"Fraser River chum salmon return is estimated to be two million, the largest return on record," said Lara Sloan of Fisheries and Oceans Canada in an email to CBC Friday.

"Catches in Johnstone Strait were some of the strongest on record. There have also been very strong returns of chum to the Nanaimo River."

Sloan said the spawning target was met early, with a total catch estimated at 150,000.

Chum catches have been strong on the east coast of Vancouver Island also, but she said not all the data is in yet.