Inshore Discovery Passage Is Stacked: Coho on the Flood

Where the Fish Are Holding Today

If you want fast action right now, the answer is simple: fish tight to shore. Discovery Passage and the Quadra Island shorelines are absolutely stacked with coho this morning, and they're pinned right up against the inshore structure. The protected inside water of Discovery Passage is doing exactly what it should at this time of year, funneling returning fish past Campbell River where we can intercept them. Johnstone Strait fish are pushing through too, but you don't need to run far today — the best numbers are close to home.

Current Conditions

It's a classic fall morning out here: 12°C with steady drizzle and overcast skies. The east wind is light at just 9 km/h, and the water is flat calm with wave heights around 0.1m — about as forgiving as fall salmon fishing gets. We're working the morning slack into the building flood, which is prime timing. That tide change concentrates bait against the shorelines and gets the coho feeding hard. Dress for the wet and you'll be rewarded.

What's Running and Why

Coho are the headline act and they're at peak. We're seeing bright, strong fish in the 10 to 15 lb range with plenty of shoulder on them. Chum salmon are rounding out the day beautifully, adding extra bend to the rod. Both species are at full stride right now, which makes this one of the most productive stretches of the entire season. When coho and chum overlap at peak like this, every slack-to-flood window can produce.

Technique Hints

With fish holding shallow and tight to structure, keep your gear up in the water column. Bucktail flies skated on top will draw aggressive surface strikes from these coho, and that's as fun as fishing gets. If the bite slows, drop green or glow spoons down to 30 to 40 feet and troll the shoreline edges. Time your passes with the flood and keep moving until you find the pods.

What to Expect This Week

Expect spectacular fishing for anyone willing to handle a little fall weather. The inshore spots are loaded, the tides are cooperating, and the coho are fat and feisty. This is the window serious anglers wait all year for.

Book Your Trip

Peak coho and chum don't last forever — these inshore pods are here right now and the dates are filling fast. Grab your rain gear and let's put you on fish. Reach out to Fishing Storie Charters today and lock in your spot on the flood.

Ready to experience world-class fishing in Campbell River? Book your charter trip with Fishing Storie Charters today. Captain Jason and the crew are ready to put you on fish.