Fishing Victoria, BC in the Spring
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| March | 52° / 42° |
| April | 57° / 45° |
| May | 61° / 50° |
Spring wakes things up around Victoria. Calm days on the Strait of Juan de Fuca offer salmon and bottom fish opportunities, while lowland lakes get active for trout and even bass as water temps rise.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Saltwater: Feeder chinook (resident kings) off Oak Bay Flats, Constance Bank, and near Sooke; prawning and crabbing in Saanich Inlet.
Freshwater: Rainbow trout in Elk/Beaver Lake and Thetis Lake; early-season bass activity in Shawnigan and Elk/Beaver on warm afternoons.
Not Hot: Larger island rivers can be high/turbid with runoff—time lake or saltwater trips instead.
Fishing Victoria, BC in the Summer
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| June | 65° / 53° |
| July | 68° / 55° |
| August | 68° / 55° |
Summer is prime time. Migrations bring salmon close, bottom fish are steady on structure, and local lakes offer solid multi-species action. Expect calm mornings and afternoon winds—fish early or late.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Saltwater: Chinook and coho along the Victoria shoreline, Oak Bay, Constance Bank, and Sooke; lingcod/rockfish on reefs; halibut when/where open (check regulations).
Freshwater: Trout in higher-elevation lakes; active smallmouth/largemouth in Shawnigan, Elk/Beaver, and Prospect Lake.
Not Hot: Midday trout in lowland lakes during heat—switch to dawn/dusk.
Fishing Victoria, BC in the Fall
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| September | 65° / 53° |
| October | 58° / 48° |
| November | 50° / 43° |
Cooler temps spark excellent action. Salmon stage off river mouths, coho roam the shoreline, and trout fishing perks up across local lakes.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Rivers/Estuaries: Coho and chum in South Island systems (e.g., Sooke/Cowichan—check regulations); sea-run cutthroat around estuaries.
Saltwater: Coho close to shore on spoons/hoochies; late chinook near migration routes.
Not Hot: Offshore salmon trolling fades as fish push toward rivers.
Fishing Victoria, BC in the Winter (Ice Fishing)
| Month | Avg. Temps °F (Hi/Lo) |
|---|---|
| December | 46° / 40° |
| January | 47° / 40° |
| February | 48° / 40° |
Victoria rarely freezes—so think boats, piers, and sheltered coves rather than true ice fishing. Winter shines for saltwater feeders and shellfish, with calm-day windows producing consistent catches.
What’s Hot / What’s Not:
Saltwater: Feeder chinook in Haro Strait/Juan de Fuca (Oak Bay, Constance Bank, Sooke); prawning and crabbing remain strong in protected waters.
Freshwater: Cold-water trout bites at Elk/Beaver and Thetis on spoons, bait, or slow troll; regional steelhead opportunities (check regulations and openings).
Not Hot: Warm water species—bass and panfish are sluggish until spring warming returns.
