2026 Victoria and Oak Bay Reports

[Original]

Funny I’ve been skunked off esq and Albert head lately so went over to Ross bay / Clover point today and we got a couple with scratched up faces. We lost a nice one as well.crabs were huge but all soft. What a beautiful morning then off to watch a big win for the almost local Hawks.

 

[Jacob's Ladder]

Out Sunday 11-3. Fished Constance on the ebb. Targeted the deeper water to the West of the bank where some fish were hunkered down out of the current. Managed to land 4 of 7. The average was 5-6 lbs. Extra-large herring found in their bellies.

 

[scott craven]

Subject: FN0147-Recreational Salmon - Chinook - Strait of Juan de Fuca - Portions of Areas 19 and 20 - Management Measures - March 1, 2026 Effective 00:01 hours March 1, 2026, until 23:59 hours March 31, 2026, the daily limit for Chinook Salmon is two (2) per day, hatchery-marked only (retention of unmarked Chinook is not permitted). These measures apply in the following waters: Subareas 19-1, 19-3, 19-4, and Subareas 20-4 to 20-7 (those waters near Victoria between Cadboro Point and Sombrio Point).

 

[scott craven]

New for 2026: The use of hooks having more than one point is prohibited (i.e., only single barbless hooks are permitted) when fishing for salmon in the above noted waters from March 1 to March 31. Reminder: The minimum size limit for Chinook in these waters is 45 cm.

 

[scott craven]

No more treble hooks for the bait guy's

 

[Rad Gumbo]

Next year , a single safety pin and no more than 5 lb. test leader

 

[John Ingram]

Next year , a single safety pin and no more than 5 lb. test leader

Pile perch off of the govt. wharf….maybe the odd small flounder or bullhead.
Nahhhhhh probably get a fine for fishing off the govt. wharf

 

[Admin]

There is a thread on the single barb topic, so please take that debate there so we don't clutter the fishing reports thread.

Thanks.

 

[eroyd]

Lots of boats out today. Surprised there are no reports. I started over off Colwood towards Albert head. Lots of bait around the 110' contour but nada for bites. Headed over to beacon hill where there were several boats.. Seemed to be nothing there though I did see one decent fish netted. Switched out my plugs for spoons and flashers a soon got a small one, maybe 6 lbs. Slogged it out with no action. About 2:00, East of Clover, got into a double header, alone I lost both. One was definitely a better fish! Trolled all the way back to Esquimalt and nothing.

Putting trebles on everything tomorrow.

 

[Original]

I was out there as well and got a scrappy 67 cm wild female on the small hearing aid spoon with some stinky old X-10 on it. We got her on our 2 nd tach and straight out from the launch , go figure. We trolled to clover for smalls and mystery bite. I’m thinkin stick as I was dodging around them to often today. Another stellar day on the water almost shorts weather in mid Feb. Top quality day as I had a rod in the water all day today in the sun.

 

[eroyd]

Solo today. Trolled from the Harbor to Trial Island and back. Double header of Gonzales , both decent fish I think. They did the weave, made a mess and I lost them both. Plugs. That was it. Pretty quiet.

 

[jackfish]

Trolled Albert Head area on Sunday. Fantastic weather. First time fishing the Victoria area. Looked like most boats I saw were trolling perhaps 120' to 140'. Only 2-3 other boats in the area. I was trolling 200-220 with spoons. Caught a few in 2hrs, and one hatchery keeper.

 

[kaelc]

Brilliant day sunday. I was on the beach but counted about 15 boats from Dallas Road, and a Super Sail Boat that looked about 120 feet long. Any other reports?

 

[porcupine]

Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Fishery Notices

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Area 19 (Victoria and Saanich Inlet)

Effective 00:01 hours April 1, 2026, until 23:59 hours May 31, 2026, the daily limit for Chinook Salmon is one (1) per day, hatchery marked only.
These measures apply in the following waters:

Subareas 19-1, and 19-3 to 19-8.

Effective 00:01 hours June 1, 2026, until 23:59 hours July 31, 2026, the daily limit for Chinook Salmon is one (1) per day, hatchery marked only.

These measures apply in the following waters:

Subareas 19-7 and 19-8.

Reminder: The minimum size for Chinook Salmon is 45 cm in Subarea 19-1, 19-3, and 19-4. The minimum size for Chinook salmon is 62 cm in Subareas 19-5 to 19-8.

 

[Original]

Got out Sun am had a couple smalls early and a nice wild but got blown off the water before noon, trap will have to wait. So out Mon and conditions were perfect trap was right where I left it but empty, Re baited and got the lines down with a bit of action off Mcaulay but just spitters. Bites were far apart but finally the elusive hatchery fish hit the deck. Not huge but a scrappy 60cm male with an empty stomach so no match of hatch and we couldn’t find another one. Crabs were all small and my rot cord wore out lol. The scenery today was again spectacular as the Mtn’s were crystal clear and impressive cloud formations.

 

[eroyd]

Not bad out there today, for a change. Spent my morning of the Colwood waterfront. A freighter unloading dirt was anchored right on top of one of may favourite spots. Fishing was kind of slow. Managed one Spring about 8lbs on a plug. Switched over to spoons and picked up a few smaller fish but nothing worth keeping. Lots of bait 100-120' contour.

Lost a DR ball on what I'm guessing was a lost trap. Heaved it up to about 30' but no further. Had to cut the line. No floats nearby.

 

[Original]

I got out on Sunday for the morning bite. Got the skunk off early on thee spoon and released a barley legal. Things were slow with a couple bait stealers then a big hit and line was peeling out. Head shakes and runs had us thinking tail hooked but when it surfaced she was on the stinger and the adapose fin was missing. At this point anything that could go wrong started to happen. Wrapped around the rigger, wouldn’t go in the net, actually bit the tuna cord so we had to lift the rigger and grabbing the leader at the same time dropped this beauty on the deck. Hi fives and woo hoo’s, this is now a good day lol. 95 cm hatch off Mcaulay point. Only other bite was a Ling cod that got a pass and swam away. Conditions were good but wanted to avoid the low tide retrieval so we ended with one female hatch with a 7 in herring in her belly. Bait was the winner today.

 

[2xeagle16]

I got out on Sunday for the morning bite. Got the skunk off early on thee spoon and released a barley legal. Things were slow with a couple bait stealers then a big hit and line was peeling out. Head shakes and runs had us thinking tail hooked but when it surfaced she was on the stinger and the adapose fin was missing. At this point anything that could go wrong started to happen. Wrapped around the rigger, wouldn’t go in the net, actually bit the tuna cord so we had to lift the rigger and grabbing the leader at the same time dropped this beauty on the deck. Hi fives and woo hoo’s, this is now a good day lol. 95 cm hatch off Mcaulay point. Only other bite was a Ling cod that got a pass and swam away. Conditions were good but wanted to avoid the low tide retrieval so we ended with one female hatch with a 7 in herring in her belly. Bait was the winner today.

Awesome fish! - 25 pounds?

 

[Original]

Was approx 14 lbs . 32x18x18 divided by 750 = 13.84. I’m not sure how accurate that method is but that’s what I’ve been using. Of course when I tell the story it gonna be a twenty pounder ;-)

 

[Sttr]

Was approx 14 lbs . 32x18x18 divided by 750 = 13.84. I’m not sure how accurate that method is but that’s what I’ve been using. Of course when I tell the story it gonna be a twenty pounder ;-)

Beauty! What a tank!!
I think you’re selling yourself a bit short, that’s over 20 pounds