2026 Victoria and Oak Bay Reports
- Thread starter Admin
- Start date
Nice to see some Chinook moving into the Victoria waterfront. Quite a few boats with nets out. Many barely legal springs and some decent ones too. We had 3 around 75cm, cookie cutter, clipped fish. Kept one.
100-120' on the DR worked today. Some strikes well off the bottom. Yes Bananas SG. Fish from Ross Bay to Brotchie. Nothing for us West of there.
Note: Mr. Otter is back to his old tricks at Flemming boat launch. We kept the salmon close, but the sneaky bugger still managed to steel a crab out of the boat.
100-120' on the DR worked today. Some strikes well off the bottom. Yes Bananas SG. Fish from Ross Bay to Brotchie. Nothing for us West of there.
Note: Mr. Otter is back to his old tricks at Flemming boat launch. We kept the salmon close, but the sneaky bugger still managed to steel a crab out of the boat.
Got out with a nephew for a few hours out of esquimalt. A handfull of smaller ones to the boat, and kept a 65-70cm fish for a salmon bowl dinner tonight. Fish were 160-180ft with one line suspended 20ft off the bottom getting equal action to the bottom line. Homeland security flasher with an AP herring spoon that has a long history now - was the hotter ticket. Crabbing was so-so, managed one giant and a few decent bonus crabs. Equal number of softies that went back - weather was just amazing for early Jan.
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Launched at Flemming about 10:00. Just minutes in, on the first pass of Brotchie caught a 75cm. Figured that was a great start. Trolled onward toward Clover with only a little action, except a few small 2-3 pounders. One about 5lbs at my turn around in Ross Bay. Other boats were getting similar.
For something different I put down plugs and trolled homeward. Was surprised how much blowback a little 4" plug has. Tough keeping near the bottom in 120' of water.
On the way back had a couple of taps on one side, and then when passing Brotchie, again, the rod went off. Great scrap, surprised the fish was only 72 cm. As with all fish today, released in good health. Plug that got the action was a weathered 4" Tomic #94.
For something different I put down plugs and trolled homeward. Was surprised how much blowback a little 4" plug has. Tough keeping near the bottom in 120' of water.
On the way back had a couple of taps on one side, and then when passing Brotchie, again, the rod went off. Great scrap, surprised the fish was only 72 cm. As with all fish today, released in good health. Plug that got the action was a weathered 4" Tomic #94.
Doug
Well-Known Member
Got out fishing with a friend yesterday. Started at the can buoy at Pedder Bay at 8 and fished there until 945. Landed lots of fishing in the 22 to 18 inch size and let them all go. Moved off shore and dropped two prawn traps to test out his new gear and puller. Then fished Brochie Ledge area for an hour and landed an 8lb and kept it. Pulled the prawn trap and 00.
Back to Pedder Bay and pulled two crab traps and got 8 hard shell keeper and no females.
Salmon fishing, I used bait and bait out performed the spoons 2 to 1 and all bigger fish. Fish were at 150 ft on the DR in 140 to 150 ft of water.
Back to Pedder Bay and pulled two crab traps and got 8 hard shell keeper and no females.
Salmon fishing, I used bait and bait out performed the spoons 2 to 1 and all bigger fish. Fish were at 150 ft on the DR in 140 to 150 ft of water.
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Sailfish25
Active Member
Seeking advice… When targeting winter springs at Constance do you try and stick to the deeper contours (100’ to 150’) only? Is it worthwhile trolling over the shallower parts of the Bank?
Fished Ross Bay area today. Didn't need to try anywhere else as we were kept busy. 1/2 dozen fish in the 60-65cm range. Lost a couple of possibly better ones and lots of smalls. 120-140'. Noon hour was the peak. The one fish we kept have a 10" herring in it.
Any reports closer to Esquimalt? I'm on a pretty short leash tomorrow.
Any reports closer to Esquimalt? I'm on a pretty short leash tomorrow.
Roberth
Crew Member
Left Victoria in the dark this morning and Race Rocks lighthouse wasn’t functioning.
Anyone heard about what’s going on?
Cataline
Active Member
Launched at Esquimalt 8:30ish and headed out into the light chop coming from the north wind and ebb current, a few hundred yards from Brotchie (outside) with 130 ft on the DR encountered the first Spring of the new year. Nice 55/60 cm red 'winter', and that was it for the day! quite a few shakers, fished fast and slow, 100' to 150' ; trolled all the shore (150 to 200') depth to near Trial Island then turned around and trolled all the way back to Fleming. Fine weather, the breeze died off in the afternoon, but no more fish. I was the only trailer at the ramp parking lot.
Salmon seemed to have thinned out a bit out off the waterfront. Still a fair bit of action but salmon seemed smaller. Shakers and bait were gone. Six chinooks to the boat today for us, and a few lost, all 60-65 cm. Most other boats seemed to be getting similar.
A 5" Tomic #94 got most of the action. Rock fish apparently like them too.
Cold and clear but always fun fishing with my kiddo's.
A 5" Tomic #94 got most of the action. Rock fish apparently like them too.
Cold and clear but always fun fishing with my kiddo's.
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A little too lumpy for me out there this morning. Only fished as far East as the flag pole before heading back. A double header there in 140' of water. 4 and 6 pounders. Nothing on the way back towards Esquimalt. Got into a bunch of fish over off Colwood in 100' of water. Nothing over 5 lbs though. Lots of bait there. Fished plugs off the bottom.
We got 3 14Lbs 7 lbs. and about 5 lbs. Clover point plus we lost a good one all at 150' on the bottom with skinny gees. green was the colour.
