Fishing Report
Wake Up and Get Fishing!
Nanaimo fishing is still phenomenal. It's some of the best fishing we've had in decades as far as quantity goes. There are not too many big fish yet but I've never heard of so many fishermen catching their limits so quickly. We are starting to see larger white springs...
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The Season has Started!
This years salmon season has kicked off with a bang. The big schools of early season fish are passing by Nanaimo right now. The guys that have gotten out between the wind storms did very well for Chinook in the 15 pound range. Many fisherman got their limits. Most the...
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Five Fingers Fish
Jamie Doward with a nice 15.5 pound spring caught this weekend North of Five Finger Island on our Harbour Chandler custom designed spoon Killy Magee. Thanks Jamie for the fishing report and picture. Tips up, Steve Vavrik
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Spring Has Sprung
Spring has sprung and boats are on the water. On the herring front I was told there is a small spawn going on this morning (March 23) off Rocky Point. This is good news for Nanaimo fisherman as it will bring and hold fish in our area. As for Chinook fishing, South of...
read moreWaiting for Herring
Just a quick note to say that as of today, March 12 the herring have not had a major spawn in Nanaimo. They have been around Nanoose so they could be here any day. Or not at all, you just never know. You can jig them from boat, but not from shore so far. If you see a...
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Herring Season
Herring season is hitting the East Coast of Vancouver Island. There has been a big spawn off French Creak and Qualicum. They could be in Nanaimo any day. I’m watching the commercial herring fleet on https://www.vesselfinder.com/ and they are fishing right off French...
read moreEarly Spring Springs
Happy new fishing year to all Vancouver Island fishermen. I haven't had too much to write about for the last couple of weeks, as I haven't been getting very many reports. Not too many guys have been heading out due to the foul weather we've been having. However from...
read moreChristmas Chinook
Seasons greetings, I'm back in town after a nice vacation, and it looks like the Winter Springs arrived while I was gone. Four guys I know nailed 14-15 pound Chinook this weekend. Some got their limits, with a mix of smaller fish. All where fishing fairly deep, right...
read moreChum Fishing & Hatchery Open House
October is Chum season in Nanaimo! We have a large run of these hard fighting salmon entering the Nanaimo river right now. The commercial fleet was hard at it all day yesterday right in front of the Nanaimo estuary. While traditionally underutilized by sport...
read moreWinter Springs
The winter springs (Feeder Chinook) have arrived in Nanaimo waters. And due to the rains being late, some of this years fish are still out there. To target the winters fish right on the bottom off Neck Point in 180-200 ft. of water. Needle fish patterns are always a...
read moreFall Coho
The salt water salmon season is winding down, but there are still fish to be had. Guys have been getting their limits of hatchery Coho around the fingers. They are very deep, 180 ft or so. There are also huge schools of anchovies for the first time in decades. They...
read moreSun and Smileys
The Sun is still shinning and the salmon are still biting. While things slowed down a bit after that patch of rain we had, fishing is picking up again. There are loads of salmon stacked up in front of the Little Qualicum river and off French creek. Reports from...
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The Harbour Chandler Fishing Report
Up-to-date fishing news for BC. Read through our forum, which highlights local fishing conditions, amazing catches and more. If you are looking for expert fishing advice and top-of-the-line supplies, visit our fishing store in Nanaimo.
Current Fishery Notices for the Pacific Region
Find current openings and closures information from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website.