FSC Daily Fishing Report - Thursday, September 3, 2026
A grey September morning turned into a steady bite on this Campbell River fishing charter. Captain Bruce and guest Samson worked the Hump with Blue glow Tomic plugs, landing bright Coho salmon topped by a chrome 15-pounder.
Conditions Report: Thursday, September 3, 2026
September settled in grey and mild over Campbell River. Air temperature sat at 18°C, feeling like 17°C, under a solid deck of overcast cloud. The southeast wind stayed light at 15 km/h — about 8 knots — and visibility held clean at 10 km. Sunrise broke at 6:39 AM, and Captain Bruce had the Boston Whaler Montauk off Coast Marina A Dock not long after.
The marine forecast for Johnstone Strait and Discovery Passage called light winds becoming northwest 10 to 15 knots, with seas one metre or less. On the water it was a comfortable light chop over green, cold saltwater. Low slack sat at 4:06 AM, and the flood built through the morning toward the 11:35 AM high at 11.2 feet. We fished the front half of that flood — prime moving water for pushing bait and holding fish.
The Catch
We ran south to the Hump and put Tomic plugs down 80 to 120 feet on the downriggers, trolling around 2.5 knots. Blue glow was the standout colour — it flat out-fished everything else in the box. The bite came on steady and stayed on: 4 kept and 7 released. The best fish was a chrome-bright Coho pushing 15 pounds, thick across the shoulders and fresh from the salt. Surface temp read 17.5°C, warm enough to keep the fish feeding up high.
Samson, visiting from Edmonton, was on his first Campbell River trip, and he picked it up fast. The Last Quarter moon carried a Good solunar rating, and the early feeding window lined up right with our dawn start. The fish showed up on cue.
What's Running in September
September is Tyee season on Discovery Passage, and it's one of the best windows of the year. Coho are running strong and feeding hard, mostly in the 12-16 lb range with the odd bigger one mixed in. Chinook are on the table too — under DFO Area 13 rules, September brings a daily limit of two Chinook per angler at a 62 cm minimum with no maximum, so a genuine trophy is on the table this time of year. Coho remain open at two per day. It's a rich stretch of water and a rich stretch of the calendar.
Book Your Trip
The fish are here and the mornings are firing. Our nimble Boston Whaler Montauk is perfect for one or two anglers who want an intimate, hands-on day on the water with a veteran captain. Free parking sits at the south end of Tyee Plaza, and we depart Coast Marina A Dock. View our salmon fishing charters and Check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com.
Weather: Overcast, 18°C, SE wind 15 km/h (8 knots) | Water: Light chop, green and cold, seas 1 metre or less
