Oct.13/10 Port Renfrew Marina Closing Report

Port Renfrew Marina's 2010 season has now come to an end. This year went by so quickly, each month seemed to fly by and now another fishing season is over for the Port Renfrew area. 2010 fishing was about average for Chinook salmon, certainly not anything great when compared to the incredible 2007 spring returns. There seems to be less springs over the 40 pound mark although we did have six over 50 pounds this year. Most of the springs caught this year were in the mid 20 to mid 30 pound range. The white springs that usually show up in late Aug and early Sept. never did show up.

Halibut catches remained very strong right up to closing time. It may well be the best year ever that we have had for large halibut.

Coho returns are very strong. Great catches were hitting the docks on a daily basis right up to the day we closed. The only problem was the poor weather for Sept and Oct made for difficult fishing at times.

2010 saw the first Sockeye opening since 2006 and this time there were actually were fish to be caught and lots of them! Everyone was getting their limits, it was an amazing fishery for these tasty fish this year.

Port Renfrew Marina is now closed for the season and will reopen May 1, 2011. For those who may have their boats or units still to be picked up please do so as soon as possible and check in with our caretakers Wayne & Gwen Coleman for times available to get through the gate. The gate will be locked this winter.  Please note that if you do not pick your unit or boat up soon winter rates for storage will apply. You must notify the caretakers when you come to pick up your boat. Please also make sure you leave your campsite clean of debris and garbage to discourage bears and other problem animals such as rodents. There will be a $100.00 fee for any site that is left in an unacceptable condition.  For anyone who still has an outstanding account for the season to please be diligent and contact us. The marina phone number is set up to call forward to our number and after one month it will say "NOT IN SERVICE". This will be in effect until approximately April of 2011.  

Please Note: No units will be allowed out of the marina during the dates of Oct.18 to Nov.18th due to the fact that our caretakers will be away and the fellow filling in has been advised to not let any boats or units to leave the property of the marina for security reasons. If you are not wanting to incur storage fees please make sure you remove your boat or unit before this date.

All of us at Port Renfrew Marina wish all our customers, new and old for a safe, healthy winter and look forward to seeing you again in the spring for another great year of fishing.

Bud & Rex

Oct.04/10 Port Renfrew Marina Fishing Report

At Port Renfrew Marina Coho fishing has been fantastic for the past 10 days or so. Many boats are reporting 15 to 20 hookups in only a few hours. Nice size fish with many in the 14 to 18 pound range.

 

Baitrix in strips and anchovy have been on fire! Hoochies, bait and spoons on short leaders are also producing.

The Coho Derby for 2010 was a big success with a great turnout of many fishermen who were happy to see $5.00 of the entry fee go towards the hatchery. This year we had calm seas, sunny mild weather and lots of fish to make a GREAT derby and many happy smiling faces.  We had four hundred entrants bringing in $10,000.00, with $8,000.00 going to the winning pot and $2,000.00 going to the San Juan hatchery.  This years winner was Brent Eliason who weighed in a 21 pound 1 ounce Coho early on Sat and it held up for the rest of the derby. We had many others come in in the 18's, 19's and a 20.1  pounder brought in by John Holman.

  Brent Eliason winner of $8,000.00

 

Important Date to Note: 

Port Renfrew Marina will be closing on Oct.11th. Please make sure you have contacted us regarding your boat if in storage and your unit if you are leaving it over the winter. If not winter storage rates will apply. Please call us asap or come in to make arragements. After the 11th the gate will be locked.

Bud & Rex

Sept.26/10 Port Renfrew Marina Update

Port Renfrew Marina is seeing the Coho showing up in some great numbers. This past weekend pretty much all the fishermen coming into the docks had limit catches and many are in the high teens. Most catches are still in the area of the whistle bouy between 400 feet and 600 feet with spoons, anchovy and hoochies being the recommended bait.  On Saturday and Sunday we had some rough weather just at the mouth of the bay but for the most part the seas weren't too bad. Some heavy rain was predicted for the area but never came until late Saturday afternoon and overnight, leaving both days with mild conditions. The weather is predicted for the next few days to be nice and lets all hope that it stays that way for the upcoming Coho Derby this weekend. So far the fishing looks very promising! Notable Catches:

• Neil Hanson   20lb Coho
• Wally Brouse  18lb Coho
• Vic Pross  15 Coho in two days
• Kelly Wagner of Last Chance Charters 14 Coho
• Brad McDonald  5 Coho  17 lb biggest

Port Renfrew Marina's Coho Derby "Winner Take All"  is this weekend Oct.2nd and 3rd. The entry fee is $25.00, $20.00 of which goes to the winning pot and $5.00 goes directly to the San Juan Hatchery. Recently the hatchery had their boat motor stolen and a pump. This theft has really set them back and it is really frustrating to hear this after so many people rose to the occasion to help raise funds for the year. Luckily the money raised helped them with this but now their funds have been drained again. So this donation from the Coho Derby will be even more important this year. Why not come,  go fishing and at the same time help the hatchery out and maybe go home with a bundle of money!

       Bud & Rex

Sept.23/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

For Port Renfrew Marina the less than spectacular spring season is over for another year. Perhaps it was the early rains that had them rushing for the rivers rather than staying around to feed. The Coho have arrived with some good sized "footballs" hitting the docks. The largest so far was Brian Longs 22 pounder. That would have been a great one for the upcoming Coho Derby on Oct.2nd and 3rd. There have been a few in the mid to high teens so we are hoping for a good run that weekend. The coho seem to be right from the whistle bouy out of 500 feet of water. Coyote spoons, white or white and green hoochies and anchovies are all working well.

Halibut fishing is still excellent with many limit catches coming in with the odd one in the 100 pound range even this late in the year.

This late in the season make sure you check the weather forecasts as the fall storms and swells are starting to fire up!

Notable catches:

• Brian Long  22 coho
• http://www.viciousfishcharters.com/  140  halibut
• sorry no pics and there were other cohos caught in the high teens but have no names to match weights.

Very Important Dates:

• Port Renfrew Marina's Coho Derby:  Oct. 2nd and 3 rd. "Winner Take All"  This derby has one winner and he or she gets the entry fee money total. In past years it has been anywhere from $5,000.00 up to $13,800.00. This year the entry fee is $25.00 with $20.00 going to the winnings and $5.00 of it going to the local  hatchery.
• Port Renfrew Marina Closes: The marina closes on Oct.11th this year.  It is very important for anyone who has a boat in storage to contact us and arrange to have their boat out on or before that date otherwise storage fees will apply. If you are leaving your unit over the winter you also need to sign in at the office and let us know how long and if you require power.  If you are leaving your unit for winter storage you are allowed one night a month to come and check on it. Daily checking is permitted but call first to make sure the gate is open or can be opened for you.  Keep in mind that Renfrew winds and rains will destroy a costco tent left up. At season closing all customers are required to leave their site clean of debris and broken or damaged goods. A $100.00 clean up fee will be charged to any left with "stuff" that attracts bears and or critters and general garbage.

Bud & Rex

Sept.15/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina is seeing typical mid September fishing. Chinook salmon are still showing up in small numbers and the odd coho up to 20 pounds are being caught also.  Early September spring fishing was slower than usual as the big whites never showed up. With this rain possibly more springs will show. The best spots are from Camper Creek to Logan. Coho will continue to show in greater concentrations as we get into October. They are already jumping in the river. Spoons, apexs and hoochies will all work when they arrive.

The real bright spot on the fishing front has been the halibut. Much larger fish in good numbers are still being caught by those at anchor. If the weather holds halibut should still be biting.

Important Dates: 

• Coho Derby:  Oct. 2 nd and 3 rd. "Winner Take All" This derby entry fee is $25.00 with $20.00 going to the winning pot and $5.00 going directly to the local San Juan hatchery. This derby has never had a wining pot of less the $5,000.00 and the best year it was $13,800.00 So with better odds than the lottery enter this derby, have some fun, support the hatchery and maybe go home with a lot of cash!
• Port Renfrew Marina Closes: Oct. 11 th Thanksgiving Day. If you noticed our sign out front of the office we mistakenly wrote Oct.12 th so please make a note of the date. We also had to do a correction in previous post. Sorry for the confusion.

  If you have a boat in storage please make sure you have made arrangements to come and pick it up on or before closing or winter storage rates will apply. If you are planning to leave your unit for storage you must sign in at the office so we have you registered. You must do this before we close also.