FSC Daily Fishing Report - Sunday, July 26, 2026

Conditions Report: Sunday, July 26, 2026

Grey sky, green water, and the kind of quiet that makes an early departure worth the alarm clock. Sunday morning broke overcast at 17°C with 10 km visibility over Discovery Passage. The wind came ESE at 15 km/h, gusting to 26, but the shape of the channel gave us shelter and the water stayed to a light chop.

The marine forecast for Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage called for southeast wind 5 to 15 knots and seas a metre or less, and that's exactly what we found. The tide ran a full swing, with a low of 3.0 ft at 10:26 AM. The number we cared about was the Seymour Narrows slack before flood at 9:51 AM. We fished the run into that slack, and as the current eased the bite firmed right up. Seymour Narrows was building toward a hard 8.4 knot flood, so we stayed in the main channel and let the moving water push the bait for us.

The Catch

Captain Trevor ran the 17' Boston Whaler Montauk out of Coast Marina A Dock on a morning intro trip. The technique was simple and it worked: trolling hoochies, plastic squid lures, behind flashers at 75 feet on the downriggers. Water temperature read a warm 18.3°C, which kept the fish active and a touch shallower.

The fish came up chrome and cold and bright, most in the solid 12 to 16 lb range, with the best one taping 16 pounds. Our angler was Tyrone, over from Calgary to celebrate his and his wife's birthday, and this was his very first day on the salt. It showed on his face. As he put it afterward, it was the biggest fish they had ever caught. A humpback whale rubbed the rock wall in the bay while the rods bent. Some mornings just come together.

What's Running in July

July and August are prime Chinook months here in Campbell River. Most fish are running 12 to 16 lbs, honest, healthy feeders, with an outside shot at a trophy 30-pounder. Under DFO Area 13 rules right now, Chinook are a slot fishery: one per day, 62 to 80 cm, with anything over 80 cm released. We send the big ones back clean to keep the run strong, and it's part of what makes this fishery something to be proud of. Coho are also starting to show as summer rolls on.

Book Your Trip

Whether it's your first salmon or your hundredth, we've got room in the boat. The Montauk is nimble and perfect for an intimate one or two person trip with a laid-back local captain who's great with beginners. Three departures daily at 6am, 11am, and 4pm, with free parking at the south end of Tyee Plaza. View our salmon fishing charters and check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com.

Weather: Overcast, 17°C, ESE wind 15 km/h gusting to 26 km/h, 10 km visibility | Water: Light chop, 1 metre or less, green and cold