FSC Daily Fishing Report - Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Conditions Report: August 19, 2026

Summer was winding down and the water knew it. We ran an afternoon-into-evening half day out of Coast Marina, chasing the sunset bite before the calendar turned. The evening gave us its best behavior — 18°C air under a soft overcast sky, wind out of the north at just 4 km/h, barely 2 knots. Visibility ran a clean 10 km and the channel lay flat, 1 metre or less, blue-green and quiet.

We timed the troll to the tide. Low water had come at 6:19 AM, and a building flood carried us toward slack before flood at 6:36 PM through Seymour Narrows, where the current was running about 4 knots. That flood pushes bait and stacks the fish, and the two hours ahead of slack are the window you don't waste. The first quarter moon sat at 42% with a Good solunar rating, and the major feeding period fell 4:21 to 6:21 PM — right on top of our best tide.

The Catch

We ran 602 Tomic plugs deep, 220 feet down on the downriggers, trolling steady through the main channel between Vancouver Island and Quadra Island. Water read a warm 18.2°C, and the fish were up and feeding. The action came honest and steady — mostly clean 12-16 lb feeders, one after another.

The fish of the day belonged to Alexander. His rod buried and stayed buried, and up came a chrome-bright Chinook that taped out at 91cm — a solid 24-pounder. Over the summer slot limit, so we photographed her fast and slid her back to keep the run strong. She swam off hard. Kristy had brought William and Alexander out — visitors from Grand Forks, RVing Vancouver Island, on the water with us for the first time — for one last salmon run before summer closed its door. It closed the right way.

What's Running in August

Late August in Campbell River means feeder and returning Chinook holding through Discovery Passage. Most fish run 12-16 lbs, with a real chance at a trophy 30-pounder. Through August 31, DFO Area 13 rules hold at one Chinook per day within a 62-80cm slot — anything over 80cm goes back, which is why Alexander's beauty got released. September flips the switch: the Tyee season opens, the limit goes to two, and the maximum size cap comes off. Bigger fish, more on the table.

Book Your Trip

September is the month the big ones come home, and the calendar is filling. Our Boston Whaler Conquest keeps you comfortable with a heated cabin, private washroom, and Starlink WiFi, with room for four. View our salmon fishing charters and Check rates and availability at fishingstoriecharters.com.

Weather: Overcast, 18°C, light N wind at 4 km/h (2 knots), 10 km visibility | Water: Flat calm, 1 metre or less, blue-green water