If you haven't fished for Hali out of Sooke, I would 1st recommend going out with a guide or someone more experienced. I've said it before you can catch halibut anywhere. You need to study bottom contours and put in time on the water. I'm sure you're going to see boats anchored up from out front of the Sooke Bluffs all the way to Renfrew. Pick a spot and put in time.I'm heading out for the first time this year tomorrow for Hali out of sooke as I have a son that will be her very soon so not a lot of fishing for me this year. I was just wondering how far west you went.
My two cents as another drifter. If the current is moving fast, it is a "waste" of time and worse, you'll get really frustrated getting hung up on bottom and losing lead. My experience. A little flow seems best. Fish the small window around tide changes or pick a day with smaller tides. You don't have to fish 300'.Planning on fishing halibut for first time, so absolute newbie. I don't have an anchoring setup and that's been the main reason I haven't done halibut yet. I've been told lots of times I can drift, so that's the plan. I usually launch at Cheanuh so my options are to go east or west from there or launch at Pedder or Sooke, maybe Otter point? Tomorrow tides look pretty large and flooding from about half nine onwards at William head so I'm wondering if it's a waste of time to dry drifting the mud hole ...would it be better to go when there's less tide action or is there a better area that would be ok to drift and have a go?
Yeah that’s what I’m seeing as well, plus one Lingcod. On another map though, I found that Coho will open June 1st and daily limit is 2. https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/tidal-maree/chq-co/20-co-eng.pdf. Used to be that the opening dates would be listed on the species limits page as I recall. So I wonder if they aren’t going to open Chinook?I'm sure to get some pushback, but IMO !! --- right now all salmon is closed except for pinks. So you will notice the daily limit for pinks is 4, with a restriction of 4 salmon per day There is no opening for chinook (
One halibut with a length restriction ( head on/ head off). Rockfish no yellow eye
From what I have been told, look at species limits first and then the restrictions
Have FunBC tidal area 20 - Sooke, Port Renfrew: Recreational fishing limits, openings and closures | Pacific Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada
BC tidal area 20 - Sooke, Port Renfrew: Recreational fishing limits, openings and closureswww.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Is there even any pinks out there to catch right now? Do you think they will not open for Chinooks? I see that IF they do open it will only be hatchery clipped, same for coho. Perhaps that’s been the norm the past few years, I dunno.Brace yourself - it is overly complicated, confusing and overall sad news for public fishers!
I see that they are open for springs right now in Victoria/Oak Bay. Someone on that thread said it will close for them in August so maybe we will open then.I bet 1$ it will close for springs. They have been consistent. Pinks often start showing up in August.
Rumours of 3 pinks caught by guys at royal Victoria yacht club this week….. seems like I am way off on the pink run?I see that they are open for springs right now in Victoria/Oak Bay. Someone on that thread said it will close for them in August so maybe we will open then.