There are a ton of options when it comes to saltwater salmon fishing in BC. If you’re trying to figure out where the best places to go salmon fishing in BC are and when to go, then this is for you. A full guide to wild BC salmon info! The British Columbia coast covers about 15,000 miles of shoreline. There are hundreds of sport fishing charter operations, marinas and salmon fishing lodges dotted up and down the coast. The information on this page will let you know where the BC salmon fishing hotspots are, all good places to plan a trip. It will also give you some other useful tips on planning a BC salmon fishing trip if you’ve never visited British Columbia and are trying to plan a fishing trip.
FIND A TOP LODGE
How to pick a salmon lodge in BC
HALIBUT FISHING INFO
Tips on finding a halibut trip.
SALTWATER HOTSPOTS
Where to go salmon fishing.
FISHING PACKAGING
Getting your salmon home!
SALMON TRIP FAQS
Answers to questions about fishing in BC.
SALMON SPECIES
BC's most popular sport fish
FIND A FIRST CLASS LODGE PACKAGE
Looking for a salmon fishing lodge package in British Columbia? Check out our listings of BC’s top lodges.
BRITISH COLUMBIA FISHING CHARTERS
Hook up with BC’s top charter captains on our BC salmon fishing charter listings page.
BC’S PREMIER SALMON LODGE
BC’s ultimate salmon fishing lodge is at Langara Island. All-inclusive packages to fishing paradise.
BC SALMON FISHING HOTSPOTS
THE BEST SALTWATER DESTINATIONS
BC is a big place so we thought we’d break down salmon fishing areas into four main regions. All these areas offer salmon fishing, some have shorter seasons and offer different experiences, you can learn about those below.
HAIDA GWAII
Haida Gwaii is a series of islands off the north coast of British Columbia. Home to the Haida People, this area is known as the Galapagos of the North, for its teeming wildlife and untouched wilderness. Haida Gwaii is also home to some of the best salmon and halibut fishing on the BC coast. There are several all-inclusive fishing lodges on the islands, including Langara Island Lodge, where we guide during the summer months. Haida Gwaii’s fishing season is from mid May to mid September.
CENTRAL COAST
The central coast of BC encompasses the area of Rivers Inlet, Hakai Pass, Bella Bella, Milbanke Sound and Caamano Sound. These areas have long been popular destinations for salmon anglers, offering consistent salmon fishing from mid June to early September. There area a number of floating and land-based fishing lodges, dotted along the remote inlets and bays. The central coast lodges offer guided and un-guided fishing and come a variety of mid ranged price points.
VANCOUVER ISLAND
Vancouver Island has a ton of places to go salmon fishing and bottom fishing. It also has a wide variety of marinas, salmon charter operations and some smaller lodges. A wide network of roads and ferries to the mainland make getting around Vancouver Island very easy. Anglers with their own boats have lots of options here as do travellers looking to book a day or two of fishing. We have a number of Vancouver Island sport fishing charters on our BC Charter Listings page. The fishing season on Vancouver Island runs from April to October.
SUNSHINE COAST & VANCOUVER
One of the best parts about being in British Columbia is you don’t have to go far to find some pretty fantastic fishing. Twelve months of the year there is salmon fishing on BC’s south coast. The most budget friendly salmon fishing trip in BC leaves right from downtown Vancouver. You can go salmon fishing in Vancouver 365 days a year and with no big travel plans needed, costs are kept down. The Sunshine Coast, a stretch of coastline north of Vancouver, also offers solid salmon fishing, with the best being in Powell River.
TIPS ON CHOOSING A LODGE PACKAGE
PICKING THE RIGHT LODGE FOR YOU
If you want to fish multiple days and are looking for an all-inclusive experience then you’ll want to going with a lodge package is your best option. There are dozens of fishing focused lodges on the BC coast. Most offer all-inclusive packages with flights from Vancouver, fishing, meals, accommodations and fish packaging. These lodges can be found in the best fishing areas, mainly BC’s central coast, north coast and Haida Gwaii. If you’re shopping around for a lodge package be sure to know exactly what is included, some lodges tack on lots of extra charges on top of cheap looking advertised prices. Lodges generally have fix trip dates, offering two trips per week with set fly-in and fly-out days. Lodge packages range from $3500-$6500 per person CAD. When planning you can be pushy about the best dates. Most lodges want to fill up their shoulder seasons first, so if you are a new customer you might not be offered great dates to begin with. Prime fishing dates are in July & August coastwide.
TIPS ON FINDING A GOOD CHARTER
BOOKING A FISHING CHARTER IN BC
Choosing a salmon charter is the best option if you’re looking for a single day of fishing or if you are planning on arranging your own accommodations. Salmon charters are the easiest and most affordable option for fishing in BC. If you’re shopping around there are a ton to choose from and deciding which ones to go with can be hard. Make sure you read online reviews before booking and ask lots of questions. Captains that are quick to communicate and answer questions are showing initial service. This is important, as it is a sign of how they will run their guided day. You can find saltwater fishing charters in all coastal communities in BC. We have a comprehensive network of BC’s top charters, operating in Tofino, Comox, Campbell River, Prince Rupert, Port Hardy, Powell River and Vancouver. Most charter boats are going to be in the $125-$150 an hour range, depending on group size. Best months for saltwater fishing in BC are July & August but there is also very good Winter & Spring fishing on BC’s south coast.
CHINOOK SALMON
Chinook salmon, also know as King salmon in the US, are the most popular sport fish to catch. They are the biggest of the 5 Pacific species and can grow up to 80 pounds!
COHO SALMON
Coho salmon, commonly referred to as Silver salmon in the US, are a very popular sport fish with healthy numbers on the BC coast. Coho salmon are known for their hard fight style.
PINK SALMON
Pink salmon can be caught coast wide from July to September. They average between 5-10 pounds and are also a popular salmon to target in rivers. Pinks are best canned or enjoyed fresh.
CHUM SALMON
Chum salmon are under-rated and aren’t a commonly targeted species for saltwater fishing. The better fishing for chum salmon happens during the Fall months when chums enter BC’s coastal rivers.
WHERE TO GO HALIBUT FISHING
PLACES IN BC TO GO HALIBUT FISHING
Halibut fishing in BC can be very good, depending on location. Where are the best places to go halibut fishing in BC? To start, there is no halibut fishing in the Vancouver area or on the east coast of Vancouver Island. You’ll want to look at the west coast of Vancouver Island or the northern part of Vancouver Island. Both these areas offer good halibut and bottom fishing and are accessible by vehicle. Most fly-in lodges on British Columbia’s central and north coast will have halibut fishing grounds as well. There is some very good halibut and bottom fishing in Prince Rupert on BC’s north coast and the waters of Haida Gwaii, also on the north coast, offer excellent hali and bottom fishing. If halibut fishing is important to your trip, make sure you ask your lodge or charter if they offer it pre-trip. Read more about BC Halibut Fishing here.
GETTING YOUR FISH HOME
PACKAGING & SMOKING YOUR SALMON
Getting your fish home from British Columbia is fairly easy. You can travel to the United States from Canada with sport caught fish without issue. Just remember to have your fishing license on-hand, sometimes customs will ask for it. Most salmon lodges will offer further processing to what they have at the lodge. Lodges will fillet, vacuum pack and flash freeze your fish. On your departure they will put it in a wax or styrofoam box. Make sure you ask if this is included in the package, some lodges up-charge for this. Charter captains will clean and bag fish but rarely offer any further service, so bring your own cooler! Most reputable charter operations will have a contact for further processing (vac packing and freezing) in their town. A very popular option for anglers in BC is to send their fish to St. Jeans Cannery & Smokehouse. They offer smoking and canning services and will send fish directly to your home.
When is the best time for salmon fishing in BC?
Generally speaking mid June to mid September is when the best fishing is coast wide. There is also very good salmon fishing in Spring and Winter months on BC's south coast.
WHAT ARE CATCH LIMITS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA?
Catch limits, meaning how many fish you can keep, changes depending on area and season. Most areas you can keep 4 salmon per day with a total of 8 possession.
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO FISHING?
Tough question as so much of BC's coast offers great fishing. Vancouver Island, BC's central coast and Haida Gwaii on BC's north coast all offer excellent saltwater fishing.
HOW MUCH DO FISHING LICENSES COST?
Saltwater fishing licenses price is based on residency but range from $6-$10 per day. If you want to keep salmon you will need a salmon conservation stamp on your license.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO SALMON FISHING?
That really depends on where you go, group size and length of trip. Day charters range from $700-$1400 per day. Lodge packages range from $3000-$6500 depending on inclusions.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A TRIP?
Make sure you do your research before your trip and make sure you trip fits your budget. You can always contact us for more info on salmon fishing and we can help you with fishing plans.