FSC Daily Fishing Report - Thursday, May 28, 2026

The rod didn't stay still for long on Discovery Passage this afternoon. Four guests from Europe — Rosie, Alex, Michael, and Katrina — came to Campbell River for one thing: to feel a Chinook salmon pull line off a downrigger and then watch it swim away. They got that. Eleven times.

Conditions on the Water: May 28, 2026

The afternoon set up well for an evening bite. Air temperature was a comfortable 17°C with a northwest breeze at 19 km/h — 10 knots, gusting to 32 km/h by later in the session. Broken cloud cover softened the light without taking it away entirely. Visibility was clear at 10 km, and the sea state in Discovery Passage was under 1 metre — manageable, honest spring chop from the northwest flow. The 27' Boston Whaler Conquest handled it without fuss.

Tide timing was the key variable. Low water had been at 11:36 AM (2.8 feet), and the flood built steadily through the afternoon toward a high of 11.8 feet at 5:27 PM. The bite window tightened right around the slack before ebb at 5:38 PM — that brief pause in the current when baitfish concentrate and Chinook take advantage. Seymour Narrows was running a strong ebb during the day at 12.6 knots, which pushed bait and fish through the main channel of Discovery Passage exactly where we were working. Water temperature measured 15.1°C — warm for May, which is keeping fish active and feeding through the afternoon hours.

The Catch

Captain Jason ran plugs and hoochies — the plastic squid-style lures that have been producing consistently this spring — on downriggers set at 180 feet. At 15.1°C water temperature, that depth puts gear in the zone where Chinook are sitting and feeding. The flood tide's push and the approaching slack gave the lures the right action in the water column, and the fish responded.

Eleven Chinook came to the boat. Best fish hit 14 lbs — right in the quality range for spring fish in Discovery Passage. All eleven were released, which was exactly the plan. Rosie, Alex, Michael, and Katrina came for a catch-and-release experience, and every fish went back strong. The waxing gibbous moon sat at 93% illumination, with a Fair solunar rating for the day — on days like that, the tidal window carries the weight, and the 5:38 PM slack delivered right on schedule.

What's Running in May

Spring Chinook are the primary target in Campbell River and Discovery Passage through May and into summer. Fish are running in the 12-20 lb range this season, with the majority well within retention size under DFO Area 13 regulations (minimum 62 cm). The release-over-80-cm slot limit applies July 15 through August 31 — but right now in late May, regulations allow straightforward retention if that's the plan. Water temperatures in the mid-teens are keeping fish active, and 150-200 feet on the downriggers is the productive zone. Hoochies and plugs behind flashers continue to be the go-to setup in these conditions.

Book Your Spring Charter

Spring Chinook fishing is on in Campbell River right now. The half-day afternoon format — timed around the evening tidal transitions in Discovery Passage — is producing multiple fish contacts per trip. The 27' Boston Whaler Conquest holds up to four guests in genuine comfort, with a heated cabin, private washroom, and Starlink WiFi onboard. Departures from Coast Marina A Dock with free parking at Tyee Plaza.

If you've been thinking about a Vancouver Island fishing charter this spring, the timing is good. View our salmon fishing charters and check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com. June dates are moving — don't leave it too long.

Weather: 17°C, NW wind 19 km/h (10 knots) gusting to 32 km/h, broken clouds, visibility 10 km | Water: Light to moderate chop from NW wind, manageable seas under 1 metre