Winter salmon fishing in Sooke is very good right now. We have been receiving many great reports from anglers trolling for Spring salmon from the Sooke Harbour mouth, West to Sheringham Point catching salmon up to 12 lbs. Otter Point has been especially good for holding fish this last week.
The winter Chinooks are deep this time of year, as we are picking up most of our fish with the gear at 125 to 140ft on the downriggers.
Anchovies, small herring, spoons and hootchies will all work for catching these salmon. We are finding that glow colors are working best. Flasher choice should also be very bright or glow colors.
The Annual Sooke Boxing Day Salmon Derby is coming soon, and it appears there will be some great action for the participants.Halibut fishing in Sooke waters has been really good as well, with consistant catches of up to 55 lbs coming in from areas west of the harbour mouth. Anchoring in 190 to 250 ft of water and fishing through a complete tide/current change can work very well.
Herring, octopus, mackerel, and legally caught bait fish bellies from cod and salmon are excellent baits for halibut. Some anglers are also reporting hooking up on Mudraker and Spinnow style lures when the tide is slack. Most successes are coming from rolling a herring with a double hook leader on a spreader bar with a 1 or 2 lb weight.
Lately boats are reporting catching more Pacific cod, which are another tasty addition to the fish box. Crabbing in the harbour continues to be a challenge for most fishers, we continue to move the traps around the harbour to track them down.
Good fishing!
Ron Neitsch
2 Reel Fishing Adventures