At Port Renfrew Marina salmon fishing has improved this week. The inshore Chinook catches have gone up. For those who willingly put up with the huge amount of pink salmon taking baits and lures, spring salmon are to be caught. Camper Creek to Logan Creek is the hotspot but the sea lions and seals a real nuisance, sometimes taking 2 out of 3 fish hooked. Not sure what the answer is, maybe go out a little later and let the other anglers dive on the grenade!
Offshore at the bank spring and halibut fishing is still fantastic! Continued calm weather has made the 25 mile trip enjoyable, which makes up for all the ugly days out there. Plugs, spoons and hootchies 140 feet to 170 feet down is the ticket most days. Still no word on a possible Sockeye opening though many are being caught right now.
Crabbing is still very good, enjoy it while it lasts.
P.S. keep a spinning rod rigged with a herring jig aboard in case you fins a school. Fresh herring is the best bait around!
Notable catches:
- Mike Voghell 31
- Rick Bennet 37
- Dennis Murray 33.5
- Jerry Melissa 32
- Karl Flower 33
- John Stroulger 33
IMPORTANT NEWS: This coming weekend is the Kinsmen Fishing Derby. The tickets are $50.00 a rod and the word out is they have plenty of prizes and it should prove to be a really good derby especially since fishing has picked up plus the weather is looking promising. Tickets are available at the marina and there is a person setting up on Friday from 4:00 to 9:00 just for ticket sales. The Kinsmen do a lot of good in different communities and its a good thing to support them. Come fish and have fun and at the same time support a good cause. Please be advised that we are a cash business so bring cash for your expenses, we do have an ATM in the office for your convenience.
The following weekend will be the "Houdy Memorial." This a fun derby for just the one day, July 25th in the memory of Blair Houdayer, a long time regular at Port Renfrew Marina and a really great and generous guy loved by all who passed away last winter. The entry fee is by donation to the Canadian Cancer Society. First prize and only prize is a trophy. He was a devout cut plugger so all entrants are to fish that day by cut plugging.
Port Renfrew Marina is raffling off a Bradley Stainless Steel Digital Smoker. It comes with six trays, is digitally regulated for temperature, time and amount of smoke. It can run up to 9 hours and can do hot or cold smoke. It retails for $649.00 Tickets are $5.00 eah or 3 for $10.00 and the draw date is Oct.4th.
Just to inform anyone staying at the marina we now have the pop machine up and running. It took some time to find someone who would come out to the sticks to fix it but thanks to Dan of Ryan Vending he did come and its now done. Also the KISS Cafe is still in the beginning stages but check out their menu and if you have a bit of confusion as to where they are ask at the office. They are going to have a sandwich board put up so they can be found more easily. The marina is still looking for anyone who may be able to make a donation or knows of a business who might be interested in donating for our Labor Day Derby coming up Sept.5th and 6th. If you or someone you know is interested please come by the office and speak to us. A big thank you goes out to Sharon Winters, Brian Kitagawa and Jack Hughes for helping out with recruiting and picking up donations up island! Couldn't do it all with out your help! Many hands make small work and in this case it means a lot! Bud & Rex