Australian Family Releases 15 Chinook —

Fifteen Chinook salmon released on a Monday afternoon half-day charter out of Campbell River, with a chrome bright 24-pounder headlining the day. The summer bite in Discovery Passage is delivering. Conditions were near-perfect: 22°C under overcast skies, light WNW winds at 8 km/h, seas under 1 metre, and 10 km visibility. The kind of afternoon where the water barely moves and every rod bump gets your heart going. We fished the red can area on the flood tide following a dead-low 0.0-foot tide at 12:56 PM, and the incoming current pushed fish right through our zone. The new moon had the solunar forecast rated Excellent, and the fish responded. Captain Jason ran the 27-foot Boston Whaler Conquest with downriggers set at 220 feet — deeper than typical summer depths, but the warm 16°C surface water pushed the Chinook down. Army Truck hoochies behind flashers were the ticket. The bite was steady through the afternoon, with most fish in the solid 12 to 16-pound range and that standout 24-pounder that had the whole boat cheering. Today's guests were the Spragg family — Jamie, Kathryn, Owen, and Alison — visiting from Australia on their first fishing charter. Owen, the youngest of the crew, landed the biggest fish of the day and declared it the best day of his life. The Boston Whaler Conquest's spacious deck, heated cabin, and private washroom made it a comfortable family outing, and Starlink WiFi meant the photos were heading back to Australia before the fish were even released. All 15 Chinook were released in excellent condition. Conservation is part of the story here, and watching those chrome bright fish swim back into Discovery Passage is its own reward. Summer Chinook season is firing in Campbell River. Spots are filling fast for July and August. Book your trip at **hidden content**.