2025 Sooke Reports

[Rain City]

Epic fishing is Sooke this weekend. Flat calm seas and lots of fish. When the bite was on it was ON!
Lots of boats and very little boat etiquette. Weeds were an issue at times.

We were in Cheanuh derby so early starts.

Saturday we landed 7 nice springs and lost 3 by 9am when the bite ended. 1 was 79cm, fat and was around 18lb on my boat scale so we decided to weigh it in with another around 14lb rather than waiting around for the next bite. Fish weighed in at 18lb even and was second place at that time. There was a prize for top halibut so we weighed in and went Hali fishing. Currents were a bust and we could not keep gear on bottom so we gave in early afternoon with no Hali.

Sunday was on fire again. Did not keep track but similar results. We kept 2 fish right on 80cm but around 15lb each to weigh in. We also picked up 2 nice sockeye as by catch. Sockey were nice size so I’ll be going on a sockeye mission one morning this week for sure.

Our Saturday fish at 18lb held for 3rd place and a nice cash payout. Top 3 fish were 20.2, 18.7, 18. Lots of fish weighed in.
The derby was very well run. Wind up was reasonably quick and organized with lots of prizes. The kid that one kids prize was sooo happy. He could barely carry the trophy. Good job cheanuh on an organized and fun derby!

A 20.2lb slot fish?! Juicy

 

[Stizzla]

Must’ve been shaped like a cube.
Are you a believer now?!

 

[cby]

They do exist for sure. They are really chunky fish this year.

 

[Tips Up]

Did anyone target sockeye this weekend?
Tomorrow looks like great weather and good excuse to hit the tide lines and go to work late.

 

[Tsquared]

I tried yesterday 400 ft off the Head using pink gear, deep line was 90 ft on the rigger. All I got was pinks but other people were getting them word was they were deep which is why I had gear at 90.

 

[Deewar25]

I tried yesterday 400 ft off the Head using pink gear, deep line was 90 ft on the rigger. All I got was pinks but other people were getting them word was they were deep which is why I had gear at 90.

we tried Saturday, but they ended up targetting us first and got 5 (had to throw the last nice one back as we filled ticket), didn't matter the lure or the depth (bait and artificial), but typically 40-70ft. Hit a double off Otter but didn't go back for them, the rest at Muir, in close and bit further out.

 

[Rain City]

Must’ve been shaped like a cube.
Are you a believer now?!

I have no idea, but I'd love to see the calibration of that derby scale now. Fack. I'm just impressed at how seemingly difficult it is to find them. You have to agree it was a good line he set. I also don't think he actually claimed that they don't exist at all, they would just be super rare.

 

[tubber]

<80cm 20lb fish debate is closed. Nice work on 3rd.

 

[cby]

Ok I agree they do exist, but I also agree that they are rare. The unicorn of the sea!

 

[A-a-Ron]

<80cm 20lb fish debate is closed. Nice work on 3rd.

Did anyone check the belly for lead?

 

[Mozart]

That'll be too obvious. Just stuff with a pack of xl anchovies

 

[Rain City]

That'll be too obvious. Just stuff with a pack of xl anchovies

With lead in them!

 

[chris73]

Did anyone check the belly for lead?

That'll be too obvious. Just stuff with a pack of xl anchovies

That'd be as expensive as donating your entire prize money!

 

[kingspring]

But they get bit by the big ones.

 

[Newf]

Late start as tide too low for me to launch earlier at Pedder. Lines in the water by 9am just South of Church. Pink after pink so move in closer and then shaker after shaker Chinook. Back out off of Church and picked up a couple of clipped Coho. At noon started to troll back through Race Passage and got into pinks and shakers again. Once through the passage I replaced the pink hoochies for a couple of spoons. 10 minutes later hooked a nice fish and within 30 seconds the 2nd rod goes off and pops the clip. Landed the first one and knew it was close to the limit. Fish still on the 2nd rod so get it to the side of the boat and could see that it was also a nice fish but not as fat as the one I landed. Left it in the holder, grabbed the tape and measured the one in the deck. 80cm on the nose and a fatty compared to the one in the water. Couldn’t do much better than that so released the one at the side of the boat and called it a day. 18.4lbs on my cheap scales.

 

[WaldoDingy]

I was out with a friend and hit 2 sockeye at 120 on the rigger Saturday 10 am. They're deep.