Fraser River Sturgeon Fishing Report - September 5, 2025
September Sturgeon Fishing Outlook for The Lower Fraser River
August is in the books and it was an outstanding month for sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River. Our PA jet boat was busy battling big, hungry fish from the lower reaches of the North and South Arm all the way up past the Pitt River. The exploring wasn’t out of necessity, but more about finding new fish in new spots. The takeaway? Sturgeon are everywhere right now. Other than the occasional lull with tide changes, consistent is the best way to describe the fishery.
Now that September is here, conditions are setting up for another excellent month–potentially even better than August.
Double headers aren’t uncommon lately!
Why Sturgeon Fishing Is So Good Right Now
One of the key factors behind this incredible fishing has been the strong pink and sockeye salmon return to the Fraser this year. With so much food moving upriver, sturgeon are more active and feeding heavily. You might assume they’d ignore baits with endless salmon passing by, but that hasn’t been the case.
In fact, nothing beats an easy meal served up on a silver platter. Waste pieces from pink salmon were the go-to bait in August and will continue to work well through September. As the month progresses, expect sturgeon to shift toward feeding on chinook salmon, particularly the later-running white chinook. If you’re retaining a white chinook, don’t toss those heads and spines–they’re some of the best baits you can use.
River Conditions and Tactics
The Fraser River’s flow has mellowed out considerably, making for more favorable fishing conditions. Anglers can now get away with lighter wedge weights to keep baits down, and boat handling on anchor is much easier. With reduced current, tides play a bigger role, so expect your boat to flip direction on the flood tide as scent trails move west.
Some golden hour action after the flood tide settled in.
Shore Fishing for Fraser River Sturgeon
If you’re fishing from shore, the best window is about two hours before and after high slack tide. During this period, the current slows down enough to use lighter weights– easier to cast and less likely to snag. Another bonus is that the flood tide often brings in fresh salmon pushes, which gets sturgeon feeding aggressively.
Make sure to bring a sturdy pair of gloves for handling fish and be ready for a serious fight. Even smaller sturgeon can pull like nothing else in freshwater.
Book Your Sturgeon Charter in Vancouver
September is shaping up to be one of the best times of year to experience a guided sturgeon fishing trip on the Fraser River. This is peak season for big, hard-fighting fish.
📞 Call us at 778-788-8582 or
🟩 Click the "Book a Trip" button at the top of the page to lock in your date.
Tight lines,
Jake Comrie