There’s a lot to do on south Vancouver Island during the spring but one of the best ways to spend a sunny day is fishing! Whether you decide to spend a slow, peaceful day fishing from the shore on one of the many spots in and around Southern Vancouver Island to drop a line or you can book a charter to head out on the ocean to do some deep fishing, get ready to have an amazing day followed by an amazing dinner! Just make sure you have a valid fishing licence! Both freshwater and saltwater licences are conveniently available to purchase online or at most sporting shops.  Â
Shore Fishing
Sooke
One of the earliest independent settlements in the Province, Sooke is a peaceful, historic town nestled amongst wild West Coast landscape. If you’re lucky enough to stay right in Sooke or in the beautiful neighbouring village of Metchosin, you’ll know how quickly you can fall in love with the beauty and tranquillity of this area. Sooke is the perfect spot for all outdoor adventures, especially fishing.
East Sooke Park
Just a twenty minute hike from the parking lot will take you to the bluffs where the ocean drops off sharply. Here the water runs deep and you can easily fish for Chinook Salmon, Coho, Sockeye and Pink Salmon. If cod and rockfish are more to your liking, a short 5 minute walk will take you to a plethora of sites that are perfect for bottom fishing. In these sites you can cast a line for rockfish and delicious ling cod. A day here is always well spent. If you need equipment, Crab Shack Store and the Sooke Marine Center are great options to make sure you have all the gear to have a successful day out!
Victoria
As the weather gets warmer, Victoria becomes abuzz with activity. There are so many ways to enjoy the stunning natural beauty of BC’s capital city but fishing is the only one that has a (potential) edible reward at the end of it! Whether you’re staying right in the heart of downtown Victoria or a little farther away in Sidney, there are lots of great spots nearby to do some shore fishing.
Ten Mile Point
In the summer months, Ten Mile Point is a great spot to try your luck! The rocky outcrops provide the perfect place to set up for the day. With strong currents and an ocean floor that drops away for hundreds of feet, Ten Mile Point provides an ideal spot to fish for Chinook. If you hit those tides perfectly, you can even catch some bottom fish like feisty lingcods.
Ogden Point Breakwater
Right in bustling neighbourhood of James Bay, you’ll find Ogden Point Breakwater. The huge, concrete walkway is a great place to catch salmon, cod, geenling, flounder, perch and more!
Cormorant Point
A secret local spot for excellent salmon fishing in Gordon Head, from mid August to late October around 4pm, you can see the water swarming with salmon ready to be caught!
Langford Lake
If you’re looking for some freshwater fishing, Langford Lake, right in the heart of Langford is stocked full of rainbow trout and smallmouth bass that you can easily catch from the fishing dock found along the Ed Nixon Trail just off Leigh Road.
Sidney & the Saanich Peninsula
Sidney is a stunning, walkable seaside town that lives life at a slower pace. One of the most incredible draws is the portion of the Lochside trail that hugs Sidney’s waterfront.
Elk Lake
This popular lake is a great local option to find excellent shore fishing. There are several rest stops around the lake where you can find spots to cast a line to catch rainbow and coastal cutthroat trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, common carp or yellow perch.
Sidney Fishing Pier
Here you will find beautiful gardens, a stunning seashore, outdoor gallery and the famous Sidney Fishing Pier. This enormous pier that juts out above the water, makes a great platform for crabbing and fishing. Here you can catch salmon, cod, sole, flounder, and so much more!
Fishing Charters
Shore fishing is great, but if you don’t have access to gear and you’re up for an adventure, you’re going to want to book a charter to take you out on the water. Out on the waterways around the southern end of the island you can find tons of great salmon fishing, deep water fishing for larger fish like halibut, crabbing and even prawning. There are so many fishing charters to choose from so we’ve rounded up our favourites to make your choice easier!
Sooke
Bluefin Fishing Adventures
Book salmon or halibut fishing charters as well as tours through Sooke’s pristine waterways to find steelhead and salmon!
Blue Wolf Charters
Owner and operator, Roy Carver has made a name for himself as a fun, experienced fishing guide and chef. Every guest is sent home with a few of Roy’s favourite recipes to help make your catch into a fabulous meal!
Goin’ Coastal Fishing Charters
Tory Howe, owner, operator and fishing guide extraordinaire knows all the nooks and crannies of the ocean floor and is ready to help you catch a big one!
Warrior Fishing Charters
If you’re looking for creature comforts while out on the ocean, look no further. Their boats are outfitted with heated cabins and kitchenettes and offer experienced guides for a deluxe fishing experience.
Good Time Dave’s Fishing Charters
Looking for a laid-back, fun loving guide who knows the waters around East Sooke like the back of his hand? Good Time Dave’s is the charter you!
Crab Shack Sport Fishing
Whether you’re new to fishing or an avid angler, a small group or large, 30 year fishing veteran Elden Smith is ready to make sure you have a great time and catch some amazing fish!
Victoria
Foghorn Fishing Charters
Located right in the Inner Harbour, this team of experienced fishermen offer guests 20 years of experience fishing off southern Vancouver Island and have everything they need to have a great day out!
Salmon Eye Fishing Charters
No matter the season, Salmon Eye is ready for guests! With heated cabins and seats for five people under cover, experienced guides and top-of-the line equipment, booking with this charter is a great idea.
Beasley’s Fishing Charters
No matter if you’re hoping to go deep water fishing for halibut, coasting in the ocean for salmon or exploring one of the island’s gorgeous rivers for steelhead, this fun, inclusive company makes fishing fun for every age and ability!
Adam’s Fishing Charters
Specializing in salmon and halibut charters, this company has high performance vessels ready to take guests from Sooke to Oak Bay in search of the perfect catch!
King Size Adventures
Boasting one of the biggest, top performing charter vessels in the Victoria charter fleet, King Size adventures takes guests onto the Strait from Oak Bay to fish for halibut, salmon, lingcod, rockfish and Dungeness crab.
No LImit Fishing Charters
With a reputation built on outstanding salmon and halibut fishing charters, owner and operator, Lewis Freeman offers guests memorable fishing trips off the coast of Victoria.
Sidney
Sea King Adventures
For something a little different than your average fishing charter, consider Sea King’s ‘Deadliest Catch’ fishing tour that includes prawning, crabbing and fishing for salmon and halibut all in an amazing 6-7 hour adventure!
Bon Chovy Fishing Charters
If you’re looking for a charter that offers flexible tours and year-round fishing in Sidney’s calm waters, Bon Chovy is a great charter option!
No matter where you stay or what your speed is, there is always lots of excellent fishing to be found all across the southern end of Vancouver Island!
