Vancouver is home to all five species of Pacific Salmon and Dungeness Crab
 

 Resident (King/Spring) Chinook Salmon: These salmon just don’t have the urge to migrate out to the Pacific Ocean. Instead, they reside in the Strait of Georgia and coastal waters all their lives following schools of bait fish. The best times to catch these salmon are from about December through the end of May. They are generally caught close to the bottom but can be caught much shallower. Resident Chinook, when ‘keeper’ size are 7 - 8 lbs, but have been caught obtaining weights of 30lbs+. The average size is usually 8 - 20 lbs.

 Migratory (King/Spring) Chinook Salmon: These salmon are the largest of the year. They migrate out into the Pacific Ocean and then return to their home river to spawn. Migratory Chinook do have a tendency to feed periodically but, more importantly, retain most of their urge to strike at lures or bait. The first of the migratory fish usually start showing in the beginning of April off the Fraser River and the springtime runs peak during May. During summer months Chinook are still present, in slightly fewer numbers until September rolls around. Fall Chinook are generally the largest fish of the year. Some of these salmon can top the scale at 50lbs+ with 12lbs - 30lbs being the norm. This fishery lasts mid to late October.

 Coho (Silver) Salmon: These little bundles of energy start showing around the Vancouver area in late June and finish up towards the end of October. The Capilano River mouth is usually the most productive area and is best fished through the months of July and August. They will expend most of their energy in the first few minutes after they are hooked and have been known to put on a spectacular show of aerobatics. Their size varies considerably with weights from 3 lbs to 8lbs being average but can be caught in excess of 15lbs. Only hatchery clipped fish (missing their adipose fin with healed scar) can be kept in the Vancouver Area.

 Sockeye Salmon: These fish are the most sought after commercially, primarily because of the rich red-orange meat color. They are swim in large schools and begin to appear around the Vancouver Area around  Mid-August through September. When fishing Sockeye Salmon, it’s quite common to catch two, three or even four at once! They can provide lots of action but are watched very closely by our Dept. of Fisheries. Even though they return every year, they do have their ‘peak’ years. Last year, 2006 was a peak year and was fantastic! They weigh in between 6lbs and 12lbs, but as mention before, are highly regulated as far as openings and closures.

 Pink Salmon: As a general rule of thumb, these fish return to southern waters in the ‘odd’ numbered years (2007 being a ‘pink’ year for the Vancouver Area) and return to northern waters during the ‘even’ numbered years. Like Sockeye salmon, pinks travel in great numbers or ‘schools’ but differ in their lifespan. Pink salmon leave their home river immediately after being born rather than residing for 7 - 12 months like Chinook, Coho and Sockeye. They return 2 years later weighing aprox. 4 - 9 pounds and can provide lots of action for the angler.

 Chum (Dog/Keta) Salmon: Chum salmon have something in common with their ‘Pink’ cousins. After emerging in their home rivers, they too head for the ocean immediately, but return 3 to 5 years later as opposed to 2 years. They are a schooling fish but…are very difficult to catch with any consistency!  They can weigh aprox. 7lbs to almost 20lbs and are seen returning to the Vancouver area September through early November.

Dungeness crab: Vancouver Harbour is also home to the Pacific Dungeness crab. When heading to the fishing grounds, we make a point of dropping off a trap to catch these tasty items from January - June. The best months are May and June when limits of crab are very common. At the end of June, the commercial crab fishery begins and in very little time ‘clean’ up the Vancouver harbour area.