OUTLOOK
Happy Friday!
We hope you had an awesome long weekend and got a chance to get out on the water with friends or family.
This week, we’ve got fresh updates from our guide team on both saltwater and sturgeon fishing front. Jason and Jake have all the latest info in their reports. Jay’s also got a quick update for our beach anglers who are waiting for that first big wave of pinks to roll in.
And to wrap it all up, we’re diving into one of the biggest topics in the fishing world right now, sockeye and pink salmon numbers. It’s been the buzz lately, so Jason took a closer look at what’s going on. Don’t miss it!
Last, but certainly not least, we know that it’s still August but check out our great lineup of courses coming up this September! It will be here before you know it so grab your seat today!
CLASSES AND COURSES
Introduction to Fly Fishing Course
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Fall Salmon River Fishing Course - Floats, Spinners & Spoons
This 3hr evening seminar covers float fishing, spinner fishing and spoon fishing; the three most productive techniques to catch BC salmon in a river. Sign up here today!
Cost: $85.00 +GST
Date: Sep 23
Seminar Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT
Fraser River Pink and Sockeye Salmon Fishing Update 2025
There has been a lot of talk about sockeye and pink salmon in the news recently, so I thought I would provide an update to our readers and how recent run sizes relate to future fishing opportunities.
Sockeye Salmon:
Originally the sockeye forecast for 2025 was around 3,000,000 fish. At these levels there is limited First Nation harvest opportunities and no commercial or recreational harvest opportunities. As you can see from the above numbers, the early component of the run known as the Early Stuart Run, came in at a whopping 625% higher than forecast! On July 31st there was also a record test set of 14,550 sockeye in the Johnstone Strait, the highest single day total for July since monitoring began many years ago.
The forecast has now been upgraded to 4,000,000 in total and this has triggered more First Nation harvest opportunities, but no commercial or recreational opportunities so far.
Once the numbers come in for the first week of August, we will see how the Early Summer Run is doing and as we enter mid-August, we will see how the Summer Run is doing. If these numbers come in a lot higher than expected, it will likely allow for some commercial and recreational harvest opportunities later in August as the run size would be upgraded once more.
Although the early numbers are truly amazing, there is often significant in river mortality because of low and warm water in the Fraser. Mortality can be from 20% all the way up to 60% on some years. The reality is the fish don’t do well when the Fraser gets low and warm and they die prior to reaching their spawning grounds and successfully spawning. The river is definitely low and warm, so mortality will likely be an issue again this year. How bad is yet to be seen, but the recent cooler temps should help.
So, are we going to get a sockeye opening this year? Well, that’s literally the multi-million-dollar question. I have seen years where the early numbers are way above predicted run size and then the numbers in the mid to late part of the run drop way off and then those early fish have a high in river mortality. In these situations, keeping it closed to harvest was the right call. This year, if the mid and late portions of the run continue to track anywhere near the levels the early run did, we will be well on our way to 4,000,000 or more fish and we will likely see an opening late August in the ocean and in the Fraser. For now, we need sit back, keep those fingers crossed, and wait.
Pink Salmon:
The predicted run size for Fraser River pink salmon is 26,965,000 fish. Yes, that’s basically 27 million. Even if the run came in at half this size, we would still be getting a pink salmon opening on the Fraser River. Currently most ocean waters are open to 4 pink salmon a day (consult local regs for details).
The question everyone is asking is when? We are pushing DFO to get it open as early as August 16th but realistically I am thinking it will be August 23rd and hopefully no later than that. Peak migration of pinks into the river is late August and early September so that opening of August 23rd would still allow for some very good angling.
As usual there are lots of politics at play on Fraser River salmon openings and I am sure this year will be no different. Stay tuned to the Friday Fishing Report for the latest updates on sockeye and pink openings and follow us on Facebook an Instagram for mid-week updates.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli
STURGEON FISHING REPORT
Fraser River Sturgeon Fishing Report – Early August
Sturgeon fishing on the Lower Fraser has been on fire over the past few weeks. This is the time of year when these prehistoric giants start mobilizing for the inbound salmon run, they’ll feast on over the next few months. With the river level now holding steady as we roll into August, presenting bait has become much easier than during freshet. Playing the tides is still important, but your bite windows should be a little wider than they were earlier in the summer.
Our saltwater boats are already encountering plenty of pink salmon on charters. These late-July to early-August fish are typically Squamish-bound, but by the third week of August, the bulk of the Fraser pinks start showing up. When that happens, sturgeon kick into overdrive, feeding aggressively– and that’s when the action can be next-level. Some of the bites you’ll see during this period will blow your mind.
A quick boat-side release for this healthy sturgeon.
If you’re wondering what the go-to bait is right now, the answer is simple: pink salmon. Any parts not destined for the dinner table make for the gold standard bait over the next month. Roe is your next best bet and will continue to produce well into the Fall.
If you’ve never tried this fishery before, this is one of the very best times of the year to do it. Double-digit days are not uncommon, and you never know what the next bite will bring – could be 5 feet, could be 10.
Call us at 778-788-8582 or visit sturgeonfishingvancouver.ca to book your trip on the Pacific Angler Jetboat.
Tight Lines,
Jake Comrie
SALTWATER FISHING REPORTS
Vancouver Saltwater Fishing Report
August 8th and that means we are only 3 weeks away from the Fraser Mouth area opening for 2 chinook a day. It will be here fast, but in the meantime, there is a LOT of amazing fishing going on right now! So much to talk about, so let’s get to it.
Sockeye and pink salmon numbers have been a hot topic lately, so I devoted an entire section to it in this week’s report. Make sure you check that out. There is some great news on the early component of the sockeye run and the pinks are already thick of South Bowen and West Van, with millions more on the way.
Locally we have been fishing Point Atkinson and E of that in Area 28-6 as this area is open for 1 chinook a day 62-80 cm slot limit as well as hatchery coho and pink salmon. The fishing has been great with chinook encounters on most days and plenty of coho and pinks to keep you busy.
Tripled up off Point Atkinson!
We have also been doing very well around South Bowen for pinks and some coho, although the pinks are vastly outnumbering coho lately. All the pinks make for some very fun and active fishing, which is great if you are new to ocean fishing for salmon, are visiting, or have some kids on the boat.
On our longer trips we have been heading over to Gabriola Island when winds allow. The fishing has been fantastic with lots of chinook, coho, and lingcod. This fishery will continue all of August and into early September and is truly some of the best fishing on the coast. The sheer number of chinook around is outstanding and this bodes very well for the Fraser Mouth later in the summer and the coming winter fishery.
Another excellent day at Gabriola with chinook, coho, and lingcod for the summer BBQ sessions!
As you can see, the fishing locally and in the Gulf Islands has been fantastic and should continue all of August. We will roll off these August highs right into some great chinook fishing off the Fraser Mouth in September and perhaps even a sockeye opening. Not much to complain about these days, so get out there and enjoy the amazing fishing.
See you in the shop or on the water,
Jason Tonelli
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Vancouver Beach Fishing Report
Finding pinks off Bowen has been no issue, and I know we’re all waiting for the first big push of pink salmon to make their way within reach of the beach, but we have yet to see any significant bump. We’ve heard more reports each day of fish caught off Ambleside and the occasional straggler off the beach up towards Indian Arm, but the consistency is poor. Test sets seem to back up the anecdotal data off the beaches that the fish are a little behind schedule this year. Give them a break, they’re trying their best!
Andre from Frenzy Flies has dropped off a bunch of killer beach patterns for both coho and pinks, and we’ve tried our best to get as many of the classic buzz bombs, megawatts, and Tasmanian devils as we can! Remember to carry a selection because they will all fall through the water column at different rates and in different ways. It’s hard to go wrong with something with some flash and something pink and/or chartreuse.
Andre has fished the beaches longer than I’ve been alive, and his patterns have caught thousands of fish.
Get out there and get out there early, as is so often the case for the early pink fishery, it’s really all about being in the right place with the right presentation until they show up in meaningful numbers.
Jay Awrey
