2025 Victoria and Oak Bay Reports

[Admin]

Post your 2025 fishing reports here!

 

[eroyd]

A quick two hour fish off Esquimalt today. Found some bait near the first freighter and stayed on it catching ten or so typical winter springs between 3-6 lbs. Lost a few more including a good one. Saw a 10lb taken same area and a few back at the wharf from elsewhere. Apparently a couple of mid teeners last week from the waterfront.

Crabbing was slow for me, but admittedly the bait was recycled.

 

[eroyd]

Four today in the 7-10lb range. Two by the freighter and two off Brotchie. Kept one. Saw several others taken. Less small ones today and an Orca show to boot. It's great out there!
100-125,' glow skinny G's

 

[SeaSaw]

Left the house after processing herring from the sale to get in a few laps out of esquimalt with the little one - stoked shes getting into fishing. Picked up a white marbled spring for dinner on the last lap - havent caught one of these in winter before (although my resume is not long) - and it was a big hit with the family. 120ft of water with the gear on bottom - blue AP herring spoon with a green flasher was the ticket. The sun made it feel like it was summer, the 4pm sunset did not - but what a beautiful way to spend the last of the afternoon.

 

[eroyd]

Took my brother out for a much needed fishing trip. Couldn't find anything over 5lb over off Colwood so came back and picked up a 12 and a 7 off the Harbour mouth. 100'. Both on No Bananas SG's. Big herring in the bellies.

What was with that tug pulling the log booms?

 

[chris73]

Fantastic winter spring fishing in Pedder Bay today! Probably hooked a dozen or so with only 2 shakers. With 3 keepers already in the boat we were hoping for a big one to limit out. But as it goes, we went home with only 3 after having let go several 4-5 lbs before. Actually, we hooked a bigger one near the end but it would not hang on until the net. Gorgeous day but lots of wood in the water - drive careful!

 

[islandboy]

Marked plenty, caught none. Still good to get out.
Two others out, one successful.

 

[Original]

I was one of the lucky ones out there today. Great weather calm seas and a couple of lifelong buddies with space on their licence. Had steady action throughout the day, I think we had 9 to the boat. Hootchie and hearing aid spoons on the bottom. Saddly lost some gear today on something that took out both flashers and spoons at the same time without even bending a rod, balls were still there.

 

[Duffy]

I was one of the lucky ones out there today. Great weather calm seas and a couple of lifelong buddies with space on their licence. Had steady action throughout the day, I think we had 9 to the boat. Hootchie and hearing aid spoons on the bottom. Saddly lost some gear today on something that took out both flashers and spoons at the same time without even bending a rod, balls were still there.

 

[kaelc]

I was one of the lucky ones out there today. Great weather calm seas and a couple of lifelong buddies with space on their licence. Had steady action throughout the day, I think we had 9 to the boat. Hootchie and hearing aid spoons on the bottom. Saddly lost some gear today on something that took out both flashers and spoons at the same time without even bending a rod, balls were still there.

Nice! Sorry about the gear. What color hootchie? I might have had a hit on my white over pink but it sure wasn’t hot out in Sidney for me.

 

[Original]

The hootchie is white but turns purple ( I think) when it’s in the water. It has some sparkles on it as well. Not sure of the name. I shortened up the leader to 36 in and it had our first fish in a few mins. The small 2 in spoon then took over and was a steady producer so we put it down on both sides with moon jelly flashers… poof both gone later in the day. Bellies were full of 2 in smelts. Off to the candy store today to replace em.

 

[islandboy]

The hootchie is white but turns purple ( I think) when it’s in the water. It has some sparkles on it as well. Not sure of the name. I shortened up the leader to 36 in and it had our first fish in a few mins. The small 2 in spoon then took over and was a steady producer so we put it down on both sides with moon jelly flashers… poof both gone later in the day. Bellies were full of 2 in smelts. Off to the candy store today to replace em.

Thank you for the tips while on the water yesterday. Unfortunately I was running short on time. Definitely give them a whirl next time out, and I'll row faster.

 

[Stizzla]

Thank you for the tips while on the water yesterday. Unfortunately I was running short on time. Definitely give them a whirl next time out, and I'll row faster.

Ol Donny is becoming the most beloved celeb on the forum!

 

[islandboy]

Ol Donny is becoming the most beloved celeb on the forum!

Followed @Original 's advice and bounced a 55 cm off the bottom in front of Macaulay. 100'
5" anchovy in its gut, stuffed but still eating at 13:03

 

[kaelc]

Followed @Original 's advice and bounced a 55 cm off the bottom in front of Macaulay. 100'
5" anchovy in its gut, stuffed but still eating at 13:03
View attachment 113954
View attachment 113941

Winter what winter? Nice work!

 

[tinboatrobb]

Got out of Macauley pt for just over an hour this morning. Launched at 11:00. My wife got the hatchery spring at 11:30. Good fight for a 9lb winter. Herring aide at 120 in 150 ft of water. One other hit that did not stick. Beautiful mid January day on the best coast.

 

[eroyd]

Fished Brotchie from 11 - 2:00. Not as good as last week but still managed a couple around 6#, several smaller, and lost (as usual) a bigger fish. Large herring worked well. No Banana SG close second.
Crabbing was disappointing. Big one's were too soft to keep.

 

[Hot-Streak]

Went out yesterday and fished from 1130 till about 3. Trolled waterfront/brotchie at the 100 to 140ft mark and had 3 hits in the boat and landed all 3 (well my guest did the first 2). 8lb, 7.6lb and a smaller one. A bit slow but everyone in the boat got to land a fish.

Hits were 1 on bait and 2 on WCFT Phat-E (copy of a skinny G) herring aid. Spoons are holding up much better the the gibbs Skinny G (and no I have no stake in Gibbs or WCFT, I just like the WCFT because they are better made, hooks don't rust and paint doesn't chip)

Beautiful day and even had a warm lunch

 

[Original]

Monday fun day….. well the weather was nice but fishing was slow. Launched 930 had first bite noonish. My fishing mentor told me stay to make it pay so at 1230 the port rod was off the clip as I was talking with the only other boat around. Now because I was rite there of course I grabbed my pals rod told him to steer the boat lol. I had a great fight with a 9.21 lb wild female that my buddy put on his licence. He did also get to tug on a small one and release but things were slow. Lots of soft crabs but still a couple keepers.
I stopped in and had a Peetz 5” reel serviced and put it to the test. Saddly no bite but it was fun checking the gear.

 

[islandboy]

Monday fun day….. well the weather was nice but fishing was slow. Launched 930 had first bite noonish. My fishing mentor told me stay to make it pay so at 1230 the port rod was off the clip as I was talking with the only other boat around. Now because I was rite there of course I grabbed my pals rod told him to steer the boat lol. I had a great fight with a 9.21 lb wild female that my buddy put on his licence. He did also get to tug on a small one and release but things were slow. Lots of soft crabs but still a couple keepers.
I stopped in and had a Peetz 5” reel serviced and put it to the test. Saddly no bite but it was fun checking the gear.

Good to see one of us scored. I worked over the bait ball I mentioned without success, by 12:30 I was on shore. On the upside I'm learning the new electronics.