Saltwater · Year-round in the ocean; peak summer and early fall
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
The largest Pacific salmon and the top target for BC and Pacific Northwest boat anglers. Chinook feed aggressively around tide changes and along structure.
Where they live
In this guide: Vancouver, BC · Victoria, BC · Campbell River, BC · Seattle, WA.
How to catch them
Trolling with flasher and anchovy teaser
Rig: 11" flasher, 36-42" leader to an anchovy teaser head
Bait/lure: Whole anchovy or herring; spoons and hoochies as alternatives
Key tip: Match trolling speed so the bait rolls, not spins. Fish the tide change.
Mooching
Rig: Banana sinker 3-6 oz, two-hook mooching rig
Bait/lure: Cut-plug herring
Key tip: Slow, deliberate lifts. Watch for the soft pickup on the drop.
Baseline setup
- Rod: 10'6" trolling/mooching rod, medium-heavy
- Line: 30 lb braid or 25 lb mono mainline
- Terminal: Flashers, teaser heads, 40 lb fluorocarbon leader
Recommended gear for this species
Trolling rod · Best value
10'6" mooching/trolling rod (medium-heavy)
≈ US$120-180
Long soft action absorbs flasher load and keeps barbless hooks pinned.
Reel · Budget
Line-counter or mooching reel, 300 size
≈ US$70-110
Repeatable depth is half of salmon trolling; a counter makes it repeatable.
Terminal · Budget
11" flasher + anchovy teaser heads (2-pack)
≈ US$25-35
The chinook standard on this coast. Greens and chartreuse first.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
New to Chinook Salmon? Start with a complete kit
Salmon Starter Kit — Mooching & River — About $130–175 all-in · About $250–365 all-in
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