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873-acre Victoria Harbour fishing map with contributor-qualified CHS NONNA survey contours (81% measured, 97.03% assessed), four measured CRD habitat spots, four exact-harbour fish profiles, two forage calendars, a public launch and current port/DFO rules. The water tops out around 71 ft. The depth chart comes from CHS bathymetric survey data, so the contours are survey-derived rather than computer-modeled. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.
Drawn out, this is 871 acres of water rimmed by 23.6 miles of bank, broken up by 8 islands. With a shoreline index of 5.7, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 69% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 3.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.2 mi at the beam. The nearest mapped water is Swan Lake, 2 mi to the northeast.
In spring, kelp greenling run shallow here, mostly 5 to 70 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 3 to 71 ft before dropping to 8 to 71 ft for winter. Fall kelp greenling concentrate at Pelly Island kelp edge, a prime-rated hard bottom around 6 ft. Fish it in early morning and midday and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a small paddletail or a micro metal jig most summer days.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 70 ft | dawn | Pelly Island kelp edge (6 ft) | Small grub, Shrimp-pattern jig |
| Summer | 3 to 71 ft | dawn & midday | Pelly Island kelp edge (6 ft) | Small paddletail, Micro metal jig |
| Fall | 5 to 71 ft | midday | Pelly Island kelp edge (6 ft) | Small metal jig, Compact grub |
| Winter | 8 to 71 ft | midday | McLoughlin Point kelp edge (20 ft) | Small slow jig |
When the water first warms, rock sole slide up into 6 to 71 ft. There's no big seasonal slide here — summer means 4 to 71 ft, winter 11 to 71 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Pelly Island kelp edge: a hard bottom around 6 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Keep a small scented jig or a light grub on bottom rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 71 ft | dawn | Pelly Island kelp edge (6 ft) | Small scented bottom jig, Light bucktail |
| Summer | 4 to 71 ft | dawn | Pelly Island kelp edge (6 ft) | Small scented jig, Light grub on bottom |
| Fall | 7 to 71 ft | midday | McLoughlin Point kelp edge (20 ft) | Slow bucktail, Small bottom jig |
| Winter | 11 to 71 ft | midday | Surveyed channel edge (56 ft) | Slow scented bottom jig |
Start shallow in spring: shiner perch sit in 2 to 18 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 3 to 25 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 35 ft. The spot to know is Shoal Point eelgrass edge, a seagrass edge in about 13 ft of water that rates prime for shiner perch in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning and the evening. Throw a micro paddletail or a tiny spoon until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 18 ft | dawn | Shoal Point eelgrass edge (13 ft) | Micro jig, Tiny grub |
| Summer | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Shoal Point eelgrass edge (13 ft) | Micro paddletail, Tiny spoon |
| Fall | 4 to 30 ft | dawn | Shoal Point eelgrass edge (13 ft) | Micro jig, Tiny metal bait |
| Winter | 6 to 35 ft | midday | Shoal Point eelgrass edge (13 ft) | Slow micro jig, Tiny grub |
When the water first warms, cutthroat trout slide up into 3 to 15 ft. By summer they slide out to 10 to 35 ft, and by winter most fish are in 10 to 40 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Surveyed channel edge: a drop-off around 20 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Keep a trolled spoon (small) or an inline spinner rigged through the warm months.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Pelly Island kelp edge (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | Pelly Island kelp edge (6 ft) | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 10 to 40 ft | dawn | Surveyed channel edge (20 ft) | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Count 8 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Surveyed channel edge, sits near 56 ft.
Access data: Greater Victoria Harbour Authority - James Bay Boat Ramp. 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 Victoria Harbour specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official British Columbia fishing regulations →
Victoria Harbour is about 71 ft (22 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 kelp greenling, rock sole, shiner perch, cutthroat trout on Victoria Harbour.
Pelly Island kelp edge is the top-rated area: a hard bottom in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for kelp greenling in fall. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
For kelp greenling, the summer bite is best in early morning and midday. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Victoria 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.
Swan Lake 2 mi · Blenkinsop Lake 4 mi · Thetis Lake 4 mi · Maltby Lake 5 mi · Pike Lake 5 mi · Beaver Lake 5 mi · Florence Lake 5 mi · Prospect Lake 6 mi · Glen Lake 6 mi · Langford Lake 6 mi · Matson Lake 6 mi · Elk Lake 6 mi
See how Victoria Harbour stacks up: best cutthroat trout 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); 81% measured, 16% 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.