Fishing in Oak Bay

Oak Bay is a favoured fishing destination, offering year-round opportunities to catch ‘the big one’. And because fishing grounds are close to the departure point, less time is spent traveling to the hot spots - so you can spend more time enjoying the fishing! Charters departing from Oak Bay Marina can reach the fishing grounds in as little as fifteen minutes.

Salmon are BC’s most popular fish and they are plentiful in the waters surrounding Oak Bay. Spring Salmon, also known as King Salmon or Chinooks, are the largest Pacific salmon, usually weighing in at over nine kilograms (20 pounds). Coho Salmon (also known as Silvers) are plentiful from July through October. They are typically between four and five kilograms (nine to 11 pounds) but can reach up to seven kilograms (15 pounds). Pink Salmon may be caught through August and September in odd numbered years only. Pinks range in size from one to two kilograms (two to four pounds) and are usually caught between June and September.

Halibut are a popular catch from March to November and can grow to almost 100 pounds. A variety of other fish including Red Snapper, Rock Cod, Lingcod and others can be caught year round. Your guide can advise on the most likely catch based on the tide and current.

Once you’ve reeled in your catch there are several options for getting it home. Most accommodations are happy to freeze your fish for you. Insulated in newspaper and packed in a box, frozen fish will survive all but extremely long flights. For short flights carry your fish onboard as hand luggage. Check it as part of your baggage for longer flights as the ship’s cargo hold is kept cold.

If you are driving a recommended option is to buy an inexpensive Styrofoam cooler for transporting the fish. If the trip is lengthy it’s recommended the fish be frozen first.

There are a number of companies who will professionally smoke or can your catch or professionally package it and ship it to your home. There are a number of regulations around shipping fish for identification and size confirmation purposes. Check with your guide if you have questions about shipping your catch. If you are shipping internationally it is necessary to confirm your country’s regulations prior to shipping to ensure your catch reaches its destination.