Fishing for large spring salmon in Sooke waters has finally reached a consistently good level.
And I mean big.
Trolling for chinooks has reached a new level at Trailer Park, Otter Point, Sheringham Point and Points West.
Large chinooks are hitting the gear hard trolling anchovy, spoons, or hootchies anywhere from 50 to 150 feet on the downriggers in 60 to 160 ft. of water.
There seems to be an early morning bite and action at the tide changes. Try setting your gear 25 to 30 ft. behind the boat and using a fluorocarbon leader which is almost invisible under water and very abrasion resistant.
Hot spoons have been the Gibbs No Bananas, Irish Cream, and Bon Chovy. Gold Star, Coho Killers in chartruese spatter back, white lightning, and white lightning green stripe.
Halibut fishing seems to have slowed down locally, but they are being found up west as far as Jordan River and farther.
Herring is still the best bait.
Rock fish, and lingcod are open until September 30, and are a nice addition to the fish box.
Crabbing has slowed down a bit from the great catches we were seeing in the Spring, but there are still some to be had.
Upcoming fishing derby is the South Vancouver Island Rangers Annual Salmon Derby this Saturday (July 9).
Upcoming salmon derbies include Port Renfrew Spring Salmon Derby July 16 to 17. Details at Port Renfrew Marina.
Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society 13th Annual Chinook Derby July 30 to 31, details at Eagle-Eye Outfitters in Sooke.
More upcoming derby information available at your local tackle store.
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Ron Neitsch is the owner of 2 Reel Fishing, based in Sooke.