Robert and grandson Aiden from Thunder Bay Ontario fished with Doug of Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing. Both had a great time fishing and bonding during the fishing day.
September is a favorite salmon sport fishing month for many anglers. The days become shorter and are filled with crisp cool morning air and warm afternoons. In many British Columbia areas it is the month with little wind and fog which make sport fishing conditions very favorable. Coho and late run Chinook fishing can be terrific in most Pacific Rim areas. West Coast Vancouver Island salmon are into the final stages of their longest life journey as they enter their natal rivers, streams, and creeks. Barkley Sound, areas close to Ucluelet and the outer area of the Alberni Inlet have produced some world class salmon sport fishing during the first half of September. West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook and Coho returns for 2026 were forecast to be “fabulous”. Chinook fishing has been very good to date especially in Barkley Sound. The forecast return model has been downgraded from 190,000 to 140,000 Chinook. This is still a fantastic and relatively high return and great news for anglers who took part in the Labour Day weekend Salmon Derby from September 5th to 7th and also for the Alberni Valley Tyee Club final Derby Day on Sunday September 13th.
The Salmon festival weekend had Fabulous weather for the many fisher people and as well for the many people enjoying the festivities at Tyee landing. The winning salmon for the 2026 salmon festival was 24.2 pounds landed by local fisherperson Derek Little who won $5000.00 for the biggest fish of the day on day three of the derby and an additional $10,000.00 for the largest salmon of the Labour Day Weekend Derby. The fish was landed on the Bamfield Wall using a Skinny G Herring Aid spoon. The largest fish of the day on Saturday was landed by Seth Romeril at 21.02 lbs and on Sunday Dominic Duguay landed a 21.12 pound Chinook. Both of these fish had a $5000.00 winning prize for both individuals.
The Tyee Club largest fish was won on the last day on Sunday September 13th by Isaac Mcdonald. Isaac was fishing with dad John and landed a 24.14 Chinook using a plug on the Bamfield Wall. This fish was landed very close to the winning fish of the Labour Day Salmon Derby. Isaac netted $5000.00 for the biggest fish of the summer long Tyee Club derby and also won an Islander Reel and Rod for the biggest fish on the Derbies final Day. Ryker Klein of Bamfield won the Junior Derby.
September gives anglers opportunity to fish the pristine, calm, and scenic waters of Barkley Sound and the Alberni Inlet. Barkley Sound hotspots have been Pill Point, Swale Rock, Gilbraltor, Assets, Wittlestone, and the Bamfield Wall. The Wall and Areas from Wittlestone to Cape Beale have been fabulous for big Coho up to thirteen and fourteen pounds and Chinook up to Twenty pounds. The Salmon will often hold if there are large quantities of bait fish. The Chinook and Coho are in relatively shallow water in September. Coho are on the surface in the early mornings and later in the evening. During the day Coho have been in twenty-five to forty feet of water. The Chinook have been in shallow water ranging from thirty-five to fifty feet. Anchovy creates great success using teaser head colors in purple haze, green haze, clown, army truck glow, and cop car. Leader lengths at six to seven feet behind a blue, purple, or green gold flasher. A variety spoons from two to four-inch work very well with leader lengths up to five feet. Various Hoochies in Octopus and Cuttle Fish are a terrific choice. White hoochies especially the Aorl 12 with leader lengths of thirty-three to forty inches have been fabulous landing both Chinook and Coho using purple and green gold flashers.
The Alberni Inlet historically fills with migrating salmon by mid August and usually peaks right around the week of Labour Day. September usually has a terrific mix of Coho and Chinook that are making their way to the Somass River. Hotspots can be Lone Tree, Coulson’s, China Creek Wall, Dunsmuir, Underwood, and the Narrows. The fishing in the inlet for unknown reason for Chinook and Coho has not been like most years. People have tended to fish on the outside waters as the Inlet has produced little sport fishing opportunity. Most fisher persons have been running out to San Mateo Bay, Assets, Pill Point and The Bamfield Wall where results have been Very GOOD.
September is a wonderful month and the sport fishing is historically fantastic. This year the Areas close to Bamfield and the Ucluelet area and Pill Point have been terrific to date.
Tight Lines
Doug Lindores
Slivers Charters Salmon Sport Fishing
Mobile: 250 731 7389 Canada and the U.S.
