Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
On our shorter trips we have been fishing from Point Atkinson down to the Capilano Mouth, as this area is open for chinook retention (see regs for 28-6 and 28-9). This is a dynamic fishery that changes tide by tide and as one would expect some tides have been more productive than others. Things should be a more consistent this coming week as we are now right in peak migration of summer chinook into the Fraser. Hopefully more fish get pushed over to West Van on the flood tides this weekend and next week, resulting in some nice chinook catches!
A nice catch off West Van, 2 coho and a chinook! Amazing what we can catch minutes from Vancouver!
It won’t be long now until the Fraser Mouth opens for 2 chinook a day! September 1st the chinook regulation will change back to 2 chinook salmon per day, 62cm or greater, hatchery or wild. This fishery is a lot of fun as the chinook are shallow (often 35-65 on the downriggers), there are lots of them, and there are some big ones around!
A hog of a chinook from the Fraser Mouth last September!
Each year there are multiple Tyees (a chinook over 30 pounds) caught in this fishery, usually around mid-September when the big “white” chinook show up that are headed to the Chilliwack and Harrison rivers. These chinook have white flesh, hence the name “white spring” vs the “red springs” that we catch early in the year that have a reddish-orange flesh colour. Whatever you call them, chinook, spring, reds, whites, there are lots of them around in September, so get ready for opening day!
On our longer trips we have been heading over to Gabriola and Entrance Island and the fishing has been great. These productive waters always fish well all of August with lots of chinook, coho, and lingcod. This July and August has not disappointed, with excellent catches all summer long. Sometimes we keep fishing here even September, even though the Fraser Mouth is open, because it is just that good!
Some nice chinook from Entrance Island!
If you are looking to head out on one of our charters, give us a call at 778-788-8582 to book your trip.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli