Recently DFO released its annual Salmon Outlook for the season ahead and there’s much to look forward to for the coastal fisherman in 2026. Salmon stock or stock groupings are ranked from 1 to 4, with 1 being poor or stock of concern, 2 as below average, 3 as average and 4 being abundant. There’s lots of 3’s and 4’s!
On the west coast of Vancouver Island both the Conuma River (Nootka Sound) and Robertson Creek (Stamp River near Port Alberni) hatchery chinook stocks are ranked as a 4. This is good news for the Kyuquot fishery as they feature prominently in the stock mix for the nearshore fishery. The WVCI coho stock has been given a ranking of 3 which means that, as there has been in recent years, there will be limited wild coho retention (1 per day in the aggregate of 2 coho per day) in summer 2026 along and inside the surfline. Offshore will remain at 2 per day but hatchery origin (adipose fin-clipped) fish only.
Around Campbell River there should be strong chinook fishing once again in 2026. A number of wild stocks that contribute heavily to the inside fishery are ranked as a 4 (Cowichan, Harrison and South Thompson rivers) and all the hatchery stocks for fall-run chinook are ranked as a 3 or a 4 (Quinsam, Puntledge, Big Qualicum, Nanaimo, Capilano and Chilliwack rivers). The big management challenge of Fraser River stream-type chinook stocks of concern remains and, with certain exceptions along the mainland shore, chinook non-retention will be in effect from April 1 – July 14 . The fishery in the Bute Inlet/Ramsay Arm/Toba Inlet area during this period is a special experience – towering mountains and snowmelt pouring off the slopes – but it’s more than an hour’s travel each way so there has to be a commitment for a full day trip.
There’s more good news concerning coho around the Strait of Georgia, not only with abundance (most stocks both hatchery and wild are 3’s) but also with distribution. After a multi-decade absence, for the fourth year in a row young coho are present in the Strait of Georgia now which means they will be around in numbers during summer 2026 – light tackle fun o’plenty!
Following the example set in 2025, it’s very much in the cards that there will be productive sockeye fishery late summer in the lower straits above Campbell River. It’s a dominant cycle-year for Fraser River late-run sockeye, the Adams River stock in particular, so if the fish have enjoyed the same marine survival as the 2025 run, which returned at nearly four times the forecast, and there’s a decent inside diversion there could be bonus fishery in late August.
After all this potential good news there had to be some less welcome news, in this case for halibut once again. In late January the International Pacific Halibut Commission concluded its annual meeting to set catch limits throughout the range of treaty waters and Canada’s total allowable catch has been reduced by 7% from last year, the poundage for which was already very low. At this time regulations for the sport fishery in 2026 haven’t been determined, but daily, possession and size limits won’t be generous in order to provide the longest season -stay tuned for details.
Lastly, there should be productive lingcod fishing all around Vancouver Island – think fish and chips!