By Ron Neitsch
Saltwater fishing in Sooke waters now consists of either trolling for winter spring salmon or drifting or anchoring up for halibut.
Both are now productive and can be done close to the Sooke harbour mouth, given we have good tides and calm winds.
Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society president Robert Gamache reports the netting of the Sooke River in October for brood stock was successful with many large spring/chinook salmon taken as well as coho taken later in the month.
There are 205,000 chinook eggs and 158,000 coho eggs in the incubation room at the Jack Brooks Hatchery, which will be hatching in the spring time.
“We saw some very nice coho in DeMamiel Creek, have not seen the late run coho yet, but there is still time for that,” said Gamache.
More information on the salmon life cycle and enhancement efforts in Sooke can be found at sookesalmonenhancement.com or by visiting the Juan de Fuca Salmon Restoration Society Charters River Salmon Interpretive Centre, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Elida Peers at 250-642-4200.
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Ron Neitsch is the owner of 2 Reel Fishing Adventures, based in Sooke.
