 2026
A flat calm September morning on Discovery Passage delivered chrome Chinook and Coho for a father-son crew from Winnipeg. See how this Campbell River fishing charter unfolded on Grant's Reef, best fish 17 pounds.
Conditions Report: September 13, 2026
Some mornings the water gives you everything. Sunday was one of them. We left Coast Marina A Dock under a clear blue sky, air temperature at 16°C and a light ESE wind of just 2 knots. Visibility ran better than 10km — you could see clear across Discovery Passage to Quadra Island.
The sea state matched the sky. Flat calm, a metre or less, holding through the whole morning troll. The Johnstone Strait forecast promised NW 20 to 30 knots later in the day, and fog patches were due overnight, so we ran early and made the most of a clean weather window. Tides were with us too: morning high of 11.5 ft at 8:01 AM, Seymour Narrows slack before ebb at 8:13 AM, and a building flood pushing bait through the passage before the change.
The Catch
We trolled Grant's Reef, out in the main channel between Vancouver Island and Quadra. Tomic 602 plugs ran behind the downriggers, 80 to 120 feet down, at around 2.5 knots. That plug earned its keep. Water read a warm 16.5°C and the fish were active for it — chrome bright Chinook and Coho coming up steady through the morning. The bite settled in right around the tide change, and the midday major solunar feeding period, rated good, lined up nicely. Best fish of the day went 17 pounds, with plenty more released to keep the run strong. Aboard were Ian, Chris, Marshall, Chris and Rick from Winnipeg — a father and son among them, out on their first trip together. Watching the son's first fish come over the rail was the highlight of the day.
What's Running in September
September is Tyee season in Campbell River, and it's a special time to be here. The slot limit is off — daily limit is two Chinook per person with a 62cm minimum and no maximum size, which means a genuine shot at a trophy fish. Most of what we're landing sits in the 12-16 lb range of solid feeders, with the best chance of the year at a 30-plus pound bruiser. Coho are running well through the fall too, and both species were on the plugs today. Warm water keeps the fish shallow and feeding.
Book Your Trip
Days like this don't wait. If you've been thinking about a Campbell River fishing charter, September and October are prime. The 27' Boston Whaler Conquest offers a heated cabin, private washroom and Starlink WiFi, comfortable for groups up to four. View our salmon fishing charters and Check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com. We'd love to get you on the water.
Weather: Clear blue skies, scattered clouds, 16°C, light ESE wind 2 knots | Water: Flat calm, blue-green, clear
