About the Region
The Fraser River is the longest river in British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Blackrock Mountain in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for 1,375 kilometres (854 mi), into the Pacific Ocean at the Straight of Georgia just south of the City of Vancouver.
Covering a huge range of habitats and ecosystems, the river is comprised of 12 unique watersheds; each capturing a different aspect of the province’s varied and often rugged landscape.
The delta of the river, especially in the Boundary Bay area, is also an important stopover location for migrating shorebirds. During the spring migration season, half a million sandpipers per day have been estimated to visit the insect-rich mudflats of Roberts Bank.
Don’t forget your binoculars for viewing eagles, bears, and big horn sheep along the Fraser River shoreline.
This River and its basin offer so many opportunities for many recreational activities, so stay a little longer and book your accommodation in the Hope or Lillooet area.
Fishing the Fraser
The Fraser River is known for the fishing of white sturgeon, all five species of Pacific salmon (chinook, coho, chum, pink, sockeye), as well as steelhead trout. The Fraser River is also the largest producer of salmon in Canada.
A typical white sturgeon catch can average about 500 pounds (230 kg). A white sturgeon weighing an estimated 500 kilograms (1,100 lb) and measuring 3.76 metres (12 ft 4 in) was caught and released on the Fraser River in July 2012. In 2021, a white sturgeon was caught on the river weighing 890 pounds (400 kg), with a length of 352 cm (11.55 ft). It was estimated to be over 100 years old. The fish was tagged and released.
