Fishing near Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver sits at the mouth of the Fraser River on British Columbia's southwest coast, where the Pacific Ocean, a vast river delta, and a network of coastal rivers converge to create one of Canada's most productive recreational fisheries. The city is on the migratory path of all five Pacific salmon species, and the Fraser River — running through the heart of the region — draws anglers year-round for salmon, White Sturgeon, and steelhead. Urban lakes stocked through the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC's Fishing in the City program put rainbow trout within reach of most neighbourhoods, while rivers like the Capilano and Coquitlam add sea-run opportunities close to the city core. Saltwater charters operating out of Granville Island target salmon in local marine waters, and rivers near Squamish — roughly an hour north — extend the region's fly-fishing options considerably.