FSC Daily Fishing Report - Thursday, September 3, 2026
A Campbell River fishing charter for five first-timers from LA produced nine chrome Chinook salmon on Discovery Passage — including a 25 lb trophy, the biggest fish any of them had ever landed. Tyee season is on.
Conditions Report: September 3, 2026
Some mornings the water just cooperates. Today was one of them. Broken clouds hung soft over Discovery Passage, the air sat at a comfortable 15°C, and the wind barely stirred — a light ESE breeze around 3 knots that never built into anything. Visibility ran a clean 10km. We slipped out of Coast Marina for the early bite as the sun climbed at 6:39 AM.
The marine forecast called for wind becoming northwest 10 to 15 knots later in the day, seas 1 metre or less. On the water it fished near flat calm — the green passage water barely rippling. Tides ran our way: a morning flood building from a 4:06 AM low toward an 11.2 ft high at 11:35 AM, with slack before ebb at Seymour Narrows at 10:58 AM. That flood pushed bait through the channel, and the Chinook followed.
The Catch
We kept it classic. Trolling hoochies — plastic squid lures — behind flashers, downriggers set 80 to 120 feet, around 2.5 knots. The water read a warm 17.3°C, which had the fish active and holding in that mid band. The bite built right into the late-morning slack, and the rods stayed busy.
Eleven fish came to the boat. Nine chrome Chinook made the dock, most in the honest 12 to 16 lb Tyee-season range. Then came the fish of the day: a 25 lb Chinook, the biggest any of the five anglers from LA had ever landed. First salmon trip of their lives, and they hit a trophy. Hands shaking, grins all around. The Last Quarter moon and a Good solunar rating had the feeding window lined up with the flood — the fish told the story.
What's Running in September
September is Tyee season in Campbell River, and it's the time of year we look forward to all year. Chinook are the main event, averaging 12 to 16 lbs with a real shot at a trophy 30-plus pounder. Under DFO Area 13 regulations, September opens the no-maximum retention window — 2 Chinook per person per day, 62cm minimum, no upper size limit. That means a fish like today's 25 pounder can come home. Coho are also around this time of year. It's a strong month to be on the water.
Book Your Trip
Tyee season doesn't last forever, and September dates are filling fast. Captain Jason runs the 27' Boston Whaler Conquest — heated cabin, private washroom, Starlink WiFi — for groups up to four. Whether it's your first salmon or your hundredth, Discovery Passage delivers. View our salmon fishing charters and check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com.
Weather: 15°C, broken clouds, light ESE wind at 3 knots, 10km visibility | Water: Green and cold, light chop under 1 metre, near flat calm
