Target Fish
There are 5 species of Pacific salmon: chinook (king, spring), coho (silver), chum, pink and sockeye. Each of these species migrate down the coast to their river of origin at different times of the year. Rivers Inlet is famous for its unique gene pool of trophy salmon. At Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club Trophy Fishing Lodge we target the chinook and coho which are hard fighting ocean fresh salmon. We operate during the peak of the salmon runs in late June to mid September. Opening for this short season ensures our guests the best opportunity for fishing success.
Because our fishing lodge is located at the mouth of Rivers Inlet our guests have the opportunity to fish not only for the salmon returning to Rivers Inlet but also for salmon migrating to the hundreds of river systems down the west coast of North America.Chinook salmon (kings) are the largest of all 5 species of Pacific salmon. The average chinook caught at the lodge ranges from 25 to 35 lbs. - although there are always 40, 50 and 60 plus pounders caught every summer. Each season the largest salmon caught on the West Coast of North America is usually taken in Rivers Inlet and often tips the scales at over 70 lbs. These are incredibly strong fish that can take anywhere from half an hour to 3 hours to get into the boat. There have also been longer fights…the kind of battles that fishing legends are made of.
Coho salmon (silvers) are smaller, livelier salmon. The average coho caught at our lodge range from 10 to 12 lbs. in the early season and 12 to 15 lbs. in the late season. However, there are lots of 15 to 20 pounders caught each summer and usually a few fish weighing in at over 20 lbs. These hard fighting fish are swift, agile and acrobatic. They are especially fun to play when using light tackle. Their fight is exhilarating as they jump and flip out of the water. Pound for pound the coho salmon is one of the world’s hardest fighting game fish.
