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Rating depth structure for surfperch.
Recent public catches load as you reach this section.
57-acre Port Browning Head fishing map with contributor-qualified CHS NONNA survey contours (100% measured and assessed), four measured source-traceable spots, DFO salmon and herring evidence, a CRD public dock and current Area 18 guidance. The water tops out around 28 ft. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. The rest of this page walks each species through its year, using the map's own scoring.
Drawn out, this is 57 acres of water rimmed by 1.9 miles of bank. The shoreline is moderately structured (index 1.8) — enough points and pockets to pattern. Roughly 54% of the water is 15 ft or less, the band where the food chain lives. The basin spans about 0.5 mi end to end and 0.3 mi across at its widest. For a second option, Pender Lake lies 1 mi southwest.
Start shallow in spring: pacific chinook salmon sit in 7 to 28 ft that time of year. They don't go far with the seasons — 4 to 28 ft covers summer, 8 to 28 ft covers winter. The spot to know is Port Browning headwater basin pocket, a deep basin in about 28 ft of water that rates prime for pacific chinook salmon in winter. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a herring or sand-lance spoon or a baitfish hoochie behind a flasher until the fish tell you otherwise.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 7 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 120 ft | dawn | Port Browning rocky-shoal shoulder (22 ft) | Herring-pattern spoon, Three-to-four-inch baitfish swimbait |
| Summer | 4 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 20 to 150 ft | dawn & dusk | Port Browning rocky-shoal shoulder (22 ft) | Herring or sand-lance spoon, Baitfish hoochie behind a flasher |
| Fall | 3 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Port Browning rocky-shoal shoulder (22 ft) | Compact spoon, Baitfish spinner where legal |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 50 to 180 ft | midday | Port Browning headwater basin pocket (28 ft) | Slow-trolled spoon, Deep baitfish plug |
Spring puts pacific coho salmon in skinny water — 4 to 28 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 3 to 28 ft, and winter fish hold in 8 to 28 ft. Winter pacific coho salmon concentrate at Port Browning headwater basin pocket, a prime-rated deep basin around 28 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A small hoochie behind a flasher or a slim spoon covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 70 ft | dawn & dusk | Port Browning rocky-shoal shoulder (22 ft) | Small silver spoon, Slim baitfish fly |
| Summer | 3 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 10 to 100 ft | dawn & dusk | Port Browning rocky-shoal shoulder (22 ft) | Small hoochie behind a flasher, Slim spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 5 to 60 ft | dawn & dusk | Port Browning rocky-shoal shoulder (22 ft) | Small spinner where legal, Compact spoon |
| Winter | 8 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 30 to 100 ft | midday | Port Browning headwater basin pocket (28 ft) | Slow small spoon, Compact trolling fly |
Spring puts surfperch in skinny water — 2 to 18 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 3 to 25 ft, wintering in 5 to 28 ft. Summer surfperch concentrate at Port Browning marina-side eelgrass outside edge, a prime-rated feeding flat around 23 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. A 1–2 inch grub or a small paddletail covers the summer program.
Depth note: when a documented seasonal range extends below this chart, the table shows the deepest mapped working water, not a verified holding depth.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn | Port Browning marina-side eelgrass outside edge (23 ft) | Small grub on a light jig, Sand-crab imitation |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Port Browning marina-side eelgrass outside edge (23 ft) | 1-2 inch grub, Small paddletail |
| Fall | 4 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Port Browning marina-side eelgrass outside edge (23 ft) | Small jig and grub, Compact spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 28 ft chart-limited; documented 6 to 35 ft | midday | Port Browning marina-side eelgrass outside edge (23 ft) | Slow small grub, Light bottom jig |
6 pieces of structure are mapped here — Port Browning headwater basin pocket, around 28 ft, is the deepest of them.
Access data: Capital Regional District - Port Browning, Pender Island. 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 DFO Pacific Region recreational-fishing rules — and special regulations can apply to Port Browning Head specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Port Browning Head is about 28 ft (9 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, surfperch on Port Browning Head. The list combines the water's survey records with habitat-filtered species from broader official evidence; those additions are plausible occurrences, not exact-water abundance or guaranteed catches.
Port Browning headwater basin pocket is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 28 ft of water that rates prime for pacific chinook salmon in winter. The interactive chart above rates every spot for each species and season.
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 Port Browning Head is regulated by the DFO Pacific Region recreational-fishing rules. 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.
Pender Lake 1 mi · Bedwell Harbour Head 2 mi · Lake Weston 7 mi · Lake Stowell 8 mi · Ford Lake 9 mi · Cusheon Lake 9 mi · Blackburn Lake 10 mi · Roberts Lake 12 mi · Bullocks Lake 13 mi · Lake Maxwell 13 mi · St. Mary Lake 15 mi · Maple Bay 15 mi
See how Port Browning Head stacks up: best surfperch 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. 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.