8 Chinook Released in Discovery Passage

Eight Chinook salmon came to the boat today on a 4-hour introductory trip through Discovery Passage, and every one of them went back to swim another day. The best fish pushed 9 pounds — chrome bright and full of fight. Captain Bruce took first-time guests Brendan and Nami out aboard the 17-foot Boston Whaler Montauk, departing Coast Marina at 11:00 AM. Conditions were about as good as it gets for early June: 29°C air temperature, light east wind at 7 knots, seas under one metre, and visibility stretching past 10 kilometres. Blue sky, snow-capped mountains ringing the passage, and calm water from rail to rail. The technique was straightforward — trolling hoochies behind flashers through the main channel of Discovery Passage. Water temperature came in at 15.1°C, warm enough to push the Chinook into shallower feeding lanes. The key window was the slack before flood at 1:06 PM, which lined up with a major solunar feeding period under a full moon. That combination turned the bite on, and the fish cooperated. Brendan and Nami made the drive down from Grand Prairie for their first ocean salmon fishing experience, and they picked the right day. The Montauk is nimble and perfect for a party of two — Captain Bruce can work specific spots and current seams that bigger boats can't access. Every fish was a first for these two, and the smiles told the whole story. Summer Chinook fishing in Campbell River is off to a strong start. The bait is in the passage, the water is warming, and the long June days give us three trip windows — 6 AM, 11 AM, and 4 PM. Spots are filling fast for June and July. Book your trip at **hidden content**.