Regional Information

Calendar of Vancouver's Salmon Fisheries
Targeted By the Predator

Vancouver is lucky enough to be blessed with truly year round saltwater salmon fishing opportunities. During the summer and fall months many different runs pass through our local waters, and during the winter and spring our protected waters provide feeding areas for resident feeder Chinook salmon.

Winter Chinook (King) Salmon - October through March:

For many ardent anglers the winter Chinook fishery provides their favorite saltwater fishery of the year. The Chinook are immature, growing fast, and in the best condition of the year. Legal fish average around 10 pounds, though some can be substantially larger. Due to very clear water at this time of year the need for using bulky flashers (necessary most of the year for attraction) is reduced. Many fish are caught on very light-action mooching rods using only a small bait or lure as terminal gear, and the fish are able to provide very good sport.

Beginning in late February (depending on the weather), young salmon begin to hatch and emerge from the gravel of their natal streams. This hatch is a great feast for our native Cutthroat trout, and the sea-run variety begin concentrating in estuaries in anticipation of this great abundance of food.

Many of the creeks and streams along the Sunshine Coast and Howe Sound hold a good population of these prized game fish. If you are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time you are in for some great light tackle action as flyfishing or casting small spinners/spoons are the most productive methods of catching these fish.

During April and May large concentrations of Chinook migrate through our local waters. The edge of the Fraser River plume (south end of Bowen Island) is a rich feeding ground for these fish, and they use it to fatten up during their migration. Fishing can be very hot when these fish are located. Legal fish average 10 to 15 pounds with fish over 20 caught on a regular basis. Larger maturing fish also begin migrating into Howe Sound at this time. The average size is quite a bit larger than off the south end of Bowen, but overall numbers are less.

From late May until mid-July, as the Fraser's plume pushes across Georgia St., large concentrations of Chinook are found along the east side of the Gulf Islands. Extended trips to fish this area require light winds.

During July, the large mature Chinook destined for the Squamish River provide very good fishing just north of Horseshoe bay, and average over 20 pounds - the odd one tops 40. This fishery lasts until early August.

The Capilano River Hatchery provides Vancouver with a decent run of Coho along the shores of West Vancouver. Since there is no mixing of threatened Coho stocks in this area, it has remained open for Coho fishing during years when most of B.C. was closed. Most of these Coho are relatively small (they average around four pounds), though the very odd one will top 10 pounds and may even reach the low teens.

Vancouver's hottest fishery for sheer numbers of fish, literally millions of Sockeye salmon (and Pinks in odd years) migrate to the Fraser River in August. When a school of fish is located all rods can get hit - four, five, or even six fish on at once is not uncommon. If you are able to stay with the school, the fishing (and catching) is as fast as in any fishery in the world. You are only limited by your ability to get lines back in the water ASAP.

During the past few years, this has become a very popular fishery due to pleasant fall weather, and the largest fish of the year. The returning late-run Chinook to the Capilano River is Vancouver's newest fishery, and 1998 was the first year with returning five-year olds. Numbers and timing vary somewhat from year to year, but beginning in the last week or so of August these large fish begin to show up. If you are lucky enough to hit it right, the fishing can be as good as anywhere on the coast for large fish. Days with anglers hooking up 10 or more fish over 25 pounds during a morning or afternoon of fishing occur each year, but of course there are days when you have to work for one or two chances as well.

The average size of Chinook during this fishery is around 30, and there have been fish in the 50 pound class taken each year (the largest was 61 pounds in 1997). This run provides a legitimate opportunity for an angler to catch a Chinook of trophy proportions in the 30, 40, and even 50 pound class, and it can be accomplished right in the shadows of downtown Vancouver.

As during the spring months, Cutthroat Trout instinctively know to concentrate off the mouths of streams in anticipation of a feast. Salmon, returning to spawn in their natal rivers, provide this feast in two ways: eggs and flesh. Anglers cast with egg imitations early in this fishery, as the Cutthroat will be concentrating their feeding effort on dislodged eggs. During the latter stages of this fishery they will also take a flesh imitation as the spawned-out dead salmon begin to decompose.

Timing of this fishery is also dependant on the weather since it determines when the salmon will arrive off the river's mouth, and when there is enough water in the river to allow their upstream passage.

Though the Predator does not actually partake in river fishing charters, it can be used to travel to a remote, boat accessible only stream within Howe Sound which has some excellent river fishing for Coho and Chinook salmon without the crowds located along many of the Lower Mainland's rivers. The timing of this fishery is weather dependent, as the fall rains must raise the river enough to allow the salmon upstream passage.

Chums are arguably the strongest fighting Salmon species - they are also the hardest to catch. Chums travel in large schools, and locating a school is often as easy as looking for jumping fish. Unfortunately, you often find yourself fishing among jumping fish for hours without even a strike - a very frustrating scenario! Most Chums caught aboard the Predator are taken incidentally while targeting the large fall Chinook in Vancouver Harbour or off the mouth of the Fraser River.

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Most recent revision: February 14, 2001
Copyright © 2001, Predator Charters.
All Rights Reserved.

E-MAIL: Predator_Charters@PredatorCharters.com

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