What We’re Fishing For
Vancouver offers prolific Salmon Fishing year round for 5 species of salmon: Chinook (King), Coho (Silver), Sockeye (Red), Pink (Humpy) and Chum. Salmon found in the Vancouver area are migrating to and from the largest salmon rivers in the world. The largest of which is the mighty Fraser River right here in Vancouver! We also intercept several other salmon stocks returning to other BC Coastal streams and rivers and the Washington and Oregon Coast.
The most productive months to go fishing in Vancouver are from January to the end of October. In general, the fishing slows to a crawl in November as the last of the years returning salmon runs have entered their natal rivers. The fishing definitely picks up again in January as a large number of immature “feeder” Chinook Salmon move through the waters surrounding Vancouver. You may choose to keep your catch or release your fish to swim another day on all of our charters. The Daily Limit for Salmon is 4 Salmon per day per person. See our Vancouver Fishing Report Page to see what we’re fishing for right now!
Chinook (King) Salmon
Chinook Salmon, (also known as a KING or SPRING Salmon) are the mainstay of our salmon fishery in the Vancouver area—and for good reason. They are without question the most sporting! From late December to June we target Chinook Salmon exclusively. A legal size fish is generally about 8 lbs and depending on the month, we are catching immature fish from 8 to 20 pounds. Each year is a little different andwe find a few larger ones during this time. From June to October we change our tactics and target mature Chinook which are generally 20 lbs and up. Most of the Chinook we are catching during this time are into 20 pound and up range with a few well into the 30 lb class. Chinook 30 pounds and larger are also called TYEES and put up a fight not soon to be forgotten! They are a challenge to even an experienced angler. Several fish in excess of 50 lbs are hooked each season in Vancouver waters in July, August and September.
Did you know?
Chinook salmon are easily identified by their black gums and a silver, spotted tail. It has a lightly spotted blue-green back and is the largest, most prized fish of the salmon species. The chinook lives from three to seven years depending on the fish stocks’ genetics. Chinook weigh between 1.5 kg and 30 kg. Average-size chinooks are often known as “Spring Salmon” in B.C. Those over 13.5 kg are called tyees, and in the U.S., chinook are called King salmon.
The daily limit for Chinook Salmon is 2 per angler.
Coho (Silver) Salmon
Coho Salmon offer an exciting, challenging and fun fishery in Vancouver waters. Coho are normally at their most abundant from June to August in Vancouver. When the fishery is at its peak we’re fishing in normally calm, sheltered and protected waters. While fishing Coho, you have to be prepared for BIG CHINOOK stalking your lures as well. You never know what you’re going to get! In the Vancouver area, our Coho salmon are returning to the Capilano River in West Vancouver. This hatchery enhanced fishery can offer some of the most action packed fishing of the summer! Coho have to be a minimum 30 cm long and the majority of Vancouver run fish typically range in size from 4-8 lbs. However, as the season progresses, hang on tight because this voraciously feeding fish grows very fast and each year a few are caught in the high teens.
Did you know?
Coho are easily distinguished with white gums, black tongues and a few spots on the upper portion of their bodies and silver-coloured tails. They have a wide tail base. Bright silver with a metallic blue dorsal surface. Coho usually live for three years and grow rapidly in their final year. They weigh between 1.3 kg and 14 kg.
The Daily Limit is 2 HATCHERY MARKED COHO per angler when open in Vancouver waters.
Pink Salmon
Pink Salmon return to the Vancouver area every 2 years in ODD years (2013, 2015 etc). These scrappy and sporting fish usually offer action packed fishing when the schools are in thick. 2012 is not a PINK YEAR. Generally, Pink Salmon Season is in July and August.
Did you know?
Pink salmon have tiny scales and a tail heavily marked with large oval spots. Unlike the other salmon species, the tail of a pink has no silver in it. In the sea, pinks have silver bodies with spotted backs. They are the smallest of the Pacific salmon, usually weighing about 2.2 kg, but occasionally reaching 5.5 kg. They are more abundant in northern waters in even-numbered years and in southern waters in odd-numbered years. Pinks live only two years.
Sockeye (Red) Salmon
Sockeye Salmon are arguably the best eating Salmon of all. Their buttery flavour, bright red flesh and tender flesh is the perhaps the most recognized fish in all the world. We’re coming off the Sockeye fishery of a Century with a record 35 million fish returning to the Fraser River in 2010 and 11 million in 2011.. Sockeye Salmon are a heavily schooling fish and fishing for them is highly technical. Sockeye runs vary from year to year, and we’re hoping for a brief opening this year in 2012. If we are lucky enough for this to occur in 2012, we will be open in late August and early September. When the runs are in thick, given enough time, LIMITS of 4 salmon per person for each angler on board are the norm. If the Sockeye season is on, we advise that you book early and be prepared to be amazed! The slimmest and most streamlined of the Pacific species, the silver-blue sockeye lives from four to five years. It usually weighs between 2.2 kg and 3.1 kg but can reach 6.3 kg. Young sockeye remain in fresh-water nursery lakes a year or more before migrating to the sea.
Chum Salmon
Chum Salmon are an extremely aggressive salmon and are renowned for their line burning runs, aggressive strikes and fantastic sport. We do not actively target Chum on charter as Chum returns are usually late in the season and fishing for maximum effectiveness for Chum usually entails running a long distance for possibly little satisfaction. However, if the Chum Schools are in, we change up our gear and employ sound Chum fishing tactics while on charter!
A white tip on the anal fin usually identifies a chum salmon. Resembling sockeye, but larger, chum have silvery sides and faint grid-like bars as they near spawning streams. The tail base is narrow and there is silver in the tail. They live three to five years and weigh about 4.5 kg to 6.5 kg, but they have been known to reach as much as 15 kg.
Prawns and Dungeness Crab
When in season and upon request on appropriate length charters, we drop crab and prawn traps for a tasty seafood extravaganza! Call to inquire about our specialized Prawn and Dungeness Crab fishing adventures. We incorporate this into our fishing trips! The Daily Limit for Dungeness Crab is 4 per person. The daily limit for prawns is 200 pieces per person. All Crabs must be 6.5 inches across their shell to be “keepers”.