2026 Victoria and Oak Bay Reports

[Original]

Got out Sunday early knowing fast currents and a super low tide at noon would keep us out for the full day. That nasty skunk I got off last week was on back on. Marked lots of bait and fish just couldn’t get them to bite. Was a long day but thankfully it was a nice sunny day. We washed various spoons, hootchies and bait with no results. Dropped 2 traps one was empty the other had 3 keepers. The commercial trappers keep putting their traps on my regular tachs in close with non sinking ropes causing me grief. (Rant over)

 

[Rayvon]

Had a quick halibut trip today,a 27 and 47 Lb. kept and a 130CM.probably 65 lb. released in an hour.The 47 was only 109 cm. so a 50 might work with the new regs.

 

[Randy M]

Fished OB flats thursday am. Had one fish on but lost it after 2.5 hours. Very quiet with only 2 other boats.

 

[scott craven]

Had one fish on but lost it after 2.5 hours.

Wow, that's a long time to play a fish and then lose it !

 

[Duffy]

Wow, that's a long time to play a fish and then lose it !

Must have been a sixty pounder.

 

[Rayvon]

Had a quick halibut trip today,a 27 and 47 Lb. kept and a 130CM.probably 65 lb. released in an hour.The 47 was only 109 cm. so a 50 might work with the new regs.

I have to correct this,I heard my fishing partner say 47 lbs.,but he corrected me today,it was 41 lbs.@107 cm..
Another quick bite today,2-30 something lbs. by 7:00. Mine was pounding on bottom,then let go and it followed it up and took it when it was mid water.Great weather and currents.

 

[kaelc]

I have to correct this,I heard my fishing partner say 47 lbs.,but he corrected me today,it was 41 lbs.@107 cm..
Another quick bite today,2-30 something lbs. by 7:00. Mine was pounding on bottom,then let go and it followed it up and took it when it was mid water.Great weather and currents.

Nice fat fish! We got started a little later and got a chicken at Constance around 9 and lots of by catch . Moved closer to race rocks a place I wanted to fish since hammering a couple of nice chickens in the fog years ago and picked up 34lb and released a big one.

 

[Doug]

I fished the Vic water front flag pole area from 615 to 930. not a bite or a fish on the sonar. Moved to Constance bank at 10.
Lots of boats anchored fishing fishing for halibut and we started fishing for salmon 1030 to 1130 and not a bite. DFO checked us and we had to pull all the gear and check other stuff and then they moved on.
At noon got a double header and then another, all clipped fish, we kept a 68 and 78 fish.
Pulled the crab traps out front of Esq Angler and got 8 hard keeper in one trap. Now I know what the commercial guys are there.

Sorry, no photos, just heads in the Esq box.

 

[A-a-Ron]

Got out late yesterday after catching the first ferry over. Got a chicken in before the current started picking up too much. Looking for that first big one today…

 

[RTKF]

I fished the Vic water front flag pole area from 615 to 930. not a bite or a fish on the sonar. Moved to Constance bank at 10.
Lots of boats anchored fishing fishing for halibut and we started fishing for salmon 1030 to 1130 and not a bite. DFO checked us and we had to pull all the gear and check other stuff and then they moved on.
At noon got a double header and then another, all clipped fish, we kept a 68 and 78 fish.
Pulled the crab traps out front of Esq Angler and got 8 hard keeper in one trap. Now I know what the commercial guys are there.

Sorry, no photos, just heads in the Esq box.

They checked you for fishing gear or safety equipment gear on boat?

 

[Jacob's Ladder]

They checked you for fishing gear or safety equipment gear on boat?

I can’t speak for Doug, but I got checked on the pick and they just checked our licences. It was only DFO working off a coast guard boat they said.

 

[tinboatrobb]

Great to see they are out there and doing checks.

 

[Shano]

We pulled up a 98 cms yesterday in the Constance area - it made a couple of nice runs so I was very happy that it was under the magic 112! The herring + salmon belly sandwich got it done. Last year we pulled up a 130ish Hali and of course released it so I’m basically praying that any Hali we pull up is under the number. From the length weight charts it make this Hali about 28 pounds.

 

[Doug]

When we got stopped by the three DFO Officers, the first thing they asked were we fishing for salmon and we said yes and do you have any fish on board, No.. They then asked us to pull out the gear and one side had a spoon with no barbs. I was using bait which was rigged with two single 3/0 hooks and no barbs. the officer took my bait looked at the trailer hook and said it was ok and then broke my anchovy in 1/2 and looked at the hook which was also Ok. I had the first hook set right though the anchovy and all he had to do is look at the hook point which was exposed.

They then took our licenses and asked what are birthdays were. Then took photos of our licenses.

Then they took off and about 45 minutes later they were back checking other boats. They saw us hook up and playing a fish and they motored along beside us until we got the fish in. Before netting it, I could see it was clipped and netted it. They said good job and good luck and took off.

 

[A-a-Ron]

Well, got my boat’s first big one and then another 20 min after. 111cm (39.5) and 108cm (35)
Beauty conditions too, can’t ask for much better.

 

[Rayvon]

Another beauty day out there,got our 2 butts between 8:30 and 9:30 and then tried jigging for salmon on Conny.A few hookups but nothing to bring home.Lots of boats out there.Time for a rest now.

 

[eroyd]

Took my brother out fishing today. Trolled plugs on Constance. Action wasn't hot but in 6 hrs. Managed 4 springs. Kept two 78 and 80cm, 13/14 lbs, released a 130cm freight train and got a keeper 107cm/36 lbs.
My new acquired, pre-seasoned Tomic #700 took the lead over my proven #94. Apparently all fish love them.
Sorry about the bloody fish, wasn't going to hang them over the side to wash them off. Our little friends are near.

 

[MRW]

Fished Friday/sunday for halibut,Far side of bennys bank. Two fish in short order Friday but only one rat fish today. That’s fishing. Beauty day on the water tho.

 

[Tips Up]

Saturday caught 3 chickens, 1 grey cod and a skate. Tried the grey cod. bit soft and bland but OK.
Sunday long grind in a different spot with a few dogs and a rat fish in the morning then a long lull till it swung back to ebb where we caught 2 chickens in short order. Ebb sure seems to produce better than a flood for me regardless of location.

 

[A-a-Ron]

Finished her off with a 8lb hatch at the bank today, also saw a really cool military practice operation out there. Great little spot there at Pedder too, stayed at the campsite. Made our mark on the ol leaderboard Love the island.