Vancouver Saltwater Fishing Report
Welcome to October! It’s hard to believe how fast September flew by. Although the month has wrapped up, it brought us some terrific salmon fishing from the Sandheads to the Cap Mouth. For those not ready to put the boat away just yet, don’t worry– October still offers excellent opportunities, and the months ahead are arguably some of the best for winter chinook.
A limit of coho landed on the flood tide earlier this week.
This past week we’ve seen things slow down at both the North and South Arm of the Fraser. The recent rain hasn’t raised the river levels much, but it was still enough to trigger a push of salmon into the river on their way to the spawning grounds. Fishing off the Fraser can remain productive into October, but it won’t be nearly as hot as September. Around this time of year, you’ll also start to see chum salmon showing up more consistently, as they tend to run later than coho and chinook.
The Capilano Mouth has had a fairly productive week, though the bite has been “snappy,” with short windows of action during the flood tide. Chinook are still around but not as consistent as coho, which have provided some fast-paced fishing when the bite turns on. Most success has come from running gear right along the bottom, where fish tend to hold out of the current.
A solid chinook from a recent charter at the Cap Mouth.
With things tapering off at the Fraser, the PA guide boats have been spending more time in the harbour. While targeting the mature chinook and coho heading to the Capilano and other rivers, the guides have also been into a good number of “winter” or feeder chinook. Many of these fish have been undersized and released, but there’s been a healthy mix of legals in there as well. This is a great sign of what’s to come as we move further into October and November.
A beautiful feeder chinook caught along West Van this week.
October is always a bit of a transition period. There’s no set day where we switch from the Fall fishery to the Winter fishery, but the early signs this year suggest it may happen sooner than later. The Capilano will likely continue to produce for another couple of weeks, but once we see more rain and the first significant dam release, the river will fill up with salmon quickly, and the bite at the mouth will shut off. Fortunately, with the number of winter chinook showing up already, it looks like the transition will be a smooth one, with plenty of action in the harbour and around Bowen Island.
October and November are often overlooked for winter chinook fishing. Understandably so– the weather turns, the days get shorter, boats need servicing, and many anglers are winding down after the busy Fall fishery. Ironically, while others are packing it in, we’re gearing up for some of the best winter chinook fishing of the season. In fact, over the past few years, October and November have consistently produced not only great action but also some of the biggest winter chinook of the year. On top of that, these early winter fish are among the best eating salmon the Pacific has to offer.
An 18lb winter chinook from early October last season!
If you’re looking to try this fishery, the next couple of months are an excellent time. Be sure your downriggers are spooled with fresh cable for deep trolling and stop by the shop so the team can set you up with the go-to winter gear.
Don’t have a boat, or want to learn the fishery firsthand? Book a charter with one of our guides. They specialize in this fishery and will share all the tips and tricks you need to make the most of this underappreciated season.
Tight Lines,
Jake Comrie