Sooke
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $327
Captain
Southern Swell Coastal Adventures
Sooke, Kanada
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.
kapetan
Charter
Rating
5.0
10 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
4.9
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (24)
All reviews (10)
Showing 1 – 5 of 10 reviews
Ashley Foster
Washington State, Сједињене Државе•Member since 20265.0VerifiedNEW⭐️ An Unforgettable Family Fishing Adventure! 🎣
Half Day Trip AM – Salmon • 5 adults • 2 childrenOur 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 CaptainThank 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
Alberta, Канада•Member since 20265.0VerifiedAmazing fishing and trapping experience!
Nite Bite– Evening • 4 adults • 2 childrenMy 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:
Response from CaptainWe 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 MaxwellRepeat anglerCalgary, AB, Канада•Member since 2025•3 trips5.0VerifiedSooke salmon/crab adventure 🐟
Nite Bite– Evening • 3 adults • 1 childWe 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:
Response from CaptainThank 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 KussavageRepeat anglerTeksas, Сједињене Државе•Member since 2026•2 trips5.0VerifiedFantastic day of fishing!!!!!
Nite Bite– Evening • 2 adultsCaptain 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:Response from CaptainThank 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 EllAlberta, Канада•Member since 20265.0VerifiedSuch a great time!
Half Day Trip AM – Salmon • 4 adultsFantastic 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:Response from CaptainThank 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 AdventuresSooke, BC
- Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
- Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
- Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
- Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
- Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
- Southern Swell Coastal AdventuresSooke, BC
What's biting with Southern Swell Coastal Adventures in Sooke
Nekih godina, ribolov na Halibut i Lingcod može početi da se usporava krajem septembra. Ali ovo je i dalje odlično vreme za pecanje lososa, ili da otkrijete šta grize u reci Sooke.
Top catches for septembar
Fishing reports
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!!
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West Coast Limits & Smiles. Halibut and
maj 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. ☀️
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