Vancouver Island Shore Fishing Spot Guide — Where to Fish from Victoria to the North Island

Where to Fish from Victoria to the North Island

This guide draws on anglers’ firsthand reports to bring together shore fishing spots, common target species, fishing methods and practical tips by region. Retention limits, opening dates, gear requirements and other regulations can change at any time. Before heading out, check the latest notices from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

The guide covers Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula, Sooke, Port Renfrew, Nanaimo, Parksville and Comox, Denman Island, Campbell River and the North Island, followed by the west coast and Gulf Islands, making it easy to find spots in the area you plan to visit.

1 Victoria and Surrounding Area 19

For anglers based in or near Victoria, these spots offer convenient places to practise or fit in a short session after work.

Ogden Point Breakwater: A useful place for beginners to practise casting, although snags are common. Fishing is prohibited from the walkway; use only the lower platforms and follow the signs on site. Anglers have spotted pink and Chinook salmon near the harbour entrance. When schools of small herring gather inside the breakwater, sea-run cutthroat trout can be seen feeding on the surface. Chinook catches were still being reported in August 2026. The area is also described as a good spot for lingcod, greenling and black rockfish.

McCauley Point / Saxe Point (Esquimalt): Anglers have reported good results catching small rockfish on white shad-style soft plastics.

Finlayson Point: Chinook salmon, locally known as springs, have been caught from shore on 4-inch Buzz Bombs and 60 g minnow-style metal jigs. Be prepared to wait for fish to move through.

Ten Mile Point: An established rocky shore fishing spot. The White Rock Beach referred to here is at the end of White Rock Road. Salmon pass through, but success can be hit or miss and may take time. Expect snags.

Cattle Point (Oak Bay): High tide is the suggested time to fish. Reaching the easternmost rocks involves wading the last 15 feet or so. Anglers reported that the water was generally no more than knee-deep at the time, but access must be assessed against the tide and conditions on the day.

Oak Bay Marina Rocks: Chinook salmon have been caught from shore here.

Glencoe Cove (Gordon Head): Recommended for rockfish and often mentioned alongside Ten Mile Point.

Arbutus Cove (Gordon Head): Large schools of salmon have been seen feeding on the surface, but whether fishing is permitted here remains unconfirmed. Check before you go.

Island View Beach (Saanich): Coho have been reported close to shore in September. There are also reports of sea-run cutthroat trout, with flounder and sole appearing in late spring.

Gorge Waterway / Bay Street Bridge (Victoria): Cutthroat trout have been reported near the bridge on an outgoing tide. The local population is considered vulnerable, and the community discourages targeting these fish. Reports also state that wild trout must be released; confirm the applicable regulations separately. If fishing here, use small barbless hooks and handle fish gently. Coho estimated at 6–8 lb have also been seen feeding on the surface.

2 Saanich Peninsula and Sidney Areas 18 and 19

Cordova Spit (Saanichton Spit): One of the more highly regarded beach spots among local anglers. Reported access is from the public parking lot at Island View Beach, followed by a walk along the beach. Do not park on Tsawout First Nation land. At the time of the reports, the entrance signs did not list fishing among the prohibited activities, but check current access and fishing requirements before entering. Anglers mainly fish the north end of the spit, facing Sidney and James Island, where a back eddy forms at the tip on an outgoing tide. Reported catches include 16–18 lb Chinook, coho, sea-run cutthroat trout, and flounder and sole in late spring. Anglers describe a sandy bottom, strong current and a sharp drop-off close to shore. Heavier spoons, such as a Croc, are suggested to get the lure down near the bottom.

Sidney Pier (End of Beacon Avenue): The flat deck and easy footing make this a convenient option for families and first-time shore anglers. It is also a crabbing spot, with favourable reports from anglers. Bottom-fishing catches are mainly sculpin and dogfish.

James Island Wharf: There are good reports of starry flounder, including a fish of about 4 lb caught in the bay beyond casting range of the wharf. Sole are more common right beside the wharf. Anglers also set crab traps here.

Tod Inlet (Behind Brentwood Bay): A recommended beach spot for flounder.

3 Sooke and East Sooke Area 20

Otter Point Rocks: A well-known shore fishing spot for salmon. The beach beyond Otter Point also offers chances at coho, though long casts are usually needed. Pay close attention to retention rules, especially when only adipose-fin-clipped coho may be kept, and identify your catch carefully. The rocks and access routes can be slippery. Bring a long-handled landing net; this is not a suitable spot for children or anyone unsteady on their feet. DFO officers regularly check licences, barbless hooks and catches here.

Beechy Head (East Sooke Park): Work your way along the shore around Creyke Point and Alldridge Point, casting as you go, and continue towards Beechy Head if the fishing is slow. Chinook measuring around 94–95 cm have been reported from rocky shorelines in Subarea 20-5. Catch reports also include other salmon, rockfish, greenling and lingcod.

Orca Point (East Sooke Park): The source describes fishing as permitted within East Sooke Park, citing federal jurisdiction over coastal waters and differences in permit requirements between regional, provincial and national parks. However, a park’s designation alone does not establish whether a particular spot is open. This stretch of Area 20 includes Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs), so check the protected-area maps and applicable regulations before fishing.

Whiffin Spit Tip: The tip is described as a route used by salmon heading into the Sooke River. Walk to the end of the spit to look for a fishing position, and check the rules for the species and precise waters you intend to fish.

Gordon’s Beach: Considered relatively beginner-friendly. In August 2026, a first-time visitor reported catching a coho after about 10 minutes of casting at the far end of the beach. Later that month, another report described large schools of salmon close to shore, followed by no bites the next day after orcas appeared. The eastern rocks are reportedly easier to move around on than those at Otter Point, and some visitors bring children and dogs, but safety still depends on the conditions on the day. Flounder have also been reported. Elsewhere in the Sooke area, an angler caught a roughly 5 lb sablefish from shore in 2026—an unusual shore catch, though it was not specifically reported from Gordon’s Beach.

Billings Spit: A classic autumn shore fishing spot for chum salmon. One angler reported catching a 12 lb chum on their first visit in 2017. There were further catch reports in autumn 2025, including fish taken by seals. The area has Chinook non-retention rules and special hook restrictions, so check current notices before heading out. The Sooke Basin side also has a good reputation during salmon season.

Muir Creek: A promising estuary spot where large salmon can be seen moving in and out. It also offers opportunities to target sea-run cutthroat trout with light tackle. Flounder have been reported from the beach, which is also somewhere to take the children for an outing.

Rotary Pier / Sooke Marine Boardwalk: Shallow water and heavy weed make this a better option for setting crab traps than for fishing.

Ella Beach (Sooke): Identified as being within a Rockfish Conservation Area, so do not plan a finfish fishing trip here. Crabbing and shellfish harvesting are mentioned as alternatives, but the conservation-area boundaries and any openings for crabs or shellfish must be checked separately against current regulations.

4 Port Renfrew

San Juan River Mouth and Estuary: Port Renfrew’s main shore fishing area. Based on anglers’ experience, coho fishing often opens in early September, with the beach and estuary becoming particularly active from late September into early October. Chinook catches are also well represented in reports. Some anglers wade along the edge of the river channel; assess the current and tide before entering the water.

Below the River-Mouth Bridge / Campground Beach: Halibut have occasionally been reported close to shore, but their appearance is unpredictable.

Harris Cove: Flounder have been caught on bottom rigs. Keep your bait close to the seabed; anglers report that these fish are not especially fussy about bait.

5 Nanaimo Area 17

Rocky Point (Nanaimo): Described as a very good shore fishing spot for salmon, though the relevant regulatory boundaries and restrictions can be complicated to interpret. Check the rules carefully for your exact fishing position.

Neck Point: Watch for baitfish activity. When baitfish are present, it is worth casting for salmon. Rockfish are also caught here.

Departure Bay: Pink salmon have been reported, and shore fishing is possible with tackle suited to local conditions. Check the current regulations for opening dates and the waters covered.

Downtown Nanaimo Wharves / Seawall: Anglers have caught flounder using small pieces of chicken as bait. There were also reports of pink salmon around the seawall in August 2026.

Cable Bay (Cedar): In September 2024, anglers reported catching rockfish here and at Neck Point, treating them as alternatives when the salmon were not biting.

Nanoose Bay Shellfish Farm (Near the Rest Stop Opposite): According to the source reports, the site has full-time security and entry is prohibited. Do not include it in your itinerary as an accessible fishing spot.

6 Parksville Qualicum and Comox Valley Area 14

Nile Creek Beach and River Mouth: A classic beach spot during the pink salmon run, roughly late July through August, and for coho in autumn. Access is relatively easy, and anglers recommend it for outings with children. The source also mentions ice cream and hot dog stands nearby.

Big Qualicum River Area (Big Q): Recent reports describe plenty of fish, though they can be finicky and difficult to tempt. There have also been occasional, less common sightings of sockeye salmon.

Little Qualicum River Mouth: The suggested fishing position is on the Qualicum side, a few hundred feet from the river mouth. Try it on an outgoing tide.

French Creek Marina: A spot for rockfish and kelp greenling.

Deep Bay: There is deep water off the north end of the spit. During the coho run, look at the bay in front of the RV campground, around the stop sign near the wharf. Lingcod and rock cod have been reported along the drop-off at low tide.

Ships Point (Fanny Bay): Coho have been landed from shore, with very favourable reports of the fishing. Nearby, the Puntledge River has also produced reports of thick-bodied, chrome-bright Chinook.

Royston Shipwrecks: Anglers have reported catching dogfish on a rising tide.

Little River / Point South of the Comox Ferry Terminal / Singing Sands (Comox): An option for a shore fishing session while waiting for the ferry. Chinook have been reported from the point; one observer saw two anglers each land a fish within 20 minutes and noted fish remains on the rocks. The suggested window is the three hours following low-water slack. In the shallows towards the terminal, in about 4–12 feet of water, pink salmon have been seen moving south just 20–50 feet offshore. Anglers blind-casting small pink Croc spoons of around 1/4 oz reported a fish every 20–45 minutes when schools were passing through. Heavy weed can make fishing difficult, however, and other anglers have described several poor years with mainly sculpin and sole. Reports are therefore mixed. The beach at the end of Singing Sands Road is a popular spot frequently mentioned by local anglers.

7 Denman Island

Eagle Rock: Rated by one report as Denman Island’s best salmon spot that season. When fish are close, it is almost possible to jig right beside the rocks. The access trail is steep and slippery, and a rising tide can cut off your retreat. Check the tides and leave plenty of time to get back out.

Bill Mee Park: Anglers report relatively deep water and good numbers of coho in August.

8 Campbell River and North Area 13

Discovery Pier: Often recommended as the first choice for shore fishing in Campbell River. The source refers to strong currents around “Discovery Pass” and suggests fishing within an hour either side of slack water. Base your final decision on the current and conditions you find on site.

Tyee Pool: A Chinook of about 30 lb has been reported caught from shore.

Tyee Spit: There are shore catch reports for surfperch.

Beaches Around Campbell River: Anglers have reported catching coho from shore.

Salmon Point (Described in the Source as North of the Oyster River): Coho have been seen jumping close to shore, with dorsal fins breaking the surface, within fly-casting range. Pink salmon are also reported during their run. The source additionally mentions deep pools in the river where fish gather.

Oyster Bay / Oyster River Mouth: Catches have been reported during the pink salmon run, roughly August–September, with the river mouth as the main fishing position. The source also suggests this area and some beaches along the stretch from Royston to south of Bowser as relatively sheltered options in a northwesterly wind. Assess the shoreline’s exposure and the day’s wind and waves before choosing a spot.

Cape Mudge (Quadra Island): An angler reported catching a roughly 25 lb Chinook from the rocks. Reports mention DFO inspections, so carry your licence and record catches promptly wherever required.

Elk Bay: Greenling and rockfish are among the reported catches. The source places it south of Campbell River, but that location needs to be confirmed separately.

Chatham Point (North of Campbell River): Shore fishing is possible, but access is difficult. According to anglers’ reports, a long-standing gate blocks the lighthouse road at Rock Bay, leaving a lengthy walk or bike ride. There are few places to get down to the rocks, and the approaches are difficult. Several anglers suggest considering Little Bear Bay instead.

Sayward Fishing Pier: Halibut have been reported caught from shore here.

9 North Island Port McNeill and Port Hardy Area 12

Cluxewe Beach: Anglers have caught coho from the beach on Buzz Bombs. Fish do not always show themselves by jumping, so keep covering water even when there is no visible activity. Reports describe plenty of pink salmon in early August, when fly anglers are also a common sight.

Downtown Port Hardy Wharf and Nearby Bay: Pink salmon have been reported in good numbers in August around the wharf and the small bay beside the hotel. Large skates have also been seen repeatedly at the wharf; be careful not to confuse them with halibut.

Coal Harbour Wharf: Large dogfish sometimes gather here.

10 West Coast Tofino and Ucluelet

West Coast Safety: Ocean swells are a major hazard when fishing from rocks. The source includes reports of people being injured by waves. Around Wya Point in particular, wear a life jacket, keep watching the swell and stay far enough back to maintain a safe escape route.

Wya Point (Ucluelet; Walk-In Access): Shore catches of halibut have been reported, along with a lingcod of about 60 cm that was released. Black rockfish have also been caught.

Big Beach and Rocky Shorelines Around Ucluelet: Rockfish and cod have been reported. Stay back from the water’s edge and make sure both your footing and your exit route are safe.

Tonquin Beach / Third Beach (Tofino): Anglers have reported wading and casting towards kelp beds for pink salmon. Watch your retreat as the tide rises so you do not get cut off. The source describes access to Third Beach via the Tonquin Trail behind the community centre.

Chesterman Beach / MacKenzie Beach (Tofino): Surfperch have been caught on worms and sand shrimp, with reports of repeated catches on worms at MacKenzie Beach.

Florencia Bay (Ucluelet): Recommended by anglers for surfperch, but the surf can be dangerous. Anyone without experience reading ocean conditions should stay well back from the waterline.

Tofino Harbour Wharves: Anglers have reported jigging for squid. Bring squid jigs if you plan to try it, and check the applicable regulations first.

San Josef Bay (Cape Scott Area): Parts of the bay fall within an RCA, so check the boundaries first. Surfperch have been caught from shore at the mouth of the San Josef River, and reports describe good numbers of coho in August and September. Whether fishing and retention are permitted depends on the rules for your precise location.

11 Gulf Islands

Salt Spring Island: Anglers rate Ruckle Park as one of the island’s better salmon spots, although snags are a serious issue. Reaching the rocks at Vesuvius involves going around the point, with low tide suggested as the best time for access. Flatfish have been reported from beaches around Fernwood, Beddis, Baders and Fulford Harbour. Isabella Point Road also offers opportunities during the coho run.

Galiano Island: Anglers report good shore fishing opportunities for salmon around Bellhouse Provincial Park and shore access 11 to the south. Check access requirements and the applicable fishing regulations before you go.