Coho salmon fishing in Sooke waters is very good right now, just in time for local coho derbies.
The Port Renfrew Marina and Sooke Coho derbies were successful with hundreds of participants raising money for salmon enhancement in both towns and the Sooke Food Bank.
Coho are being found right outside the harbour mouth and out into 500 feet of water. Most anglers are trolling anchovies, spoons or hootchies at 70 to 90 feet on the downrigger close to the boat, maybe 10 or 15 feet back from the downrigger weight, with a short two- or three-foot leader.
Halibut fishing for this first part of October has been great with good tides and catches of hali from spots west of Sooke harbour from 20 to 50 pounds.
Crabbing in the harbour has also been good with more nice sized Dungeness crabs coming into the harbour following the salmon to the river mouth.
•••
Ron Neitsch is the owner of 2 Reel Fishing Adventures, based in Sooke.
