What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Sooke, British Columbia for the first time?

More fishing engagement for us with licences. There was no engagement by our group with the actual fishing. Andrew ran through the intro, set up the lines and we had to ask questions to learn. When demonstrating how to reel in a fish he let one person touch the rod and the rest of us had to push to do a fake demo. After that we were ready for the actual event but Andrew’s attitude went downhill from there. Zero engagement and rushed to get us off his boat. He didn’t want us to take crab, asked us to measure them and we didn’t know how to. The 15 year olds were not about to pick them up. He rushed us off. We saw a whale in the distance and tried to make a big deal of it for the French exchange students sake. Andrew didn’t even try to pause for a second on that whale. Then when I was getting off last he kept referencing the sunset. I was sunk by the poor experience to enjoy the sunset. The students thought it was meh.

Don’t forget sunscreen and a hat. Prepare for a good time. Don’t forget it’s fishing, and not catching. Some days you get lucky, other days you gotta put in the work and it still might not come together.

Almost all of the boats appear to be smaller, so be prepared for some chop. Also, the water temp and breezes are both cold. Dress in layers and waaaay warmer than you think. Waterproof gear is recommended if the seas are up

Great family trip. We had 3 adults and 5 kids. Bradan was very welcoming and knowledgeable. He changed the booking based on our needs and gave us all a great tour on the water. We were able to harvest a substantial amount of local seafood. We are planning another trip now

To have a great experience, I suggest engaging with your Captain, communication is key. Bring along the items suggested, and keep an open mind. There are never any guarantees when fishing. I’m sure your Captain is as eager for you to have a catch but it doesn’t always workout that way. With a skilled Captain, which we had, and a little luck you might just be taking home dinner! We went out, hopeful that we would catch one or a few fish and with the attitude that time on the water is never time wasted; so we couldn’t lose! Good luck! C

Captain Andrew has vast fishing experience. Anyone can fish, but catching fish is an entirely different story. Andrew puts his customers on the fish! He’s comfortable fishing with beginners, seasoned anglers, and those that have fished throughout their lives. Each fishing excursion is based on customer input. Recommend reserving the captain for at least two days so opportunities are available for salmon and bottom fish.

I’m very selective with boat captains. I like fishing with Captain Andrew since he is conscientious about the needs of his customer. Andrew is able to adapt to the skill level of his customers Captain Andrew knows secret fishing spots. His knowledge of tides helped to maximize our success on catching fish. I’ve gone with other captains prior to hiring Captain Andrew. These other captains were not professional, lacked experience and just wanted to take my money without providing a positive experience. Andrew will go above and beyond to make sure it is a positive outcome. Not only did I catch large salmon, I also caught an 38 lb. Lingcod based on his knowledge of secret fishing spots. Highly recommend Captain Andrew.

See Captain Jesse, Sea Leggs . But looking at reviews, it looks like all the fishing charters are doing a great job ! Be sure to dress warmly, long sleeve and hat with toggle to stay on, bring a few snacks and drink..listen to your captain and learn! If you're uncertain about sea sickness, take a tablet before you go and have some on board just incase. Wear comfortable footwear and take a camera..enjoy the day and be prepared for amazing scenery and animals! We saw seals and eagles..we had the BEST day , thanks Captain Jesse !

Be patient - the salmon are out there and they’re a good size. We could only go on this day (July 30) but were told that we were just ahead of some big salmon runs in August so can imagine how much better it would have been in a few more days. Going on a week day was also good - we had the water to ourselves.

Well you can’t keep all fish during this time. Only hatchery fish which did not taste good. So we reeled in lots of fish but only 1 was hatchery …. So that was a bummer. Would have loved to keep a wild non hatchery fish

Bring a big cooler for all the fish you will be catching - they helped us pack up the fish and we got it all home without making a mess in my car but it would have been easier if I thought to bring my big cooler.

Sooke is an easy place to access from Victoria, the scenery is beautiful and it feels very remote even though it is only a short drive from Victoria. The regulations are a bit restrictive for keeping fish, but a great accessible place to fish. We did not fish for Halibut, but understand the Halibut grounds are very close to Sooke which would make Halibut fishing easy

We were a bit late in the season and we were not able to keep the wild Coho we caught. We would not have been able to eat more than the Spring we kept anyway since we are on holiday's. It was an enjoyable day on the boat regardless.

Great first time fishing experience. Weather was calm and clear skies and the water was fairly calm.

They must book this trip with Captain Luke, the one in a lifetime experienced with his boat. Hes very kind & professional

It’s the end of the season for chinook so if the fish are still there it is wonderful and you can keep more fish.

Sooke is a great place for anglers of all ages with or without experience. Also the ocean doesn't have the big swells like in open waters so you'll be less likely to get sea sick.

Bring clothing to layer, if needed, and rain gear. The weather changed during the charter, but we were ready for it!!

Lots of fish and quickly had our limit of chinook salmon. The fishing area can be crowded with other boats so expect some congestion in the fishing ground.

We didn’t know what to expect as we were first time fishers. Great fishing, great company, great town, great captain = great experience!

Highly recommend King Tide Charters and Captain Cam to anyone looking for an unforgettable day on the water.

There are different limits each month. Know what kind of salmon you are hoping to catch and plan around tha

This was my first time ocean fishing. Sooke is a great spot as it is near land, extremely scenic, seems to have a healthy fishery, and offers lots of trip options.

Due to DFO regulations you may be limited on the species of salmon available for retention. Halibut, rockfish and crab are plentiful and will likely be the target species.

The best time to fish for salmon off the shores of sooke is late summer. However, with the right guide, there are still big fish to be found.

All fishing gear and life jackets are provided on board. You will need to purchase a fishing license and salmon stamp separately.

Sooke is a dream destination for anglers. Pristine waters and abundant marine life, salmon, halibut, or trout, Sooke's diverse fishing spots cater to all skill levels.

Check weather closely. And check current see if the current is too strong. Bring some of your personal fishing kits so if you wanna to use your kits just maybe easier.

Didn’t get any salmon, time was too early for the run but in the next few weeks it’s going to get insane. Tristan’s gonna hit the big ones, he’s definitely done his research.

I would suggest doing a full day of halibut fishing since the chinook season doesn’t start until August.