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Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
Captain

Southern Swell Coastal Adventures

Sooke, Canada
10+ reviews
We are Don & Steph Merlo, the family team behind Southern Swell Coastal Adventures, proudly calling Sooke home as we raise our family surrounded by the stunning beauty of the West Coast. Life here revolves around the ocean - from rugged shorelines to endless horizon views - and we love sharing that lifestyle with others. Don served 14 years in the Canadian Navy, where his respect for the sea and seamanship skills were forged. Today, that experience - combined with his lifelong passion for fishing - shines through in every charter he runs, delivering safe, knowledgeable, and memorable days on the water. Together we bring local roots, family values, and a genuine love for the outdoors to every trip. Come join the Southern Swell family and experience Sooke from the water.
Don M.
Don M.
Captain

Charter

Rating

5.0
10 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
4.9
Fishing Experience

All reviews (10)

Showing 1 – 5 of 10 reviews
  • Ashley Foster
    Ashley Foster
    us
    Washington State, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    ⭐️ An Unforgettable Family Fishing Adventure! 🎣

    Half Day Trip AM – Salmon • 5 adults • 2 children

    Our family had such an awesome fishing trip, and we couldn’t have asked for a better captain than Don! 🎣🐟 Don knew the area incredibly well and did a fantastic job sharing his knowledge, answering our questions, and teaching our boys all about the equipment, fishing techniques, and the area we were fishing. It was such a fun and educational experience for the whole family! Whether you’re an experienced fisherman or a family heading out for your first salmon fishing experience, we highly recommend Captain Don! 🙌 🎣 He made the entire trip enjoyable, relaxed, and memorable. Thank you, Don, for an amazing day on the water! 🌊🐟 We’ll definitely be talking about this fishing trip for a long time! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Response from Captain

    Thank you Ashley for your kind review! We had a blast with you and your family! We hope to see you guys again! Enjoy your catch and fish on!! 🎣

  • Diana Barthel
    Diana Barthel
    ca
    Alberta, Canada
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Amazing fishing and trapping experience!

    Nite Bite– Evening • 4 adults • 2 children

    My family cannot recomend Captain Don enough! We had been canceled on the day before by a different company so we decided to try again with Southern Swells and I am so glad we did! He checked the tides to give us the best possible start time and we all learned so much during our trip! Our 2 kids were with us (5 and 7) and he answered all their questions and kept them so involved in the process of trolling and checking traps. He even lent us his own kids life jackets for the trip so we didn't have to worry about sourcing some. They raved about our fishing trip the whole way back home! So so thankful we found Captain Don and his family business, we had the best time out on the water. If we are ever back in the area we will book with nobody else but Captain Don at Southern Swell!

    Reported catch:
    Crab
    Chinook Salmon
    Response from Captain

    We are so happy we could turn your trip around! Happy birthday to your other half! We sure hope to see you guys again out this way! Your family is the sweetest! Enjoy your catch 🥳🙂

  • Jocelyn Maxwell
    Jocelyn Maxwell
    Repeat angler
    ca
    Alberta, Canada
    Member since 2025
    3 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Sooke salmon/crab adventure 🐟

    Nite Bite– Evening • 3 adults • 1 child

    We had a great family trip to Sooke and were welcomed by Captain Don & Jon..we had a fantastic trip out with our son..he reeled in plenty of salmon which we kept and brought home with our crabs from the pots. Great weather. great chats, laughs and very knowledgeable. Memorable time! We even got to see otters and seals at the dock. Highly recommend! 🐟🦀🪼🐚

    Reported catch:
    Crab
    Chinook Salmon
    Coho Salmon
    Response from Captain

    Thank you so much, Jocelyn! We're so happy we were able to get you on some great fish. It was a pleasure having you and your family aboard, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to leave such a kind review. We hope to fish with you again soon!

  • Michael Kussavage
    Michael Kussavage
    Repeat angler
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Fantastic day of fishing!!!!!

    Nite Bite– Evening • 2 adults

    Captain and Don and John were a lot of fun to spend the afternoon with…they put my grandson and I on fish within 10 minutes of Leaving the dock and my grandson caught a 75cm salmon as his second fish within 20 minutes on board!!! I highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to introduce kids to the sport of fishing!!!

    Reported catch:
    Chinook Salmon
    Coho Salmon
    Response from Captain

    Thank you Michael! We are so glad we could get you on some fish! It was a pleasure having you and your grandson out with us! Hope to see you again!!

  • Semone Ell
    Semone Ell
    ca
    Alberta, Canada
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Such a great time!

    Half Day Trip AM – Salmon • 4 adults

    Fantastic salmon fishing trip! Captain Don was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience fun from start to finish. He even let us DJ, which made the day that much more memorable. We had an awesome time and would definitely recommend!

    Reported catch:
    Chinook Salmon
    Crab
    Response from Captain

    Thank you Semone! We are so glad we could be apart of your girls trip! we hope to see you again🎣

Real catches shared by our community

  • Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
    Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
    A family of four proudly displaying their catch of salmon while fishing in a foggy environment.
    Ashley F.
    Ashley F.
    Our family had such an awesome fishing trip, and we couldn’t have asked for a better captain than Don! 🎣🐟 Don knew the area incredibly well and did a fantastic job sharing his knowledge, answering our questions, and teaching our boys all about the equipment, fishing techniques, and the area we were fishing. It was such a fun and educational experience for the whole family! Whether you’re an experienced fisherman or a family heading out for your first salmon fishing experience, we highly recommend Captain Don! 🙌 🎣 He made the entire trip enjoyable, relaxed, and memorable. Thank you, Don, for an amazing day on the water! 🌊🐟 We’ll definitely be talking about this fishing trip for a long time! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
    Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
    An angler proudly displays a large Salmon while fishing on a calm day, showcasing the excitement of the catch.
    Fish 1
    Chinook Salmon
    Mark W.
    Mark W.
    Don and John were just the best! They were engaging and so helpful to people in our party - a couple of whom had never fished for salmon. We caught fish. It was a beautiful day! Highly recommend these guys!
  • Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
    Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
    A young angler proudly displaying a large salmon while fishing from a boat in a scenic coastal environment.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Chinook Salmon
    Michael K.
    Michael K.
    Captain and Don and John were a lot of fun to spend the afternoon with…they put my grandson and I on fish within 10 minutes of Leaving the dock and my grandson caught a 75cm salmon as his second fish within 20 minutes on board!!! I highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to introduce kids to the sport of fishing!!!
  • Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
    Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
    Angler proudly displaying a large Dungeness crab while fishing in a scenic coastal environment.
    Donald E.
    Donald E.
    We fished with Don from Southern Swells. He was very friendly and accommodating. Although we didn’t catch any fish, we trapped our limit in crab, and had a delicious feast. We highly recommend Don!
  • Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
    Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
    Two excited anglers proudly displaying a freshly caught salmon while fishing in a scenic coastal environment.
    Fish 1
    Coho Salmon
    Semone E.
    Semone E.
    Fantastic salmon fishing trip! Captain Don was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience fun from start to finish. He even let us DJ, which made the day that much more memorable. We had an awesome time and would definitely recommend!
  • Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
    Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
    Angler proudly displaying a freshly caught Salmon on a fishing boat, surrounded by a scenic waterfront.
    Fish 1
    Coho Salmon
    Diana B.
    Diana B.
    My family cannot recomend Captain Don enough! We had been canceled on the day before by a different company so we decided to try again with Southern Swells and I am so glad we did! He checked the tides to give us the best possible start time and we all learned so much during our trip! Our 2 kids were with us (5 and 7) and he answered all their questions and kept them so involved in the process of trolling and checking traps. He even lent us his own kids life jackets for the trip so we didn't have to worry about sourcing some. They raved about our fishing trip the whole way back home! So so thankful we found Captain Don and his family business, we had the best time out on the water. If we are ever back in the area we will book with nobody else but Captain Don at Southern Swell!
  • Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
    Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
    A proud angler holding a large fish while enjoying a sunny day on the water.
    Fish 1
    Coho Salmon
    Jocelyn M.
    Jocelyn M.
    We had a great family trip to Sooke and were welcomed by Captain Don & Jon..we had a fantastic trip out with our son..he reeled in plenty of salmon which we kept and brought home with our crabs from the pots. Great weather. great chats, laughs and very knowledgeable. Memorable time! We even got to see otters and seals at the dock. Highly recommend! 🐟🦀🪼🐚
  • Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
    Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
    A group of four anglers proudly displaying their catch of various fish, including halibut and salmon, arranged on a cleaning table at the dock.
    Fish 1
    Halibut
    What a day on the water out of Sooke! Calm seas, sunny skies, and plenty of action made for a memorable trip. Today's crew headed back to the dock with an impressive mixed catch featuring halibut, black cod, and Dungeness crab. Halibut fishing continues to be a major highlight around Sooke, with anglers finding success on the banks and offshore structure. Black cod activity has also been picking up! June is traditionally one of the best months to target Halibut in the Sooke area!!
  • Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
    Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
    Three anglers proudly displaying their catch of the day, featuring various fish and crabs, at a scenic dockside location.
    Fish 1
    Halibut
    What a day on the water with an awesome group aboard Southern Swell Coastal Adventures! We were blessed with beautiful weather, calm seas, and nonstop action from start to finish. The crew hauled in some incredible halibut, quality lingcod, and loaded up on fresh Dungeness crab to top it all off. Lots of laughs, great company, and coolers full of fresh West Coast seafood made for a fishing trip to remember. Days like this are what it’s all about — adventure, memories, and unforgettable moments on the ocean. ☀️

What's biting with Southern Swell Coastal Adventures in Sooke

Many Sooke fishing charters stop running at this time of year, but you'll still find a captain ready to head out for some winter Chinook and Crab fishing. Or head to the river and hone your fly fishing skills.

Top catches for November

Fishing reports

A group of four anglers proudly displaying their catch of various fish, including halibut and salmon, arranged on a cleaning table at the dock.

From the deep blue to the dinner table

Jun 22, 2026 • Sooke
What a day on the water out of Sooke! Calm seas, sunny skies, and plenty of action made for a memorable trip. Today's crew headed back to the dock with an impressive mixed catch featuring halibut, black cod, and Dungeness crab. Halibut fishing continues to be a major highlight around Sooke, with anglers finding success on the banks and offshore structure. Black cod activity has also been picking up! June is traditionally one of the best months to target Halibut in the Sooke area!!
Show more
Three anglers proudly displaying their catch of the day, featuring various fish and crabs, at a scenic dockside location.

West Coast Limits & Smiles. Halibut and

May 13, 2026 • Sooke
What a day on the water with an awesome group aboard Southern Swell Coastal Adventures! We were blessed with beautiful weather, calm seas, and nonstop action from start to finish. The crew hauled in some incredible halibut, quality lingcod, and loaded up on fresh Dungeness crab to top it all off. Lots of laughs, great company, and coolers full of fresh West Coast seafood made for a fishing trip to remember. Days like this are what it’s all about — adventure, memories, and unforgettable moments on the ocean. ☀️
Show more