Spot Prawn Season in Victoria: When and How to Eat

Spot prawn season in Victoria is short, sweet and easy to miss. The British Columbia trap fishery opens in spring and the season lasts a few weeks, so check the fisheries notices for the year. Buy from sellers who can say where and when the prawns were caught, and cook them quickly.

Fisherman's Wharf and fish shops in the harbour area sell prawns at the working docks, and restaurants put them on menus with spring vegetables, in chowder, in tempura and in tacos. If you miss the season, eat something else that is in season and plan for next year.

What is spot prawn season in Victoria?

A few weeks in late spring when boats working the coastal waters bring in the province's prized spot prawns. Spot prawns are sweet, firm and best eaten fresh. Because the season is short, restaurants put them on menus quickly and run out quickly. On Vancouver Island, the catch lands at working harbours and in nearby fish shops.

When is the best time for spot prawns BC?

From mid-May into June in most years, with the first week bringing the most excitement. Festival weekends follow the opening in Vancouver and Steveston. Dates change each year, and the fishery sets them, so check the provincial and local announcements for the next season. Frozen prawns are available later, but they taste different.

Is there a Victoria spot prawn festival?

Victoria events for 2026 were not announced as this was written. The best-known festival is in Vancouver, held at False Creek on a Sunday at the end of May, and a seafood celebration runs in Steveston. Victoria's restaurants and markets may mark the season on their own menus, so ask. If you plan a trip around a festival, look at the festival's own pages first.

Where to find Fisherman's Wharf prawns?

At the working docks and fish shops in the city's harbour area. Fisherman's Wharf is best known for its floating homes and fish-and-chips vendors, and some sellers may carry fresh seafood in season. Ask what is available that week, whether the prawns are live and how they should be stored. Do not assume anything is on sale, because stock depends on the catch.

How do you cook spot prawns?

Quickly. Boil them in salted water for two or three minutes, steam them or sauté them in butter and garlic. Overcooking makes them tough. Serve them with lemon, a simple sauce or on pasta. Eat the tails and, if you like, suck the heads for the rich juices. Keep them cold until the moment they cook.

What do Victoria seafood in May menus look like?

Prawns on a plate with spring vegetables, prawn chowder, tempura prawns, prawn tacos and a handful of fine dining tasting menus. Seafood restaurants add spot prawns to the specials board, and casual kitchens fry them. Ask the server if the prawns are from this season's catch, and how they are prepared. The fish and chips guide covers the classic seafood lunch.

How do you buy responsibly?

Buy from sellers who can say where and when the prawns were caught. Ask about the fishery and about the size, since spot prawns are sold by count per pound. The season's limit protects the stock, and eating them in season is the sustainable way. Frozen prawns from the same catch are another option.

How do you rate a seasonal meal?

Say what you ate and when. "Spot prawns in garlic butter, a Friday in late May, sweet and just cooked" is the sort of rating that tells a stranger what to expect. Add the Fresh Seafood tag when it fits, and mention the place's kitchen if it did something clever. Rate each seasonal dish separately, since it will change.

How can you keep the season?

Open the Mosey app, rate the dish and save the place to a list called Victoria seasons. Follow friends so Home shows what they rated and saved. A list across the year lets you see that you ate spot prawns in May and chowder in November. Places new to Mosey are added, and we'll check their details.

What if you miss the season?

Eat something else that is in season, and plan for next year. June brings the first berries, July brings salmon and August brings tomatoes and corn on the island. The calendar of local seafood is long, and a spot prawn is only the first act. Frozen prawns from the same catch are available later, and while they are not the same as fresh, they are far better than most imports. Add a note to your list so you remember to look in May.

Are spot prawns the same as shrimp? No. They are larger, sweeter and sold by the pound in season.

Can you freeze them? Yes, but the texture changes. Eat the best ones fresh.

For the province's other seasons, read the BC food by season guide, and for the other towns start at the Food in British Columbia page, and for further afield try the Canadian food guides.

Come May, download the Mosey app, rate the first plate of prawns you eat and keep the note for next year.