Discover Sooke

Big Spring Salmon have arrived in good numbers at the local Sooke HOT SPOTS west of the Harbour Mouth, Whales have been in the area daily fishing the shoreline from Beechy Head to Sheringham Point for the last week. This has caused some very quiet mornings on the water for quite a few boats, while other anglers have been doing well.

The Spotty conditions will get better as more of these fish arrive on our coast. Whales were spotted again early this morning off of Otter Point even before some boats left the dock to go fishing. Early, early, morning trolls, or the afternoons, on the popular spots west of the Harbour have been most productive. Some boats have been trying to troll gear in the deeper water, off shore 300 to 400ft of water, this did produce a nice Spring for us yesterday, and another great big strike, that broke the leader. Anchovies have become impossible to get, but the red label herring are a great substitute, (they’re cheaper too). Halibut fishing continues to be good as long as the tides and winds cooperate, the Hali’s appear to be shallower now, as lots of bait can be seen while fishing the shoreline. Weather has been great, the last couple of days have been flat, sunny and hot, especially in the afternoons.
July 1st Afternoon Fished with regular guests Ed and Leyla for Salmon at Otter Point. Trolled anchovies through the area at about 1:45pm, had two strikes on the first pass of the afternoon. One didn’t hook up the other did but was lost after it surfaced and ran across the surface showing its dorsal fin. Released a small Sockeye Salmon and landed a Pink Salmon which Ed and Leyla took for dinner.
July 2nd Fished with regular guests Shaun,Cory, and Don, from Victoria and Sask. Very slow morning, had word that Orca Whales had been through the area first thing in the morning. Had one Salmon hit the gear hard in the flooding tide at Otter Point at 70ft on the downrigger. Salmon was lost shortly after hooking up. Only one opportunity.
July 3rd Fished at Otter Point for Springs with Prago and John from South Africa. Reports of Orca Whales having just passed through the area. Consultants Derby was on and Otter was busy, saw three fish caught, mostly close to shore, maybe 60ft of water, probably 30 boats in the area. We had no hits, no fish.
July 5th AFTERNOON Fished Otter Point in the Afternoon with regular guest Denis. Again Otter was very slow, hooked into one Salmon on the first pass and lost it. No other strikes on the gear.
July 6th Fished with Frank and his Son Tommy between Otter Point and Sherringham Point, saw two or three Spring Salmon caught, no strike on the gear, heard many reports of same, some boats did get fish. Warm sunny day, wind from the SE making things choppy on the fishing grounds.
July 6th Afternoon Fished the afternoon with Mike,Mike, Frank and Pat for Salmon in flat water at Otter Point. Frank played and landed a 12lb Spring on the second pass by Third Rock at 80ft on the downrigger. Soon after Orca Whales showed up to feed off Otter Point. We continued trolling anchovies at 80 and 90ft on the downriggers and got into a double header off the point with Mike and Frank taking the rods and landing a 14 and 19lb Spring Salmon . Great action, good day, warm afternoon.
July 7th Fished with Ron and his crew from Sask. First time Salmon fishing, we trolled out off Secretary Island into 357ft of water, thinking of Coho but hooked into a nice 19lb Spring Salmon at 100ft on the downrigger. Had one other good strike at 90ft on the rigger that broke the leader on the strike. Great warm day, choppy in the morning, smoothing out by noon. Two nice crabs in the traps on the way in.

Good Fishing, Ron

Report Courtesy of Ron at 2 Reel Fishing Adventures

Filed under: Fishing on July 12th, 2010