2025 Victoria and Oak Bay Reports

[Rayvon]

Went for halibut yesterday as the wind was predicted to fall all day and it did.First skunk of the year and a lot of good bait wasted on at least 14 dogfish.Making a move made no difference,they were everywhere.March and April are so much better without these buggers.

 

[CoolC]

Kids are getting a little bored of hali fishing... Heard coho are all the way down to Saturna now. Anyone seen any coho yet around town? Anyone trying?

 

[eroyd]

Fished both Saturday and Sunday at the Gap during tide change. Had some good action on good sized chinook including one double header, by myself, which included one clipped fish of a solid 18#. Seemed like about an hour of action each day, otherwise slow. Herring aid skinny g. The weed that corresponded with the bite was a pain.

Jigged for something to keep but only got rockfish and undersized lings. Crab traps were empty!

 

[scott craven]

AREA 19 CHINOOK RETENTION OPPORTUNITIES (EXCLUDING THOSE CLOSED AND NON-RETENTION AREAS/PERIODS LISTED ABOVE): Effective 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours August 31, 2025: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook. Effective 00:01 hours September 1 to 23:59 hours December 31, 2025: Two (2) Chinook per day, no maximum size limit.

 

[eroyd]

Took a couple of newbies out this morning. Started at the gap. No tide slow tide kind of morning with lots of annoying weeds. As soon as the first rod was in the holder, boom, fish on . . . fish off. Oops. Had to have a little course on single action reels and then back at it like pros.

Two hours of trolling, six to the boat and a few missed hits. Pretty decent. Nothing over 10-12# today but two first's for salmon. Too windy to check out the flats.

Jigged for a bit and after a few rockfish went out into Haro for a chance at a big one. Only got doggies and a few large rockfish. After the "whale parade" headed in. Wind came up as predicted.

 

[Steelie9425412]

Took a couple of newbies out this morning. Started at the gap. No tide slow tide kind of morning with lots of annoying weeds. As soon as the first rod was in the holder, boom, fish on . . . fish off. Oops. Had to have a little course on single action reels and then back at it like pros.

Two hours of trolling, six to the boat and a few missed hits. Pretty decent. Nothing over 10-12# today but two first's for salmon. Too windy to check out the flats.

Jigged for a bit and after a few rockfish went out into Haro for a chance at a big one. Only got doggies and a few large rockfish. After the "whale parade" headed in. Wind came up as predicted.

Whats the difference between the gap and the flats?

 

[tinboatrobb]

Location location location.

 

[tinboatrobb]

Seriously, if you look at a chart you will see that they are 2 different spots but very close together. The Gap is the area west of Chatham and Discovery Islands. The Flats is the large area East of Trial Island.

 

[eroyd]

From the old Alec Merriman book. Back in the day, the flats was out there. Note: Rockfish Conservation Area around much of the Discovery/Chatham group. Fish 70-100 ft you should be good.

 

[Sailfish25]

View attachment 118223
From the old Alec Merriman book. Back in the day, the flats was out there. Note: Rockfish Conservation Area around much of the Discovery/Chatham group.

Would you mind sharing the name of this book? I would love to find a copy

 

[eroyd]

Would you mind sharing the name of this book? I would love to find a copy

"Outdoors with Alec Merriman," dated, but fun bit of nostalgia to flip through. I often see copies at local garage sales for a couple of bucks.

 

[WHO DAT]

Peetz; had this one at the Rock Bay store , fantastic retro resource guide for salt and fresh. Regards

 

[Steelie9425412]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[eroyd]

A little slower this morning at the gap. Was marking fish around the tide change but no hits. Out of frustration I salvaged a used anchovy from my bottom fish bait and sent her down. That was the ticket. At first I wondered if it was a big ling because it just wouldn't come up, but eventually after a heavy fight brought a beauty along side. My best in some time. Gonna say 30 since I had to let it go. Only one other hit.
Tried the flats for a while. One tap in an hour. Lots of birds and surface bait. Saw a couple of jumpers further out.

 

[islandboy]

A little slower this morning at the gap. Was marking fish around the tide change but no hits. Out of frustration I salvaged a used anchovy from my bottom fish bait and sent her down. That was the ticket. At first I wondered if it was a big ling because it just wouldn't come up, but eventually after a heavy fight brought a beauty along side. My best in some time. Gonna say 30 since I had to let it go. Only one other hit.
Tried the flats for a while. One tap in an hour. Lots of birds and surface bait. Saw a couple of jumpers further out.

Looks closer to 29.
Any signs of coho?

 

[eroyd]

Looks closer to 29.
Any signs of coho?

When I was out jigging for Hali/Lings saw a couple of jumpers. I should of done some shallow trolling after seeing reports of some coho out Sidney ways. Too many options this time of year. What a problem we have.