Discover Sooke

Fishing for Spring Salmon in Sooke is SPOTTY or SLOW, there are some fish being caught, but not many. Word from up West is that the big Springs are on thier way, and some boats are reporting getting into the odd big one, but I haven’t seen any on the dock.

Yes we still have the slot restriction in place until further notice from D.F.O., but there seems to be plenty of hatchery Salmon and fish under the limit to be retained. Check the regulations online or check out the fisheries notices at Marinas and tackle shops.

Wild Salmon over 67cm in the Sooke/Victoria area are to be released, hatchery Spring Salmon over 45cm and wild Springs under 67cm may be kept. There is also the option of fishing west of Sherringham Light House to be able to keep the wild Spring Salmon over 67cm.

Salmon are being reported caught at Otter Point and the Trailer Park, on anchovey, and spoons, anywhere from 80 to 125ft on the downrigger. Halibut fishing has been GOOD, with many “chicken” Halibut 15 to 35lb fish being brought to the dock at Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina. Many boats normally Salmon fishing are now targeting Halibut, when the weather and tides permit. Gear, locations, bait and information on Halibut fishing can be found at Eagle Eye Outfitters in Sooke.

Halibut are being taken in 100 to 180ft of water at spots all around the area, West of Sooke Harbour being the most popular. Herring, Salmon bellies, Octipus and Squid are the most popular baits, spreader bars with 2lb balls and wire or strong monofiliment leaders the popular set ups. Hootchies of many different colors and sizes can help enhance the presentation of the bait, and hold onto the added scents that many fishermen are using. Crabbing in the Sooke Harbour has been GREAT, especially when using fresh Salmon or Halibut trimmings for bait.

May 2nd Fished with Ryan,Dave,Gene,and Jimmy again, as we were kept off the water yesterday by unsettled weather. Gene landed a nice 10lb Salmon minutes after dropping the gear near the Sooke Bluffs. We continued to hit winter sized Springs on our troll towards the Trailer Park. We were running a Party Girl spoon and a lime green Oki anchovey teaser behind red Oki Striper flashers at 110 and 115ft on the downriggers. The guys finished the half day morning with a 10lb,6,6,6,and a smaller Spring Salmon and 5 nice Dungeness crabs. Weather was windy,overcast, some rain showers and small choppy water.

May 6th Fished with Denis from East Sooke, for Lingcod, first thing in the morning. Brought two Lings to the boat that were slightly to small to keep, trolling herring in a Super Herring Teaser head. Tried Salmon fishing in the Trap Shack around 9am, slow fishing, saw one fish caught near Secretary Island, between 6 or 7 boats. Trolled to the Harbour Mouth where we picked up a 12lb Halibut on a lime green anchovey teaser head. The fish went crazy and broke the landing net but we still got him.

May 8th Trolled from the Harbour Mouth west with John,Vasco and Daniel from Vancouver, for Spring Salmon. We were using red Oki Striper flashers on both sides, a Rhys Davis red and chrome head, and an Oki lime green/black stripe on the other. John and Daniel liked 113 and 117ft on the downriggers,and it worked well. No strikes until 10am west of Otter Point, had five Salmon hit the gear landing four Springs : 12,13,15,and 15lbs. Great half day morning, flat water, sunny, and first time this year very warm on the water.

May 10th Fishing with Steve and Gilbert from Sooke and Alberta, for Spring Salmon. Started at the Harbour entrance and trolled west towards Sherringham Point, with the gear at 100 to 120 on the downriggers. Landed one smaller Spring Salmon as soon as we started fishing and had two other bites that didn’t hook up. Great day, flat water, some wind, overcast, 6 Dungeness crabs in the traps on the way in.

May 14th Fishing with Jason from Discover Sooke and Nick from Eagle-Eye Outfitters in Sooke. Trolled the Trap Shack from early in the morning, had one strike in the afternoon on the Party Girl spoon that took the line off the downrigger, but it didn’t stick. Flat water in the morning, wind coming up in the afternoon, lots of boats on the water looking for fish, saw one Spring Salmon caught on another boat mid day. Slow day. Six nice Dungeness crabs in the traps on the way in.

May 16th 2REEL2 Bob fished with Wally and his party East of the Sooke Harbour mouth and landed a 7lb Spring Salmon. Slow day, not many seen caught.

May 18th Test fishing with another guide from Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina, we travelled west from the Sooke Harbour mouth, and anchored for some Halibut fishing. In three hours we landed our two smaller Halibut (chickens). I was using pink Radiant double skirt hootchies slid over some nice salmon bellies hooked onto two single “J” hooks. Both Hali’s hooked up on this set up. The bait was off a spreader bar with a 2lb ball all tied to a Shimano Charter Boat Special level wind reel, and 7ft Shimano Talora one piece Halibut rod. Super light, super fun set up. Trolled for Salmon on the way back, hooked into a small wild Spring that we released, and a large Spring that we didn’t see, spat the hooks. Both Salmon hit a Glow Below hootchy trolled behind a Green Mist flasher at 95ft on the downrigger. One nice Crab in the trap on the way in. Great day flat water.

May 19th 2REEL2 Bob was fishing with Allison and her crew from the mainland, trolling west of the Sooke Harbour mouth to Otter Point. They trolled up a great 15lb hatchery Spring at 80ft on the downrigger using a Betsy pattern spoon. Tide has been ebbing strong in the mornings.

May 20th 2REEL2 Bob was fishing with Allison and her crew again aboard 2REEL2, trolling for Salmon up to Sherringham Point. The group landed two more Springs on this trip, 9 and 13lbs. The morning was windy and choppy with the strong ebbing flow out of the harbour mouth, both boats started mid morning , later than usual. Small, strong weather squals came through all day.

May 20th Fished with Henry D. (my father inlaw). Trolled from the Harbour Mouth west to the Trailer Park. Had one strike on the Party Girl spoon at 115ft on the downrigger, that didn’t hook up. Had a better strike on the anchovey trolled in a red and chrome Rhys Davies anchovey special bait head at 105ft on the downrigger infront of the Trailer Park. Henry helped me land a nice 27lb Halibut , (Henry had never seen one caught before). Great fun on the Salmon gear. Weather turned windy and choppy and we headed in shortly after, no further action. One good Crab in the traps on the way in.
May 21st Fished both 2REEL2 and 2REEL this morning with Jim Der and his crew. Jim put two guys on each boat and we trolled for Spring Salmon west of the Sooke Harbour Mouth. Bob and his crew on 2REEL2 had three Salmon strike the gear landing 2 Springs 6 and 7lbs. We had two strikes on 2REEL landing one Salmon 11lbs. Nice sunny morning, with a slightly cool breeze, 4 nice crabs in the traps on the way in.

May 22nd Fished with Kevin and Mark from Sooke and the Prince George area, for Spring Salmon west of the Harbour Mouth towards the Trailer Park. Slow morning didn’t see any Springs caught. Landed one nice Spring Salmon in the afternoon after covering alot of ground/water. Kevin had a great time playing an 8lb Salmon into the net. We were trolling a red and chrome Rhys Davies anchovey special bait head behind a red Striper Oki flasher at 125ft on the downrigger in 125ft of water.

May 23rd Fished with George and Jim from the 21st of May trips again for Salmon. Another slow day of Salmon fishing, Jim landed one 7.5lb Spring Salmon in the morning infront of the Trailer Park, had one other fish strike the gear in the same area, no other fish. The Salmon took the red and chrome anchovey head trolled behind the red Oki Striper flasher. Lots of crabs in the traps on the way in.

Afternoon Fished with Jamie and his 7 year old son Ryan from Courtney/Comox on the Island, for Spring Salmon in the afternoon. Jamie landed one small Spring that we made that night for dinner. No other strikes on the Salmon gear. Had 8 nice Dungeness Crabs in the traps on the way in.

May 24th Fished with Jamie and his son Ryan again this morning for Halibut , travelled west of the Sooke Harbour Mouth over calm water and under sunny morning skies and anchored in 145ft of water. Using Salmon bellies and herring on double “J” hook set ups with Pink and glow Radiant hootchies and the long pink and silver, P-Line hootchy, we landed 3 Halibut 15, 17 and 21 lbs by 11:15am. Great morning, flat water, good action. Had 4 more great Dungeness Crabs in the traps on the way in.

May 26th Fished with Jack,Joanne, and Perry from Sooke and the mainland, in the morning for Spring Salmon and the afternoon for Halibut. Perry and Joanne landed two nice Springs 12 and 10lbs, trolling anchovey in a red and chrome Rhys Davies bait head,and a lime green/glow black stripe Oki bait head, behind red Oki striper flashers at 105 and 115ft on the downrigger. Low winds and good tides made us decide to stay out for Halibut. Between Salmon and Halibut fishing a large pod of whales swam by providing a great show. Using Salmon bellies and pink hootchies in 160ft of water, Perry landed a nice 17lb Halibut

May 28th Fished with guests from Vancouver, Liliano,Vince,Philip and Peter, from the Harbour mouth to Otter Point and West to Sherringham. Hooked into and lost two Spring Salmon between Otter and Sherringham. Landed one small wild Spring and had 4 nice crabs in the traps on the way in.

May 29th Fished with the same crew as yesterday, slow morning, no strikes on our first long troll to Sherringham light house. On the way back to Sooke Harbour we had a couple strikes that did not stick.

Good Fishing, Ron

Fishing report courtesy of 2 Reel Fishing Adventures in Sooke, BC

Filed under: Fishing on May 31st, 2010