Ron Neitsch
Contributed
Salmon fishing in Sooke waters has slowed. The usual strong fall coho salmon runs appear to be considerably weaker than in recent years.
There is coho being caught trolling anchovy or lures out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but both the sizes and numbers of fish are down.
Most sport fishing boats are reporting catching an average of two or three retainable coho during a day of fishing.
There is a chance the runs of larger northern coho are late, but given we are in late October, that hope is slim.
Most of the successful trollers are reporting covering lots of water from the harbour mouth, straight out to 500 feet of water, then back in towards shore until the coho are located. Best baits: anchovy, anchovy strip, spoons, coho killers, hootchies and squirts.
Soon we should see some winter Chinook salmon coming into our area, providing some good sport and even better eating.
Halibut fishing has been great, with consistent catches of 15- to 60-pound fish coming from spots very close to the mouth of Sooke harbour. The deeper water, 200 to 300 feet, has been productive for those fishers able to anchor or drift while keeping whole herring or salmon bellies on the bottom.
Played on modern, stronger, yet lighter rods rigged with larger level wind reels and spooled with the new thin but very strong braided lines, halibut can be a wild fight to the boat.
The powerful fight, delicious taste, and high retail price for fresh halibut makes this a very exciting and popular fishery for those willing to spend the time and money required to learn and rig up for this species.
Crab fishing in the harbour remains good with consistent, decent catches of keeper-sized male Dungeness and red rock crabs coming in from both the public pier and traps dropped from boats.
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Ron Neitsch owns and operates 2 Reel Fishing Adventures in Sooke.
