Fishing in Sooke the last few days has slowed a bit from the week before. Pinks have remained steady but chinook action is down.
The whales have been present shaking things up as they are feeding on chinook salmon as well. You cannot bet on the water conditions, as of late, we have seen flat seas and no wind. All we need now is summer to happen to make things right.
Otter Point has been the hot spot for chinook, either off the point in the tide rip or trolling to the east towards the tin shack, or to the west to Gordon’s Beach. The good depths are between 50 and 70 feet but it doesn’t hurt to go deeper to 90 plus to find the big ones.
Nice quality pinks are showing in good numbers, fishing anywhere from the beach to the middle of the strait will produce. Secretary Island is as good as any to find pinks, try fishing off the southern tip of the Island in 200 plus feet, that should work. Troll a pink hootchie or squirt behind a Hot Spot flasher red, green with 28 to 40 inch leader works good, a good depth of 40 to 100 feet should find them. Pinks are a nice way to introduce none-experienced anglers, young and old, to salmon fishing. They fight and if one gets off it usually doesn’t take long to hook another pink.
It’s two weeks until the Sooke Salmon Enhancement Derby being held on the BC Day long weekend. Tickets can be purchased at the Crab Shack and Eagle-Eye.
Port Renfrew remains strong, either fishing the beach or out at the Swiftsure Bank. There’s lots of life out on the bank which is a good indication of good fishing to come. It’s been a few years since the fishing and the marine life have been like that.
Lots of birds, tons of coho fining on the surface with krill and feed on the surface.
This weekend is the 11th Annual Davey Derby being held at the Port Renfrew Marina on Friday and Sunday. Tickets are $50 a rod with the proceeds going to salmon enhancement and charities in need. Last year the derby hit the $10,000 mark in funds raised for good causes. Tickets can be purchased at the marina and Island Outfitters.
Keep your rod tip up!
Kiwi Magic
