Vancouver Island is home to more than 2,000 miles of coastline. In that area you can find 700 lakes, 160 rivers and 890 streams. Add on the nearby
Pacific Ocean and you have one of the finest fishing destinations in the world. The diverse populations of fish found in these bodies of water include a wide array of wild
salmon,
trout, rockfish, steelhead trout and more. Charter companies stay busy throughout the year taking fishermen to secluded areas where the fish are plentiful and the sights are pristine.
There are many different bodies of water to fish in, it all depends on the specific charter, but the Pacific Ocean features some of the most exciting charters for salmon fishing. In the area of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to Vancouver salmon are always in the area. Outside of Vancouver, there are several river systems that meet.
These rivers include the Capilano and Fraser, which will be gone over in further detail. Apart from the rivers, The Strait of Georgia separates the islands of Vancouver from the mainland. This Strait features a wide array of salmon that are in season to catch throughout the year.
The Strait of Georgia is right around 150 miles in length.
The width of the Strait is anywhere between 11.5 to 34 miles. The average depth of the strait is 510 feet, but the maximum depth goes all the way down to 1,400 feet. The
Fraser River supplies almost 80% of the freshwater that constitutes the Strait. These waters are constantly circulating clockwise.
In terms of fish in the strait, the lingcod is the only fish that isn't a type of salmon that is often sought out by fishermen. The
Georgia Strait is well regarded for the different types of salmon, which find a home there. The fish range from the Chinook or "King" salmon, the Coho or "Silver" salmon, the Sockeye salmon, Pink salmon, and finally Chum salmon. There are different times to find each particular fish, but the summer months are a great time to find each kind.
The
Chinook salmon are always biting. No matter when fishermen head out on a fish charter, they will know that there are "King" Salmon to be had. Although the Chinook can be found throughout the year, the size of the Chinook is widely based on the season. For example, throughout the spring and summer months, the Chinook can be reeled in from 10-30 pounds. This is also the heart of Coho, Pink and Sockeye salmon season in
Vancouver. It's a great time to hop aboard a fishing charter and catch a variety of salmon.
For the more adventurous, the time to hunt for King
salmon is between the beginning of September and mid-October. During this span, the salmon range from 15-40 pounds and a few 50 pounders are caught throughout the year. Of course, the Strait is not only destination to enjoy a fishing charter.
The
Fraser River is approximately 854 miles in length and features 40 tributaries. Fishermen come to the Fraser River for salmon and sturgeon in particular. The same rules that apply to fishing for salmon in the Georgia Strait can be applied to charters in the Fraser River. Sturgeon fishing should always be done with a professional charter, with professional equipment. Sturgeon fishing in the
Fraser River will usually bring in a sturgeon anywhere from 4 to 7 feet in length. However, there are exceptions to that rule. Many sturgeon are caught at a reported length of more than 10 feet and weights that can reach the 600 pound mark.
Locals hunt sturgeon in Chilliwack
British Columbia. This is a quick hour and a half car detour from the heart of Vancouver. The best season to fish for
sturgeon starts in March and goes all the way until December. Apart from the
Frazer River, the
Capilano River is a home to fisherman throughout the year. Coho salmon season usually begins in April, but numbers will grow in May with the peak season being June and early July. As it gets later into the summer, some Coho salmon still inhabit the river, but the depth of the water runs low. This makes it more difficult to fish and most fish have left the region.
Water depths will usually rise in October and the exact levels depend upon the rainfall levels of the past few months. Fishermen who plan their trips in advance are leaving a lot to chance, as the level of the water depends on both the rain levels and the amount of dam water release.
Aside from salmon,
steelhead trout are very popular in the Capilano River. The
Capilano River features two different versions of the steelhead trout: The summer steelhead, which is found between July and September, and the winter steelhead, which is fished for from January through May. These fish are fun to catch, but due to re-population efforts they all must be thrown back after they are caught.
There are 43 fishing charters in Vancouver, Canada. Please see the following recommendations for the best fishing trips in the area.