Ron Neitsch, Contributed
The late winter fishing season in Sooke is getting better. The salmon are larger, and the weather has been calm, allowing access to good halibut spots.
Good size chinook salmon in the 10 lbs. range have been caught in the last week off the Bluffs, as well as smaller five lbs. fish Many trollers fishing these areas are reporting limits of salmon. Spoons and anchovies are working well trolled on the bottom in 120 to 130 feet of water, with the gear attached only 10 or 12 feet behind the downrigger weight.
Last weekend was the Victoria Boat and Fishing Show where many South Island fishers got to see the latest in fishing and boating gear. Sooke was represented with booths from Vancouver Island Lodge and the Sooke Saltwater Series, offering information on Sooke’s great fishing and fishing derbies.
Crabbing and shrimping in the harbour have been good. Larger male Dungeness crabs are coming out of molt where they grow a new larger shell. The nexy couple of months are usually very good for crabbing in the Sooke area.
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Ron Neitsch is the owner of 2 Reel Fishing Adventures, based in Sooke.