For Port Renfrew Marina Chinook fishing remains good since our last report. Seems one day is very good then the next a slow down and then the next day is hot! Welcome to fishing prediction! Some anglers come back with limits while others struggled to get one or none but happily most are coming back with their quota of springs. East Point early AM (daylight) till about 8:00 is a good bet.Thirty seven feet on the rigger seems to be best. Out to the west the bite is later, even mid afternoon. Forty five feet, give or take, is the best depth.While anchovies are the bait of choice, some fish have been eating squid so take a chance with a while hootchie on a short leader.
Halibut fishing has slowed right down after a fantastic year. Inshore and offshore there are few to be found although there is still some time left to fish for them. "Chicken Ranch" seems to have died off for now. Getting tough for springs and dry for halibut.
Along the beach it seems that the springs are here and maybe the best is yet to come with the numbers and sizes growing.
We are still working on the new water line and it is looking like it may take more time than we thought but we are working on it on a weekly basis.
Notable catches:
- Warren Nash 34
- Warren Nash 31
- Eric Eckdahl 32
Port Renfrew Marina Labor Day Derby: Coming up soon will be the marinas 19th annual Labor Day derby and things are moving along well. We still could use donations or suggestions as to what businesses might want to pitch in and donate. Anyone with a suggestion of a business or person who may be willing to contribute please contact the office and let us know. This year the Lake Cowichan Kinsmen will be serving the dinner, we are hoping to find a source to purchase the food that can possibly offer us a discount.The success of a derby depends so much on the help from businesses so the funds can be raised for the cause which in this case is the local salmon hatchery and such a deserving cause it is! We all want to see the salmon stocks kept alive and well for ourselves and future generations. If you have a donation or know of a place who would be interested let us know asap. The derby is a super fun event and if you haven't attended it before you should come and see for yourselves what a great time it is. It is a two day event wth many prizes including hidden weight, biggest fish for a woman and a teen under 16 and silent and live auctions and raffles. There is also a dinner and dance with a live band on the Sunday. The same band will be playing again this year, so get your dancing shoes ready!
Raffle Item: Port Renfrew Marina is raffling an Islander Reel donated by them to raise funds for the local salmon hatchery. It is a MR 2-LA Mooching Reel called ARBOR SLATE. Tickets are $5.00 or 3 for $10.00 and available at the marina. Buy a ticket and support the hatchery so you and generations to come can enjoy the sport of salmon fishing.
Another Raffle Item: Again the Port Renfrew General Store has generously donated another gift basket for raffle for the Labor Day Derby. This basket is full of some amazing items, such as a bottle of Ketel vodka, Gran Reserva Bacardi rum, 1 bottle of quality red wine, & a bottle of salted caramel Baileys, a ceramic LED candle lantern, a box of Purdy's chocolates, cedar salmon wraps, acrylic plates and bowls, 1 pound Salt Spring organic coffee, Stash organic green tea, bamboo reed diffuser, 4 stemless wine glasses and much more, all sitting in a metal beer cooler tub with a built in bottle opener on the side. It can be viewed at the Port Renfrew General store or at Port Renfrew Marina later in the month. Tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00, what a deal for a basket of approximately a $300.00 value! Must be 19 or older to buy tickets and attendance is not required to win.
And yet another Raffle Item: Port Renfrew Marina is also raffling a Pelican ProGear 95 liter Cooler, generously donated by Joe Serpa. This cooler is extremely tough and so well insulated that it can keep keep up to 10 days ice retention. With many excellent features it can last for years and is guaranteed for life. Can be seen in the marina office. Value of the cooler is $500.00. Tickets available at the office at $5.00 a ticket or 3 for $10.00. Again all proceeds go to the local San Juan salmon hatchery.
Bud & Rex