1. Most scholars such as Albert Barnes, Adam Clarke, John Calvin and John Wesley believed that this referred to Christ's preaching to the people in the days of Noah. Through the preaching of Noah, he strove with men (Genesis 6:3; something like in 2 Corinthians 5:19; also see 1Peter 1:11; 1Corinthians 10:4, 9; Hebrews 4:2).
2. Another interpretation, especially by the Roman Catholic Church, is found in the Apostle's Creed affirmation that Jesus descended into hell. It is based on 1 Peter 3:19, 4:6; Acts 2:27; Romans 10:7; Ephesians 4:9; Revelation 1:17-18.
I think the first interpretation is theologically better for many theological reasons:
1. Man doesn't have a chance to repent after death; so, there is no use to preaching to the dead. Both 1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6 would refer to those people who are now in prison or are dead. The Gospel was preached to them while they were alive.
2. The passage doesn't say that Jesus went to hell. It says that He went and preached to the spirits in prison, that is, who are still now in prison. If it were not so, Peter would have said "spirits who were in prison".
3. Some think that Jesus went and announced His victory to these spirits, He did not evangelize them. There is no scriptural reference for such idea. Colossians 2:15 refers to Christ obliterating all writ of condemnation against us through the cross. It doesn't mean He went to hell and defeated Satan.
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