Sheltered and calm waters peppered with islands make Sidney an easy fave with anglers.
The presence of needlefish by the hundreds of thousands brings hungry chinook salmon and enables year-round salmon fishing. Reefs and kelp beds make the area ideal for halibut and other bottom fish. The great Sidney fishing grounds begin just steps from the dock.
Chinook salmon up to 27kg/60lb, coho salmon up to 13kg/30lb, halibut up to 90kg/200lb and lingcod up to 18kg/40lb are four good reasons to pack a rod and ply Sidney's coastline. The chinook is known as "king" salmon in the US.
Catch one over 13.61kg/30lb and it's the "tyee", in Native parlance, the fisherman's grail. Reel in a tyee and join the great BC fishing club at the top.
When to Fish
January to March is best for moderately sized winter chinook salmon, March to April for big Pacific halibut, May to August for big chinook – time for the tyee – and autumn for pink, sockeye, coho and chum salmon.
Dungeness Crabbing
Unquestionably the cheapest, most accessible fishing in Sidney is the Bevan Ave Fishing Pier 90m/300ft straight out into the ocean. All it takes is a crab trap, bait, a little practice, a lot of patience and a fishing license. Dungeness crab is a signature catch hereabouts, both delicious to eat and a guilt-free, healthy, sustainable fishery.
Saltwater Fishing
Sidney fishing outfitters know their waters, know their fish. Sunrise Salmon Fishing Charters offers sports fishing 12 months a year. Downriggers with light tackle take anglers trolling. Captain Bruno Bauer fits rods with wind-level reels and West Coast-style, single-action knucklebusters.
At Sidney Salmon Charters, Captain Steve Roberts pursues the big ones through Saanich Peninsula waters from the Satellite Channel to the fiord-like depths of the Saanich Inlet.
Fishing Supplies
For supplies, visit Bruno Bauer's Aquatackle Fishing Supply Store. It boasts a vast selection of equipment from all major tackle manufacturers. All sales are in cash only and lowest-possible prices are a point of pride.
Read Less