Two months have passed since the 2025 Chum run. Unlike previous years, the Cortes Island Streamkeepers have not released a final count.
A Tideline post at the beginning of the run noted, “Basil Creek is usually the first on Cortes to receive returning salmon, and true to form, the first chum showed up on October 23. These first Chum are gorgeous, big, strong, with no decay, and moving steadily up the creek. The Chum typically have a 4-year cycle – we saw good returns in the fall of 2021, so we can expect this year to have a strong return of spawning Chum.”
The Streamkeepers reported only 225 ‘live’ Chum in Basil Creek during 2021 and there were much smaller sightings in Hansen (20), Whaletown (10) and James Creeks (5). There was also a Coho in Whaletown Creek.
Was there a strong run in Basil this year? Were there returns to James, Whaletown, or Hansen Creeks as well? Were there any Pinks or Coho this year?
According to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Chum stocks outside the Nass River have been declining in recent years.
Chum returned to Basil Creek in sufficient numbers to milk some for eggs on November 4, 2025. This suggests the run was at least moderate.
Neither the Cortes Streamkeepers or Klahoose Guardians were available for interviews, but Cortes Currents was invited to take some pictures.
Links of Interest:
- Cortes Island Streamkeeper Spawner Counts 2013-2024 – Cortes Currents
- Milking the Chum in Basil Creek – Cortes Currents
- Articles about or mentioning the Cortes Streamkeepers
All photos were of Chum in Basil Creek and taken by Roy L Hales
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