2025 Sooke Reports
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expertfisher780
Active Member
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.
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.
SVIAC
Active Member
The 2025 Salish Sea Salmon Challenge is coming up May 31, 2025, with a $10K first prize and $21K overall prize board. Check out the details on the derby page, below, including for the rules. Take advantage of the Marked Selective Fishery opening (granted, further East at this time), and contribute to salmon enhancement and advocacy. Note as well that there is a Salish Sea Salmon Challenge Facebook page, updates of the leader board will be posted there.
https://sviac.ca/2025-salish-sea-salmon-challenge/
https://sviac.ca/2025-salish-sea-salmon-challenge/
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Another beautiful day fishing Sooke, flat calm and warm today and the fish were biting. Caught an 85 and 92cm, released a small one, had 3 dogfish and missed 2 really good hits. Mackerel was the ticket today.
Sad to see so few boats out in Sooke, DFO has really killed fishing
Sad to see so few boats out in Sooke, DFO has really killed fishing
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Doug
Well-Known Member
Yesterday provided a salmon fishing lesson with some guys from Kelowna on their new boat.
Fished Otter point area from 845 to noon. Had seven fish to the boat and all released. 2 biggest 14lb and other 7-8lb.
4 of the fish were clipped and all the fish were on bottom in a 120 ft of water.
There were 3 other boats fishing salmon and about 8 halibut fishing.
DFO was up the hill at the boat launch, watching boats come in and then run down and check them. No issues for us.
I wish I was halibut fishing, it was so flat calm.
Fished Otter point area from 845 to noon. Had seven fish to the boat and all released. 2 biggest 14lb and other 7-8lb.
4 of the fish were clipped and all the fish were on bottom in a 120 ft of water.
There were 3 other boats fishing salmon and about 8 halibut fishing.
DFO was up the hill at the boat launch, watching boats come in and then run down and check them. No issues for us.
I wish I was halibut fishing, it was so flat calm.
Lewy
Active Member
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?
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'.
Well, we put the boat in Cheanu for the season after a 4 year hiatus and I am confused on what we are allowed to catch this season. I find the DFO site information very confusing. Can someone clearly state if we can catch salmon or not this year? Does closed to finfish mean salmon as well? Man, the fishing areas look very restricted according to the DFO map. Can you only fish in Beecher Bay? Looks like 2 clipped Coho a day is allowed starting June 1st. Please enlighten this rusty fisherman.
Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
Brace yourself - it is overly complicated, confusing and overall sad news for public fishers!
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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
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Have Fun
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
BC 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 closures
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 closures
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.
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.
scott craven
Well-Known Member
If anything like last year, it should reopen for 1 a day August 01
kaelc
Crew Member
Rumours of 3 pinks caught by guys at royal Victoria yacht club this week….. seems like I am way off on the pink run?
