Vancouver Saltwater Salmon Fishing Report
Well, August was quite the month with excellent coho fishing to start off, great chinook fishing off West Van and the Gulf Islands, then the pinks showed up by the millions, and we even got some sockeye fishing in. The best part is we are just about to open for prime-time chinook fishing!
September 1 chinook are scheduled to open back up to 2 a day, greater than 62cm, either hatchery or wild. This means we will be back to fishing off the Bell Buoy, and off the Fraser Mouth in area 29-3. Make sure to stay out of the SRKW closure off the North Arm while fishing for chinook this September. All the info you need is here SRKW Measures
With the chinook opener being on a holiday Monday and the current forecast for winds light, it is going to be VERY busy. There will likely be 300 plus boats out there, so let’s all be courteous and have a good time.
An absolutely stunning Fraser chinook released on a charter this week while targeting coho and pinks. It will be nice to be able to harvest some of these beauties this week!
Remember these Fraser chinook are generally quite shallow. They are up in that top 60 feet or so, getting used to that freshwater and trying to find the mouth of the Fraser. So, keep you gear shallow. As far as presentations, these fish love bait. Most anglers will run anchovies or herring in Rhys Davis teaser head on a 6-foot leader to a green or chartreuse flasher.
Getting through the millions of pinks might be an issue, so bring lots of bait and be prepared for a busy day! There will also be some hatchery coho around, of which you are allowed 2 per day. Remember your total salmon limit for the day is 4 salmon. Sockeye and wild coho are closed and should be released with care at the side of the boat.
It’s setting up to be a great day. I am guiding that day so I will see you out there!
Jason Tonelli