Fishing Sooke area

[loganman]

Could someone tell me if there are any special salmon fishing restrictions in place for the Sooke area .I heard earlier that slot sizes were in effect . I.m thinking of coming to this area the first couple of weeks in August . Any info would be greatly appreciated .

Loganman

 

[Dave S]

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/tidal-maree/a-s20-eng.htm

can't rely on what someone says on a fishing forum, check the regs. check the regs, check the regs.

 

[wolf]

Every thing is good to go now same as others 2 chinook a day, anu size hatch or wild thats restriction was in place up to july 17 only. so come fishing and have fun.

Good luck wolf

 

[Rockfish]

I am not sure how much experience you have fishing Sooke so you may well be aware of much of this.

As per Wolf’s comment the slot restriction is gone for now on Chinook but I am in one of my verbose moods so here goes.

You are allowed only one Coho and that must be clipped (come Oct 1st this will typically change to allow one unclipped Coho) and you cannot keep any sockeye at this time, although it is possible but not likely that will change at some point.

There are also area fishing closures such as the Rockfish conservation zone off of Sooke Bluffs/Sooke Bay where you cannot fish.

There is also the Chinook non retention zone roughly inside a line from Possession Point across to the far end of the Bluffs to protect the Chinook Sooke spawners which typically kicks in on Aug. 1st. It is amazing how many people don’t seem to know this and fish for them inside the line.

All salmon species have minimum length requirements, individual and combined catch limits and two day possession limits.

This is not a complete list of restrictions and they can change with notification by DFO at anytime and the book they will give you when you buy your license will likely not be completely accurate for this reason. Dave S. is correct you need to check the regs. and posted notifications at DFO’s site before you fish to be up to date, especially if you are not a local.

It is even possible that some of this information I have just provided is in error or will change before you arrive. You would be amazed at all the incorrect information that anglers were recently advising other anglers over the VHF radio when the slot restriction recently changed from 0 for Chinook over slot length to one over slot length; probably because it was not clearly written or intuitive. Not a problem now as it has changed again and you are allowed any two Chinook as long as they are over the minimum size length.

 

[HALILLAMA]

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/opportunities-possibilites/PN/2011/20-co-ch.pdf
.....Sorry!! 2 hatchery Coho Rockfish....
Here's a quick 2011 lesson but read and review the regs/rules yourself cause I am not paying your tickets

 

[Rockfish]

Good catch. Thats what I get for typing it out with no sleep which happens on when I get this new weekly drug protocal, better to be under than over I guess and a good lesson on why you should check the Regs yourself.

 

[Ruck'nFish]

Sooke

Go for sure pay attention to your reg's 2 spring's,4 pink's & 2 Hatchery(clipped) Coho, we were just there off of Secretary Island on Thurs & Fri got 2 spring's 1 @ 35lb & 2nd @ 20lb, & 12 pinks some real beauty's too some as fat as coho look for lots of spots on the tail, coho only have a couple. Good Luck

 

[chinook]

Better be sure not to mistake Pinks for SPRINGS, like some people i've seen, Morons!