May 2026 Campbell River Fishing Report Update

By: JEREMY MAYNARD

Under the current management regime, May is a challenging month for salmon fishing in Area 13. Coho retention is not yet open, and the only Chinook retention opportunity is located along parts of the Mainland shore, which is an hour-plus run from Campbell River under the best conditions. That said, anglers and guides will make the hike, even with current gas prices. There are two separate zones where the hybrid mark-selective opportunity (1 Chinook per day, 80 cm maximum length on unmarked fish) is in effect April 1 to July 14: the middle part of Bute Inlet, defined as sub-area 13-21, and the Ramsay Arm and Frances Bay section of sub-area 13-19. The same opportunity also exists fishing east from George Head on the southeast entrance to Ramsay Arm towards and into lower Toba Inlet in Area 15; consult DFO Fishery Notice 0290 for exact boundaries.

May is an excellent month to be fishing there, with good numbers of feeder Chinook throughout this area. Given the steep topography, the fishing is keyed tight to the shoreline, fishing shallower (70′ to 100′ down) on the inside line and 30′ to 50′ deeper on the outside line. The bait found there is typically medium-sized herring (4″ to 5″), so plugs and spoons of a similar size, along with octopus-size hoochies, are the most productive lures. My favourite combo last year was a 4″ Gold Star spoon in the Maverick pattern fished on a short leader (48″ max) behind a flasher, but anything similar should work well. My preferred Tomic plug colours are 500/639, 602, and 407, and a local favourite is a 191.

Lingcod opens on May 1, so they will receive a fair bit of attention. Working favourite rockpiles with jigs is the usual program, but anglers are increasingly trolling with downriggers across more open ground with lead-headed swimtail lures and having good success—there’s always something new to try!

Words by JEREMY MAYNARD
Campbell River, BC | 250-203-1602