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Five salmon, one river: a season guide
Chinook, coho, pink, chum and sockeye all pass Campbell River. Here is who arrives when, and where to see them.
Campbell River calls itself the Salmon Capital of the World because all five species of Pacific salmon move through Discovery Passage and its rivers.
Meet the five
- Chinook (spring or king): the biggest. Fish over 30 pounds are called tyee.
- Coho: acrobatic fighters, popular with summer and fall anglers.
- Pink: the smallest and most numerous, returning in big numbers in odd-numbered years.
- Chum: late-season fish that fill the rivers in the fall.
- Sockeye: mostly passing through Discovery Passage on the way to other rivers.
Where to see them
The Quinsam River Hatchery, run by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is the best place to understand the life cycle, with fall returns you can watch up close. In late summer you can also snorkel with salmon on a guided river drift.
For fishing, book a local charter for Discovery Passage or try the Discovery Fishing Pier. Seasons, limits and closures change every year, so always check the current regulations.