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2,707-acre Nanaimo Harbour fishing map with contributor-qualified CHS NONNA survey contours (100% measured and assessed), four measured eelgrass-edge spots, four exact-estuary fish profiles, two habitat calendars, a public fishing pier and current port/DFO seasonal-closure guidance. The water tops out around 148 ft. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
On the chart, Nanaimo Harbour draws 2,700 acres inside 31.6 miles of shoreline — 17 islands included. An index of 4.3 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. About 79% of the surface sits shallower than 15 ft — that's the weed-and-bait zone. The basin spans about 5.2 mi end to end and 2.1 mi across at its widest. The nearest mapped water is Cathers Lake, 4 mi to the west.
The spring pattern is a shallow one: pacific chinook salmon in 30 to 120 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 20 to 148 ft before dropping to 41 to 148 ft for winter. The spot to know is Surveyed channel edge, a drop-off in about 136 ft of water that rates good for pacific chinook salmon in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a herring or sand-lance spoon or a baitfish hoochie behind a flasher gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 30 to 120 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Herring-pattern spoon, Three-to-four-inch baitfish swimbait |
| Summer | 20 to 148 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (136 ft) | Herring or sand-lance spoon, Baitfish hoochie behind a flasher |
| Fall | 10 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Compact spoon, Baitfish spinner where legal |
| Winter | 41 to 148 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (136 ft) | Slow-trolled spoon, Deep baitfish plug |
In spring, pacific coho salmon run shallow here, mostly 10 to 70 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 10 to 100 ft before dropping to 30 to 100 ft for winter. Spring pacific coho salmon concentrate at Surveyed channel edge, a good-rated drop-off around 30 ft. Fish it in early morning and the evening and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a small hoochie behind a flasher or a slim spoon most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Small silver spoon, Slim baitfish fly |
| Summer | 10 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Small hoochie behind a flasher, Slim spoon |
| Fall | 5 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Small spinner where legal, Compact spoon |
| Winter | 30 to 100 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Slow small spoon, Compact trolling fly |
Spring puts chum salmon in skinny water — 10 to 70 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 4 to 70 ft, and winter fish hold in 25 to 100 ft. Surveyed channel edge is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 30 ft, rated good for spring chum salmon. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A chartreuse or pink hoochie or a bright spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Chrome spoon, Compact baitfish jig |
| Summer | 4 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (4 ft) | Chartreuse or pink hoochie, Bright spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (4 ft) | Bright spinner, Pink or chartreuse jig |
| Winter | 25 to 100 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Compact vertical jig |
Come spring, look for cutthroat trout tight to the bank in 3 to 15 ft. They move out to 10 to 35 ft in summer and finish the year down in 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 30 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner is the honest summer answer here.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (4 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Rock reef (4 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (30 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
The chart marks 9 structure features on Nanaimo Harbour; the deepest is Surveyed channel edge at about 136 ft.
Access data: City of Nanaimo - Swy-A-Lana Lagoon Fishing Pier. Confirm conditions and fees locally before you launch.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for British Columbia waters are set by the BC freshwater fishing synopsis — and special regulations can apply to Nanaimo Harbour specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Nanaimo Harbour is about 148 ft (45 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled.
Anglers target pacific chinook salmon, pacific coho salmon, chum salmon, cutthroat trout on Nanaimo Harbour.
Surveyed channel edge is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 30 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For pacific chinook salmon, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Nanaimo Harbour is regulated by the BC freshwater fishing synopsis. Check the official British Columbia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Cathers Lake 4 mi · Westwood Lake 4 mi · Beck Lake 5 mi · Diver Lake 5 mi · Holden Lake 6 mi · Long Lake 6 mi · Blind Lake 6 mi · Greenway Lake 7 mi · Lucid Lake 7 mi · Brannen Lake 7 mi · Quennell Lake 7 mi · Mckay Lake 8 mi
See how Nanaimo Harbour stacks up: best cutthroat trout lakes in British Columbia · best chum salmon lakes in British Columbia · best pacific chinook salmon lakes in British Columbia · best pacific coho salmon lakes in British Columbia
Browse all British Columbia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: CHS NONNA 10 (CHS Chart Datum (CD); 100% measured, 0% source-interpolated). How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.