67) Sooke Harbour (Billings Spit, Whiffin Spit . . .)

[John Pierce]

BILLINGS SPIT, WHIFFIN  SPIT

FISH

• Pink Salmon: Some Aug-Sep.
• Chinook Salmon: Aug-Sep.
• Cutthroat Salmon: Some Aug-Sep.
• Chum Salmon: Sep-Oct.
• Coho Salmon: Sep-Oct.

REGULATIONS AREA 20-6
20200828 Retention Chinook=0, Pink=4Dx30cm min, Chum=2Dx30cm min, Hatchery Coho=2Dx30cm min.

LOCATIONS

• #1: Salmon fishing from gravel bars if low tide need waders or boat, park at Cove Oyster farm and walk along beach then out.
• #2: Both sides of Billings Spit from shore at low through high tide, limited parking spots 1) at small park at N end of Billings Road and 2) four spots on gravel side of road at end of spit, new signs "No parking on asphalt".
• #3: Whiffin Spit both sides.
• #4: Pool just below bridge, park on dead end road parallel to highway on east side of bridge.
• Note: Visit at low tide to understand the gravel bars highs and lows.
• Westcoast Flyfishers Assoc - 2013-10-20 Sooke River and Estuary Guide attached as clickable PDF file.

HISTORY
20201019 JohnP fish off Billings Spit for 1.0 hrs at close to high tide, no bites. Seven fishers, no bites, no salmon landed. No salmon surfacing, single sea lion swam by.
20200925 SandyM & LevS fly fish off of Billings Spit, Sandy loses one at beach, Lev lands large Chum.
20200924 JohnP, IraP, & WingkeeC fish off Billings Spit for 2.5 hrs at close to high tide, no bites. Few salmon jumping and lots surfacing in groups as chased by seals, several  other fishers all gear (yarn, small spoon, small buzz-bombs) several yanking hard to try and snag, 3 landed while fishing, think were all Chum.
20200909 ChrisW & ColinC fly fish for salmon in float tubes off of Billings Spit, salmon jumping in deep water in morning, no bites.
20200903 ChrisW fly fishes for salmon in float tube off of Billings Spit, fish jumping in deep water, but no bites.
20200902 ChrisW fly fishes for salmon in float tube off of harbour side of Whiffin Spit, no bites.
20200827 ChrisW & ColinC visit Billings spit just after low tide, water too low for float tubes, no shore or wading fishers, no sign of salmon, go to Whiffin Spit and launch float tubes off basin side and fly & buzz-bomb fish just after low tide. Strong currents at end, no big strikes, no fish visible, family of seals, no sea lions.
20200827 JohnP talks with Z at Robonson's, lots of Chinook in harbour, some Cutthroat, best fishing on high slack tide.

20190915 JohnP goes with DaveMcL, JackM, and WingkeeC to meet WFA Sunday Fishout, park at Cove Oyster farm and fish edge of flats stomach deep in water and walk back with rising tide, some salmon (presumably coho or chums little pinks in Sooke R) jumping, no seals or sea lions. No fish after 2 hours, went to Billings Spit, 7-8 shore fishers on both sides, half fly, half tackle, no-one catching.
20190907 BillT goes with DennisG on Saturday afternoon, no sign of Salmon, 5 gear fisherman on Billings Spit.
20190902 JohnP, DaveMcL & ChrisW go buzz-bomb fishing at Billings Spit for 2 hours, no action, two other fishers, one on spit, one in kayak, also no action, saw only couple salmon jump.

201810 JohnP after buying buzz-bomb kit and after big rains returns to Billings Spit 1 week later, no salmon, no sea lions, almost no fishermen, salmon all run up river.
201809 JohnP meets LeeT buzz bomb fishing for Chum at Billings Spit @ high tide, tries fly fishing but onto spit wind too heavy to cast and lots of seaweed blown into shore. Lots of buzz-bombers catching salmon, 3 noisy sea lions off S end of spit feeding on salmon. Lots of salmon surfacing.