Charter Information - Everything You Need To Know And More
The Fishing
Our success depends on providing you with fun
and fish, pure and simple.
We always use the lightest tackle available and in fact I would
challenge you to find another charter company who uses gear lighter
than we do.
We offer you the choice of 7-foot "Fenwick" trout rods matched to 4-inch, locally-made "Islander" fly reels, or 9-foot 6-inch "G-Loomis" rods matched with "Islander" mooching reels. "Islander Reels" are a very smooth
high-end precision reel, and worth every penny!
These reels are loaded with about 300 yards of 25 pound test high
visibility monofilament line. Some of the bigger fish take us close
to the knot at the end of that 300 yards and in one instance the
fish went beyond the knot. Chasing big fish with the boat to keep
them from spooling you is not uncommon.
Fishing is done by trolling lines from downriggers often very close
to shore. Natural baits like anchovies are preferred and we use
them 95% of the time. We use 3 downriggers and fish a maximum of
1 rod per downrigger while fishing for large chinook salmon. Trying
to fish more lines only increases the likelyhood of losing fish
from tangles around gear not removed from the water quickly enough.
I've always believed it is better to have fewer lines fishing properly
all the time than more lines fishing most of the time.
The best times to fish are often early mornings, tide changes, an
incoming tide and anytime the whales haven't chased the fish away!!
However there are always exceptions from time to time. Our best
guess is always to go with what happened the day before when setting
charter times. Your best chance at success is to go with our recommendations
for fishing times. However, we still realize there are times when
a compromise has to be met.
Large summer running chinook salmon tend to follow the strong currents
found close to shore as they migrate back to their spawning streams.
This is why salmon are often caught from the rocks by shore casters,
in the same areas we fish. Through the summer season all five salmon
species migrate past our area.
Check the fishing calendar below
to see when certain species are more abundant then others.
The average size of summer chinook salmon in the Sooke area is 22
to 24 pounds. The largest caught here was 67.12 pounds and the largest
caught by one of our customers went 52 pounds.
Northern coho can top 20 pounds in the fall.
We limit the number of anglers in a boat to four (4), plus the guide.
We will add additional boats to accommodate groups in excess of
this number. We have handled conference groups of up to 75 persons
at a time
The Winter Fishery
The winters on Vancouver Island are the mildest
in Canada. I call our area California north. Daytime winter temperatures
hover between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, on average.
With the heated cabin on my boat I can make it 70 degrees while
you’re fishing. The lower half of Vancouver Island (including
the town of Sooke) has its own micro climate which gives us a dryer
winter than nearby cites like Vancouver and Seattle. In fact we
receive half the annual rainfall of both Vancouver and Seattle.
This area only averages 1 to 1.5 days of snowfall each year and
it usually melts as fast as it falls! Even the golf courses remain
open year round! And no, the ocean doesn't freeze over and we never
see icebergs. In eighteen years of guiding you're bound to get the
odd goofy question!
As for the winter fishing, we have chinook salmon fishing in every
month of the year. Winter chinook, also called "blackmouth" or "feeder
springs" are plentiful and easier to catch than their summer counterparts.
Winter fish are feeding fish, bulking up before nature calls them
back to their native rivers to spawn the following summer. Winter
chinook salmon range from 5 to 20 pounds. We like to keep the ones
larger than 8 pounds. These salmon are pound-for-pound the best
fighting fish we catch all year. They are in prime condition, all
fattened up and full of energy. Winter-caught salmon are also regarded
as prime table fish. The high fat content and firm flesh makes them
a local favourite.
Your daily limit is 2 chinook per day (per person) with a 2 day
possession limit. Peak months are November thru February Where else
can you enjoy a winter day salmon fishing, golfing, and dining on
a fresh morning’s catch? So come on up and enjoy some great
winter fun.
The Fishing Calendar
- November to March - winter chinook (kings) 5 to 20 pounds
- April & May - winter and mature chinook 8 to 30 pounds, also
prime months for huge halibut
- Mid May to Mid September - peak season for large mature chinook
(king) salmon 10 to 60 plus pounds
- September & October - best time for northern coho (silvers)
5 to 23 pounds
License Fees
| (Prices include salmon conservation stamp) |
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Resident of Canada |
Annual |
$28.35 |
|
5 Day |
$23.10 |
|
3 Day |
$17.85 |
|
1 Day |
$11.81 |
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Senior |
$17.85 |
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Juvenile (under 16 years) |
$6.30 |
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Non-Resident of Canada |
Annual |
$112.35 |
|
5 Day |
$38.85 |
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3 Day |
$26.25 |
|
1 Day |
$13.65 |
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Juvenile (under 16 years) |
$6.30 |
Limits
The Waters
The fishing areas are located close to the marina
where we berth our boats. The run to the fishing grounds take from
5 to 25 minutes depending on the hot spot we choose to fish and
the sea conditions we experience.
Waters conditions range from flat calm to a 3 foot wind driven chop.
Mornings on average tend to be calmer and the afternoon and evenings
can be choppier, but not always. We experience less afternoon wind
during the winter months. We seldom if ever experience ocean
swells during the summer months.
Sea sickness is rarely an issue, unless you are very sensitive to
motion or spend too much time in the bar the night before!
There are times through the season when we can experience thick
coastal fog that can persist most of the day. While this is not
a concern because we use GPS and a chart plotter, it does drop the
air temperature and warmer cloths should always be brought along
just in case.
If the sea conditions are such that the fishing trip would either
be unsafe or no fun, we will cancel the trip. This only happens
once or twice a year. There is no cost to you if trips are cancelled
due to weather concerns.
Bringing the children along
Parents know their kids best but we have some
suggestions as to minimum ages for our younger fishing charter customers.
The last thing we want to do is ruin the potential for a child to
develop a passion for sport fishing.
Young children have short attention spans and get bored quickly
if they don't have anything to do. On a 1/2 day or full day charter
there often are long periods where the fish aren't biting and we
are waiting for the fish to come on the bite.
This happens more often when fishing for large chinook salmon than
some of the smaller species which tend to be more abundant and easier
to catch. This is when the young kids will start to ask how much
longer we are staying out and when are we going in.
They are getting bored.
If they are forced to stay out to finish the charter they will
remember that the next time you want to take them fishing. They
will think that going fishing means being bored and trapped on the
boat for what seems like an eternity, to them.
It is far better with younger children to take them out for short
periods of time and then bring them in and do something else at
the first sign of boredom.
Rough water is also a concern with kids as they are considerably
more susceptible to sea sickness than adults. A sea sick child forced
to remain out on the water and finish a charter will also remember
how awful he or she felt and for how long he or she was forced to
feel that way.
Our guideline for the minimum age for children is 8 years old. By
that age most kids will have fished with dad a few times and will
have already developed a passion for fishing. They will understand
that there are days when waiting for a fish to bite is all apart
of what fishing is about. Waiting builds excitement and anticipation,
not boredom.
Shipping Your Catch
Any fish that you want to have processed we send
to St. Jean's Cannery and Smokehouse
located in Nanaimo. Almost every fishing resort on the coast uses
St. Jean's for processing their customers' catch.
There is a drop off depot in Colwood where I take your catch and
where it will be picked up and transported to the cannery that same
week. We recommend that you have your catch canned and then shipped
to your home by regular mail. Your fish (not exchanged fish) will
normally arrive at your home in 3 to 4 weeks. Your canned salmon
will not spoil and can be eaten, up to years later. Many customers
give some of their canned catch away to friends during the holidays
or serve it to their holiday visitors.
St. Jean's offers 2 canning recipes for you to choose from - either regular or hot smoked. For those of you that have never tried smoked canned
salmon before, I do have samples on board for you to try before you
commit to how you want your fish done.
I have forms on board which instruct St. Jean's on how you want
your fish prepared, in what proportions and where the fish will
be shipped. A credit card number and signature is required on the
form and the final invoice amount including shipping will be billed
to your credit card. Credit cards accepted are either Visa, MasterCard
or American Express.
Check out St. Jean's web site at www.stjeans.com.
St. Jean's also offers a complete selection of other smoked or canned
seafood and food products that can be purchased.
If you are staying in a hotel that has a restaurant I always
recommend taking enough fresh fish back to your hotel with you for
a dinner. Every hotel will prepare your fresh catch if you are a
guest with them. Add the freshly caught crabs from our traps and
you'll enjoy a wonderful dinner that will be the envy of any seafood
lover who happens to be in the restaurant.
We only recommend flying your fish home if:
- you are on the same flight with your fish (which increases the
likelyhood you will see your fish on the other end),
- you will reach your home within 4 days of catching your fish
(which means you don't have to freeze your catch and keep it frozen
until it gets to your home)
- and you have purchased the proper coolers that the airlines
will accept onboard the aircraft. The airlines will also only
accept blue ice packs inside the coolers, no ice or dry ice is
allowed.
Your catch must be shipped in such
a manner that a fisheries officer can identify them by species, size
and number. We carry brochures on board which outline and explain
the proper methods for shipping your catch. You are also required
to keep your fishing licences with you when transporting your catch.
Your licence may be checked to verify that you caught these fish legally
and that you are not in excess of your possession limits.
Fish will hold on ice without being frozen for a maximum of
4 days. You must keep the melted ice drained and add fresh ice as
soon as needed. Fish transported over more than 4 days must be frozen
and kept frozen. Any frozen fish that thaws must be consumed within
4 days, it cannot be re-frozen (unless the thawed fish is smoked,
only then may you re-freeze it).
What To Bring
Bringing along heavy, foul weather gear is not
required. The boat has an enclosed cabin which will keep you dry
and warm. Bringing along a light Gortex jacket (or similar) with
a hood is a good option. You can throw it on if you are playing
a fish in the rain.
Soft soled shoes are a must, guys please leave the cowboy boots
at home! Not only are they hard on the finish of the boat, they
are slippery and dangerous in rougher water.
You can bring shorts along but please bring a pair of pants too.
You will be a lot more comfortable in pants if fog and a cool ocean
breeze appears.
Bring a camera, sunglasses and sunscreen. I have sunglasses and
sunscreen on board if you forget. Food is up to the customer and
what you bring along will depend on the time of day and length of
time you plan to fish.
You should bring along a good sized sealable bucket if you plan
to take home any crabs that our traps may catch for you. You can
then take home the crabs alive and also have sea water to cook them
in. Crab always have more flavor when they are cooked in sea water.
If you have proper fish coolers you should bring them with you.
The larger the better, so long as they fit in your vehicle. The
coolers will keep your catch fresh and keep your car from smelling
like fish!
What is Included
All fishing charters include free; tackle, gear,
bait, coffee and or tea, pop, fish cleaning and fish bags. Crab
traps are also set and the days catch is yours to take with you.
There is a good pair of binoculars on board for you to use. There
are proper non-spill coffee cups on board which you will be required
to use. If you arrive with a coffee in hand you can transfer it
to one of our cups.
There is also cutlery, a can opener, cork screw, cutting board,
beverage cooler and a bottle opener on board.
A sample tin of smoked salmon is also free for those who are considering
sending their catch to be processed at St. Jeans Cannery. You can
sample this product during the fishing trip. Your catch will also
be dropped off at the cannery depot free of charge.
What Is Extra
Proper styrofoam fish coolers with waxed box
liners are available on site for those who are shipping their catch
by air, on their return home. Coolers without the wax liners are
also available for those who only want something to transport fish
in, while they are in their vehicles.
We also sell blue ice packs to keep the fish cool during longer
flights. Processing your catch at St.
Jean's Cannery and Smokehouse and shipping your catch to
your home. Processing fees can be found on St. Jean's web site at
www.stjeans.com.
Taxidermy service is also available for your trophy fish.
We have a cell phone on board that you may use if needed. A small
by the minute fee will be applied for the use of the cell phone.
While we do provide a beverage cooler on board, we don't provide
free ice. Ice can be purchased by the bag from the marina prior
to departing for fishing. Ice is sold for $2.00 per bag. (cubes
or block) You are also responsible for any ice you may require to
transport your fish while they are in your vehicle.
There are also various localy made fishing related products that
we sell on board. They make a great gift or souvenir of your fishing
trip!
Making A Reservation
Once you decide on dates that you would like
to fish you can contact us by e-mail or by phone. We will confirm
that those dates and times are available.
We will take your name, telephone number, e-mail address, the name
of the hotel where you will be staying and can be reached upon arrival
and a credit card number (Visa or MasterCard) to secure that reservation.
We will make arrangements to call you at your hotel the evening
before your charter. Final instructions and directions will be given
to you at that time. A set of directions to the marina and the boat
will be faxed over to the hotel front desk for those who require
it.
Deposits and cancellation policies are explained on the price page
found back at the main menu.
 Discounts
For Budget Rent A Car Of Victoria Customers
If you require a car to get your party out to
Sooke area fishing grounds from Victoria for a days fishing this
program may be for you.
We will discount our charter fees so that in most cases Sooke Salmon
Charters Ltd is paying for your rental vehicle for one day. Our
program allows you to board any of the ferries to Victoria as a
walk-on passenger and still have the use of a car for an entire
day, in most cases entirely on us.
You can also save yourself the cost of a bus tour by planning to
drive out to see the Butchart Gardens after a morning fishing trip.
These discounts are subject to the following conditions:
- You must show valid Budget Rent A Car Contract
to qualify for the discounts
- You are required to call us in person to
make your charter reservation
- Subject to availability year round
- Cannot be used in conjunction with any other
promotion or discount
- Cannot be applied to packaged fishing charters
with rental car already included
- One discount per charter
Discounts are as follows:
- Book a 4-hour fishing charter and receive
$50.00 off regular price
- Book a 6-hour fishing charter and receive
$75.00 off regular price
- Book a day charter and receive $100.00 off
regular price
Sooke
Salmon Charters Ltd.
836 Rockheights Ave., Victoria BC CANADA V9A 6J4
Phone: (250) 380-7018 E-mail: SSCL@shaw.ca
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