Vancouver & the tidal Fraser
Salmon fishing charters out of Vancouver
Four species, a season that runs May through October, and water 30 minutes from downtown. We chase whichever run is strongest on the day you fish.
Which salmon can you catch near Vancouver?
Chinook, coho, sockeye and pink salmon all pass through local water. Timing matters more than anything else, so here is the short version — openings are set by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and we confirm current regulations before every trip.
| Species | Timing | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook (spring) | May – October | Salt water + tidal Fraser | Biggest of the five; trolling cut-plug and spoons |
| Sockeye | July – August | Tidal Fraser | Run-dependent; fast limits in a strong year |
| Pink | Aug – Sept (odd years) | Fraser + salt | Great light-tackle fishery for families |
| Coho | Sept – October | Salt water + river | Aggressive, acrobatic, excellent eating |
How we fish
In the salt we troll with downriggers, flashers and anchovy or spoons, working structure and tide lines off the Vancouver waterfront and into Howe Sound. In the tidal Fraser we bar fish or bottom bounce depending on river height. Your guide picks the method that is producing that week, and coaches you through hooksets and playing fish.
Departures and trip length
Five-hour and eight-hour charters, launching from Steveston Harbour in Richmond or a downtown Vancouver marina depending on where the fish are. Early departures fish best. Maximum four anglers per boat.
What's included
- Guide, boat, fuel and safety equipment
- Rods, reels, downriggers and tackle
- Tidal or freshwater licence as required
- Fish cleaned, bagged and iced for the drive home
- Rain gear and floatation
Fraser River by the numbers
Fun facts about Fraser salmon runs
Run forecasts and timing numbers from the agencies that manage the fishery — the same data we use when we tell you which week to book.
2.94 M
Forecast Fraser sockeye return
The p50 pre-season run-size forecast for Fraser River sockeye, with a range of 736,000 to 13.1 million depending on marine survival.
2025 season forecast · Fisheries and Oceans Canada
27 M
Forecast Fraser pink return
The pink p50 forecast came in 123% above the 30-year average — at the median it would have been the largest pink run ever recorded on the Fraser.
2025 season forecast · Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Jul 8 – Aug 20
Sockeye run-timing windows
Forecast peak timing by management unit: Early Stuart July 8, Early Summer August 3, Summer August 15, Lates August 20 — the calendar we book around.
2025 pre-season timing · Pacific Salmon Commission post-season review
5 stocks
Fraser chinook management units
Fraser chinook are managed as Spring 4-2, Spring 5-2, Summer 5-2, Summer 4-1 and Fall 4-1 — which is why chinook rules change week to week.
DFO review, January 2026 · Fisheries and Oceans Canada
5 species
Salmon that run the Fraser
Chinook, coho, sockeye, pink and chum all return to this one river system, so the target species changes with the month you fish.
DFO Fraser stock assessment, 2025 · Fisheries and Oceans Canada
8.1 M
30-year average sockeye cycle line
The long-run cycle-line average for this brood year — a useful benchmark for judging whether a season is running hot or lean.
2025 pre-season comparison · Pacific Salmon Commission post-season review
Fish the run that's on
Send your dates and we'll tell you honestly what's biting that week and what to expect.