Tofino, Clayoquot Sound and offshore waters - DFO Areas 24 and 124.
Other west coast waters: Barkley Sound & Alberni Inlet · Nootka Sound & Esperanza Inlet. Port Renfrew is in South Vancouver Island.
The linked September Tofino report places coho in Father Charles Channel and Calmus Passage, using needlefish imitations and bucktailing in the prop wash. It also names Wya Point, Portland Point and Long Beach for late mature chinook. These are September observations, not confirmed October catches.
Source: Island Fisherman magazine report - thank you to this source for its update. Further details in the linked report.
Tofino / Clayoquot Sound: big northern coho arriving - Father Charles Channel and Calmus Passage with needlefish imitations, prime bucktailing in the prop wash; late mature chinook off Wya Point, Portland Point and Long Beach; lingcod moving shallow, halibut sliding to the 200 ft contour.
Source: Island Fisherman magazine report, Sep 1 2026.
Tofino: chinook feeding hard and halibut consistent in calm summer conditions - peak season on the west coast.
Source: Tofino Fish Guides report, Jul 18 2026.
Current forecast and warning status not yet verified. Checking Environment Canada...
Check the official forecast and warningsLatest DFO fishery notices touching this region, refreshed each morning - full details and regulations on DFO's page
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| Species | Areas | Min size | Gear | Daily Limits | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook salmon (hatchery and wild combined) | 24,124 | 45cm | barbless hook and line | 2 | Open |
| Chum salmon | 24 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 0 | Non Retention |
| 124 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 4 | Open | |
| Coho salmon (hatchery and wild combined) | 24 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 2 Combined Total * Consisting of no more than:
|
Open |
| 124 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 2 Combined Total * Consisting of no more than:
|
Open | |
| Pink salmon | 24 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 0 | Non Retention |
| 124 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 4 | Open | |
| Sockeye salmon | 24 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 4 | Open |
| 124 | 30cm | barbless hook and line | 0 | Non Retention |
| Species | Areas | Min size | Gear | Daily Limits | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Codfish | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 8 | Open | |
| Eulachon | 24,124 | 0kg | Closed | ||
| Finfish - all other species | 24,124 | angling, dip net, herring jig, herring rake, spear fishing while diving | 20 | Open | |
| Greenling | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 3 | Open | |
| Halibut | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 2 | Open | |
| Herring | 24,124 | cast net, dip net, herring jig, herring rake | 20kg | Open | |
| Lingcod | 24,124 | 65cm | angling, spear fishing while diving | 3 | Open |
| Mackerel | 24,124 | angling, dip net, herring jig, herring rake, spear fishing while diving | 100 | Open | |
| Northern Anchovy | 24,124 | cast net, dip net, herring jig, herring rake | 20kg | Open | |
| Pacific sand lance | 24,124 | cast net, dip net, herring jig, herring rake | 5kg | Open | |
| Pacific sardine | 24,124 | angling, dip net, herring jig, herring rake, spear fishing while diving | 100 | Open | |
| Rockfish - Yelloweye | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 0 | Non Retention | |
| Rockfish - all species except Yelloweye | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 3 | Open | |
| Sablefish | 24,124 | angling | 4 | Open | |
| Sculpin | 24,124 | angling | 8 | Open | |
| Shark - Basking | 24,124 | 0 | Closed | ||
| Shark - Blue | 24,124 | 0 | Closed | ||
| Shark - Brown Cat | 24,124 | 0 | Closed | ||
| Shark - Great White | 24,124 | 0 | Closed | ||
| Shark - Salmon | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 1 | Open | |
| Shark - Sixgill | 24,124 | 0 | Closed | ||
| Shark - Tope | 24,124 | 0 | Closed | ||
| Shark - all other species | 24,124 | 0 | Closed | ||
| Skate | 24,124 | angling | 1 | Open | |
| Smelt | 24,124 | dip net, gill net | 20kg | Open | |
| Sole or Flounder | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 8 | Open | |
| Spiny Dogfish | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 0 | Non Retention | |
| Surfperch | 24,124 | angling | 8 | Open | |
| Tuna - Albacore | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 20 | Open | |
| Tuna - Pacific bluefin | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 20 | Open | |
| Tuna - all other species | 24,124 | angling, spear fishing while diving | 20 | Open | |
| White Sturgeon | 24,124 | angling | 0 | Non Retention | |
| Wolf Eel | 24,124 | angling | 0 | Non Retention |
| Species | Areas | Min size | Gear | Daily Limits | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trout (hatchery and wild combined) | 24,124 | 30cm | angling | 2 Combined Total * Consisting of no more than:
|
Open |
| Species | Areas | Gear | Daily Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clam - Butter | 24,124 | hand digging, hand picking | 20 |
| Clam - Horse | 24,124 | hand digging, hand picking | 6 |
| Clam - Littleneck | 24,124 | hand digging | 60 |
| Clam - Manila | 24,124 | hand digging | 60 |
| Clam - Razor | 24,124 | hand digging | 12 |
| Clam - Softshell | 24,124 | hand digging | 25 |
| Clam - Varnish | 24,124 | hand digging | 60 |
| Clam - all species combined | 24,124 | hand digging, hand picking | 60 |
| Cockles | 24,124 | hand digging, hand picking | 25 |
| Geoduck | 24,124 | hand digging, hand picking | 3 |
| Mussel - Blue | 24,124 | hand picking | 75 |
| Mussel - California | 24,124 | hand picking | 25 |
| Mussels - all species combined | 24,124 | hand picking | 75 |
| Oyster - Olympia | 24,124 | 0 | |
| Oyster - all species except Olympia | 24,124 | hand picking | 12 |
| Scallop - Pink and Spiny | 24,124 | hand picking, hand picking while diving | 75 |
| Scallop - Purple-hinged rock | 24,124 | hand picking, hand picking while diving | 6 |
| Scallop - Weathervane | 24,124 | hand picking, hand picking while diving | 6 |
| Scallop - Weathervane and Purple-hinged rock combined | 24,124 | hand picking, hand picking while diving | 6 |
| Snail - Moon | 24,124 | hand picking | 2 |
| Snail - other | 24,124 | hand picking | 75 |
| Whelks | 24,124 | hand picking | 75 |
| Species | Areas | Min size | Gear | Daily Limits | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crab - Box | 24,124 | dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap | 1 | Open | |
| Crab - Dungeness | 24,124 | 165mm | dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap | 6 | Open |
| Crab - Dungeness, Red Rock and King combined | 24,124 | dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap | 6 | Open | |
| Crab - King | 24,124 | dip net, diving, ring net, trap | 2 | Open | |
| Crab - Puget Sound King | 24,124 | dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap | 1 | Open | |
| Crab - Red Rock | 24,124 | 115mm | dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap | 6 | Open |
| Crab - Shore | 24,124 | hand picking | 25 | Open | |
| Crab - other | 24,124 | dip net, hand picking, hand picking while diving, ring net, trap | 4 | Open |
| Species | Areas | Gear | Daily Limits | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abalone | 24,124 | 0 | Closed | |
| Barnacles - Giant | 24,124 | diving | 6 | Open |
| Barnacles - Goose | 24,124 | hand picking | 2kg | Open |
| Invertebrates - all other species | 24,124 | angling, dip net, hand digging, hand picking, hand picking while diving, hand picking while snorkeling, hand pump, ring net, spear fishing while diving, trap | 20 | Open |
| Limpet | 24,124 | hand picking | 75 | Open |
| Octopus | 24,124 | angling, hand picking, hand picking while diving, trap | 1 | Open |
| Sand Dollar | 24,124 | hand picking | 6 | Open |
| Sea Cucumber | 24,124 | hand picking, hand picking while diving | 12 | Open |
| Sea Star or Starfish | 24,124 | diving, hand picking | 6 | Open |
| Sea Urchin | 24,124 | hand picking, hand picking while diving | 12 | Open |
| Shellfish - all other species | 24,124 | angling, dip net, hand digging, hand picking, hand picking while diving, hand pump, ring net, spear fishing while diving, trap | 20 | Open |
| Shrimp - Ghost | 24,124 | hand digging, hand pump | 50 | Open |
| Shrimp including prawn | 24,124 | ring net, spear fishing while diving, trap | 125 | Open |
| Squid - Opal | 24,124 | cast net, jigging | 200 | Open |
| Squid - all other species | 24,124 | cast net, jigging | 20 | Open |
DFO tables checked October 14, 2026. Subarea exceptions and closures on the official DFO page override these tables. Check the latest before keeping fish.
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Chinook salmon
Coho salmon
Halibut
Prawns
Bottomfish
AI-generated summaries · checked October 14, 2026. Dated evidence, not live counts or fishing advice.
Cypre River Chinook: DFO's final 2025 estimate was 2 natural adult spawners (excluding jacks), the lowest of 18 final reported values in this selected 2006-2025 series. This is a within-series comparison, not an all-time or region-wide record. Survey changes and missing years limit comparisons.
DFO NuSEDS source and dictionaryNOAA reported the most juvenile coho and chum on record in its 2025 coastal surveys. Its ecosystem review describes productive conditions off Oregon and Washington, but mixed signals for adult Columbia River returns. This is neighbouring California Current ocean context, not a count of salmon returning to Vancouver Island or a forecast for BC rivers.
NOAA ocean ecosystem reviewAI-generated summaries · checked October 14, 2026. Historical records and scientific findings are dated below. No live animal tracking or unverified social-media sightings.
The 2006 COSEWIC assessment lists Pacific white-shark records from 1961 to 2004, including Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island. Most were stranded animals. These are historical occurrence records, not current beach alerts or evidence of rising local numbers.
COSEWIC historical records and datesA peer-reviewed study used images of 1,213 sunfish to examine identification, then analysed 1,178 observations from California to Alaska. Researchers found repeated hoodwinker sunfish (Mola tecta) records in both current systems. Six specimens from California and Alaska were confirmed genetically. The study supports a wider known range, not a count of sunfish near this region today.
Read the sunfish study and authorsDFO: report a shark encounter in BC. Observe without approaching or disturbing wildlife.
Choose a salmon species and river. Each bar shows one year: taller means more fish. The latest reported year is orange. These are selected monitored populations, not a complete regional census.
Checked October 14, 2026. Annual history: NuSEDS June 1, 2026 snapshot, with population-specific latest years up to 2025. This is not a live 2026 return estimate. Gaps are not zero; reported DFO estimates are not invented counts.
AI-generated summary: DFO’s preliminary 2026 outlook keeps wild WCVI Chinook at a poor outlook (category 1), while hatchery indicators are average to above average (3–4). It reports above-average 2025 Conuma returns and a preliminary Robertson Creek return of 125,000. Hatchery strength does not establish recovery of wild river populations. This is an early planning outlook, not an October in-season result or a firm future return forecast.
DFO 2026 preliminary outlook, pages 27–28. No multi-year population forecast is generated.
Loading species charts...
2026 brood plan dated August 18, 2026. Many plan rows are Preliminary. Release timing depends on species and stage; a brood year is not a return year. Post-season reports dated February 19, 2026 cover 2023 and 2024 broods. The 2024 cohort has incomplete smolt releases. Juvenile output is not adult return, marine survival or proof of recovery.
Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.
Reported releases only; some source rows are blank.
2026 brood primary release target: 310,000 juveniles. Stages: Seapen 0+, Smolt 0+. Objectives: Rebuilding. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.
2024 brood: reported actual releases 7,049. On rows with both numbers, 7,049 released against 85,000 targeted (8%). 2 row(s) have no reported actual; these are not counted as zero. This measures reported juvenile production only.
No broodstock collected due to logistical challenges
Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.
2026 brood primary release target: 90,000 juveniles. Stages: Fed Fry. Objectives: Stewardship. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.
Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.
2026 brood primary release target: 90,000 juveniles. Stages: Fed Fry. Objectives: Stewardship. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.
2023 brood: reported actual releases 89,760. On rows with both numbers, 89,760 released against 90,000 targeted (100%). This measures reported juvenile production only.
2024 brood: reported actual releases 79,355. On rows with both numbers, 79,355 released against 90,000 targeted (88%). This measures reported juvenile production only.
AI-generated summary: The 2026 brood plan lists Chinook, Chum, Coho production, with rebuilding, stewardship objectives. Targets are planned juvenile releases, not adult returns. Compare the post-season rows below for reported production; blanks and incomplete cohorts are not failures.
Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.
2026 brood primary release target: 200,000 juveniles. Stages: Smolt 0+. Objectives: Rebuilding. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.
AI-generated summary: The 2026 brood plan lists Chinook production, with rebuilding objectives. Targets are planned juvenile releases, not adult returns. Compare the post-season rows below for reported production; blanks and incomplete cohorts are not failures.
Young salmon by brood year. 2024 is incomplete. Orange: 2026 primary release plan, not actual.
2026 brood primary release target: 100,000 juveniles. Stages: Fed Fry. Objectives: Rebuilding. Plan row status: Preliminary. Transfers and alternate strategies excluded from this target.
2023 brood: reported actual releases 11,920. This measures reported juvenile production only.
2024 brood: reported actual releases 28,709. On rows with both numbers, 28,709 released against 100,000 targeted (29%). This measures reported juvenile production only.
AI-generated summary: The 2026 brood plan lists Chum production, with rebuilding objectives. Targets are planned juvenile releases, not adult returns. Compare the post-season rows below for reported production; blanks and incomplete cohorts are not failures.
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