Fishing for salmon in Sooke has been good; larger springs/chinook, hatchery coho, sockeye and pinks are open and are in the area. Now is the time of year to catch a big spring/chinook salmon.
Finding spring salmon has been tougher lately, as usual they can be found early morning, and at the tide changes. Trolling the gear in 80 ft of water with the gear at 55 to 75 ft on the downrigger early morning has been productive most mornings at Otter and farther West. Later in the morning, the boats tend to move out and drop their gear lower.
Sockeye just opened last Friday, there have not been a lot of reports yet. Some Sockeye schools are being found off the Sooke Bluffs and Sheringham Pt., in the deeper water 130 to 300 ft of water.
Hatchery Coho are also open and can be found in the deeper water at shallower depths on the downrigger. They have not been around in large numbers, and we’ve only picked them up while looking for spring salmon. Pink Salmon are also around in small numbers, but are legal to keep and make good meals freshly BBQ’d or sent in for smoking. Remember wild coho salmon will be opened earlier this year, September 1st instead of October 1st, for one wild and one hatchery coho per person.
Halibut continues to be open. They are more easily accessible to more boats at this time of year as they can be found in shallower water, as low as 70/80 ft. Rockfish are also open to one per person per day. Be careful to stay out of the local RCA’s, Rockfish conservation areas. There are still some great salmon derbies coming up this season, including the Bite Me Derby, and the Port Renfrew Derby, details on line or at your favorite tackle store. Good fishing,
Ron En, 2Reel Fishing Adventures