By Ron Neitsch
Special to the Sooke News Mirror
The big fish are here! The salmon fishing in Sooke has been very good, with more, and larger chinook and spring salmon arriving weekly.
This last couple of weeks saw the Juan de Fuca Salmon Derby won with a 34-poubd spring salmon and many recreational fishers get out on the water to enjoy some hot, sunny weather and calm waters fishing Sooke.
There are now pink and coho salmon in our area, which can usually be fished shallower than springs; these fish are great for adding poundage to your catch and can be lots of fun if you’re bringing kids out fishing. Regulations for coho are two hatchery fish only per person, per day, and pinks are four fish per day. Remember you can only retain a total of four salmon of combined species per day.
Some nice springs have been caught off Sooke Bluffs, Otter Point and Sheringham Point; have also heard some reports of chinooks at Possession Point.
Many springs are reported being caught shallow, from 35 to 110 feet on the downrigger, in 50 to 120 feet of water. There seems to be a good bite early in the morning and then again at the tide change during the mid or late morning.
Bright greens and glow white colouring have been popular both with flashers and bait heads. Halibut fishing continues to be good in our waters, although dogfish (sharks) are passing through, taking any fresh bait, damaging leaders, and wasting valuable fishing time.
Many halibut fishers switch to using more artificial bait at this time of year. Halibut are known to come into shallower water at this time of year, although I had a great day last week in 165 feet of water, using herring and salmon spines left over from filleting. Crabbing in the Sooke Harbour has been getting much better with more nice large male dungeoness crabs being caught.
On the fishing derby scene, Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society Salmon Derby is coming up on Aug. 1 and 2, with tickets on sale now at the Crab Shack, Sooke Marine Centre and Eagle-Eye Outfitters in Sooke.
South Vancouver Island Rangers Annual Men’s Salmon Derby comes up July 11, followed by the Port Renfrew Marina Labour Day Derby from Sept. 5 to 6.
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Ron Neitsch is the owner and operator of local fishing charter 2 Reel Fishing Adventures Sooke.
