Saanich Inlet

Saltwater
Inlet

Saanich Inlet

Saltwater
Inlet

Sq. miles: 21
Boat Ramps: 0
Access Points: 0
Species: 12

Saanich Inlet is a deep, glacially-carved fjord on the southeast coast of Vancouver Island, within the Cowichan Valley Regional District. Characterized by steep, forested shorelines and irregular coastlines, this saltwater inlet offers a mix of sheltered nearshore fishing and access to deeper marine environments. The water quality and ecological characteristics vary throughout the inlet, influenced by local geography and human interaction.

Species & education

Learn what type of fish are at Saanich Inlet and what's needed to catch them.

Find which waters have the species you want to catch

Chinook Salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Chum Salmon

Oncorhynchus keta

Coastal Cutthroat Trout

Coho Salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

Copper Rockfish

Sebastes caurinus

Kelp Greenling

Hexagrammos decagrammus

Lingcod

Ophiodon elongatus

Pacific Herring

Clupea pallasii

Pink Salmon

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Quillback Rockfish

Sebastes maliger

Sablefish

Anoplopoma fimbria

Starry Flounder

Fishing spots, boat ramps & amenities

Learn how to get on Saanich Inlet. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.

Noted fishing locations within the inlet include Thomson Cove, Brentwood Bay, Coles Bay, North Yarrow Point, and the Mill Bay area. Productive areas often feature structure like rocky points, drop-offs, and the mouths of creeks such as Johns Creek. The confluence area near the mouth of Cowichan Bay, where water from Saanich Inlet creates eddies, can be a productive zone for predatory fish. Underwater reefs, shoals, and steep shoreline drop-offs are all key structures to target.

Know where you can legally fish on Saanich Inlet

See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.

Bc licenses and regulations

No licenses or regulations available for Bc.

Take Saanich Inlet with you

The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.

Use the map without signal
Download the map around Saanich Inlet to use it offline when coverage drops.
Log your catches here
Keep a private fishing journal for Saanich Inlet to find where and when fish are biting for you.

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