Pink Salmon
Pink salmon are the most abundant Pacific salmon in Canada, running in massive numbers through southwestern B. C. rivers every odd-numbered year.
Their willingness to bite, manageable size, and sheer volume make them a gateway fishery for beginners and a reliable late-summer target for experienced anglers. The Fraser, Squamish, and Campbell rivers see some of the largest runs on the coast.
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Also known as Humpback salmon, humpy, humpie, pink
- Smallest of the five Pacific salmon: typically 3–6 lbs and 20–25 inches, though fish up to 15 lbs have been recorded.
- In the ocean: bright silver with a blue-green back and large oval black spots on the back and entire tail fin — the spots are the key field mark.
- Spawning males turn dark brown to black on the back with a bright white belly and grow a pronounced hump — the source of every nickname.
- White mouth with black gums; no teeth on the tongue. Females lack the hump and show olive-green with dusky patches as they near spawning.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Pacific and Arctic drainages in Canada, from the Mackenzie River delta in the Northwest Territories south through B.C. to the coast.
- Anadromous: hatch in freshwater gravel, migrate almost immediately to estuaries and the ocean, spend roughly 18 months at sea, then return to spawn and die.
- In B.C., the largest runs concentrate in the Fraser River system, the Squamish River and its tributaries, the Campbell River on Vancouver Island, and the Harrison and Chilliwack rivers.
- Also introduced to the Great Lakes; fish can be found in Ontario waters, though the core Canadian fishery is the B.C. coast.
Key Locations
- Fraser River, B.C. — the largest pink salmon run in southern B.C., with fish entering from mid-August through September in odd years.
- Squamish River and Howe Sound, B.C. — fish stage on the rocky beaches near Furry Creek before pushing into the Squamish and its tributaries; popular for both fly and spin anglers.
- Harrison and Chilliwack rivers, B.C. — Fraser tributaries that see strong runs and are accessible to anglers from the Lower Mainland.
- Campbell River, Vancouver Island — known for pink salmon along the shoreline in late summer and fall during odd-year runs.
Specific Spots
- Tidal reaches and estuaries — fish stage here before moving upriver on incoming tides, making the three hours before high tide the most productive window.
- Rocky beaches and shorelines at places like Howe Sound near Furry Creek, where fish hold in the surf waiting for favorable tides before entering the Squamish River.
- Current seams and slower water on the inside of bends in rivers like the Fraser — pinks push upriver on the tide and rest in softer current.
- Gravel tailouts and shallow riffles once fish are well into the river system; they stack in these areas before moving onto spawning beds.
Pink Salmon FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Pink Salmon?
Small spoons (3/8–1/2 oz) in pink, chartreuse, or silver are the most consistent producers, cast across current and retrieve at a steady pace that keeps the spoon fluttering.
What flies work for Pink Salmon?
Small bright streamers in pink, chartreuse, or orange are the foundation of the pink salmon fly box, Pink Woolly Buggers and Egg-Sucking Leeches (which imitate a leech trailing a salmon egg) are proven patterns on B.C. rivers.
When is the best time to fish for Pink Salmon?
Mid-August through late September is the primary river season in southwestern B.C. during odd-numbered years, the bulk of the run moves through in the first two weeks of September. Tidal and nearshore fishing in places like Howe Sound can start slightly earlier, as fish stage in saltwater before entering rivers.
How do you catch Pink Salmon?
Most anglers wade B.C. rivers and cast spoons or spinners across the current, retrieving through holding water. Timing the tide is critical in tidal reaches, the incoming tide moves fish and concentrates them, making the hours around high tide the most productive.
What do Pink Salmon eat?
In the ocean, pinks feed on small fish, squid, and crustaceans, but once they enter freshwater they stop feeding entirely. River fishing relies on triggering a reaction strike, not a feeding response.
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