July14/11 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina is seeing some of the best fishing since 2007! For the last 10 days all anglers are hitting the docks with smiles and stories of fish landed and fish lost. Multiple fish days have been common on the beach. Camper, Logan and East Point are all holding fish. Small anchovies, spoons and "coho killers" are all working well.

The "Chicken Ranch" has been on fire for all fish! Chinook are in the 20 pound plus range and the guides are calling it the best fishing they have ever seen!

Halibut slowed a bit with the lack of current but should pick up this week as the tides increase.

Lots of hatchery coho on the beach and on the bank. Catch limit is 2 hatchery per day. Crabbing is still pretty fair given the late date. Generally by now it has slowed down.

It is shaping up to be one of the best years ever!

Notable Catches:

• Jeremy Fall                 30  33
• Matthew Youell         30
• Gorden Harper           30
• Peter glover                30
• Nolan Fisher               38
• Ryan Springer             34
• Mike Vanderstar        34
• Cory Lowe                    40
• Terry MacDonald      32
• Doug Souliere             37
• Ron Tilby                      32
• Ron Tilby Jr.               30  32
• Vitas Zaliauskas         32
• Huck Finn                     44 yes, that is his real name

Doug Souliere 37

Huck Finn 44

Cory Lowe 40

News: We are thinking our pay phone is working ok now. It seems as soon as we say that it has another glitch! Port Renfrew Marina is now looking for any business or individual that is interested in giving a donation for their Labor Day Derby on Sept 3rd and 4th. All proceeds from this derby go to the local San Juan Hatchery. All donations are very much appreciated and are given recognition at the derby. We encourage our customers to support the places that do donate to these great causes as without them we wouldn't have the wonderful prizes.

Reminder: Coming up on July 22nd to the 24th is the 11 annual Davey Derby. Think about entering into this derby as it is a lot of fun with fantastic prizes and all proceeds go to a variety of worthwhile charities. First prize is a Yamaha T9.9 high thrust kicker complete with the controls which has once again been kindly supplied by Linda Slader at The Mortgage Centre-Duncan and Brad and Deidre at Monti’s Boat Sales-Duncan. Tickets are available at the marina and also at the Info Center in the town of Port Renfrew.

Bud & Rex

PS check out this new video of Blair from Swell Time Charters, showing off some Port Renfrew good times!

July5/11 Port Renfrew Marina Report

The good fishing prior to the Canada Day weekend dropped off considerably for the long weekend. Friday spring fishing was slow but picked up some on Saturday and was much better on Sunday. Monday, July 4th was fantastic,which only goes to show what a difference a couple of days can make.Everywhere from the "chicken ranch" to East Point was on fire with limit catches for most boats. The offshore fishery is seeing bigger average size springs than usual with many Chinook in the 20 pound plus range.  Plugs, hoochies and large spoons, fished deep, are the ticket.

The "beach" catches were coming in on a  anchovy or small needle fish spoons on long leaders. Fish seem to be in the 27 foot to 37 foot depth range.

Halibut fishing continues strong with both anchoring and drifting producing many fish up to 100 pounds. The past weekend we had at least three in the seventies weighed in.

Great tides are in store for this coming weekend so hopefully the fishing will remain strong. Hopefully we will have less chop and rough seas which were experienced off and on this past weekend.

Notable catches:

• Marlin Weninger                                                 33
• Glen Wilson                                                           33
• Trevor of No Banana's Charters                   32
• Terry Van Wieren                                              37
• Joe Serpa                                                               37
• Dennis McCallum                                               33         Sorry no pics this time

News:  Coming up on July 22 to the 24thPort Renfrew Marina will be hosting the 11th annual Davey Derbyput on by Audie Williams and friends. The derby is an amazing event with many incredible prizes. All proceeds goes to an assortment of needy charities and it is a great event to support either by a donation or attending the derby. Check out the website http://www.daveyderby.ca/ for more information. Tickets are available at the marina in the office. 

The marina's pay phone has been having it's issues as usual. We hope to have resolved them but if you run into problems let us know. Port Renfrew Marina will also be having their annual Labor Day Derby on Sept. 3rd and 4th this year. This derby raises funds for the local San Juan hatchery which  needs  financial support.  More information coming in the future. 

Bud & Rex

June 27/11 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina has seen an nice improvement in fishing in the last week. The past weekend was the best this year with pretty much all anglers getting one or two springs. The fishing situation is pretty much identical to the report done four days ago. Check the June 23 report for more info. Camper was the hot spot the past few days with many springs over 30 pounds coming in. Anchovy is still the bait of choice and green and purple haze teaser heads. Another popular one is the newer tiger prawn.  We have been hearing good reports of Baitrix being a hot bait, especially at the bank. Swiftsure is full of hatchery Coho, the limit is 2 per license, they are on the small side but very delicious! Halibut fishing is still very good at Swiftsure and also at Carmanah. Crabbing is still going strong and they are hardening up nicely. The seas have been rough one day and smooth the next so be advised to check with the weather and make sure if you are going to Swiftsure you have radar and a boat big enough to handle rough seas and swells.

Notables Catches:

• June 21. Wayne Schiffner  32
• June 23   High Hamar          31
• June 24  Leah Gagen            33
• June 25  Joe Serpa               34
• June 25   Jeremy Fall         30
• June 26    Ken Gillard          34
• June 26   Blair Houdayer   31    36
• June 27   Hank Scown        33

News:  Port Renfrew had the Tall Tree Festival this past weekend and it was a huge success. Good to hear that everyone was on their best behaviour with no accidents or injuries. Thanks to the Big fish Lodge for putting this on.  This coming July 22nd to 24th will the the 11th Davey Derby held at Port Renfrew Marina. This derby is fantastic, with amazing prizes, good people having a great time and all the proceeds go to a variety of wonderful charities, all of which benefit greatly from this event. Also this Sept. 3rd and 4th will be Port Renfrew Marina's 14th annual Labor Day Derby. This derby is also a great fundraiser for the San Juan hatchery.

At Port Renfrew Marina we have the pay phone working but it is a temperamental thing and if you have issues using it please let us know.  We have also found our gas boy for the summer. The fishing season is starting to come on now and we want to say welcome back to all our regular customers and a big welcome to all our new ones that are making this year their first at the marina. We wish all a safe and great fishing summer.

Bud & Rex

June 23/11 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Chinook fishing continues to improve along the coast from Owen Point, west. Most boats last week have reported 3 to 5 hook-ups a trip. Anchovy and strip are working well. Swiftsure Bank, specifically the "chicken ranch" has been spectacular for both spring and halibut fishing. Limit catches are the norm with hootchies working best for salmon and plastic grub for the halibut.

Crabbing is still of the charts!! Even a two hour soak will produce daily limits. Get them while you can as they usually fade away after mid July.

A days catch with Blair from Swell Time Charters

News: The marina's pay phone is now up and running. Our ATM is also there for customers use if you need to access cash.

Below is a youtube video of a day's fishing with John Rogers of Jolly Rogers Fishing Adventures. Enjoy.

Bud & Rex

June 16/11 Port Renfrew Report

For Port Renfrew Marina Chinook fishing remains fair along the beach with most anglers hooking at least one to two fish per day. Camper and the Rock Cliff seem to be holding some bait. Off shore fishing is very good for spring salmon as well as Coho and halibut. Massive schools of herring are boiling at the Swiftsure Bank. Coho are being caught right on top, Chinook down anywhere from 110 to 200 feet! Hootchies and small spoons are the lure of choice.

Halibut are found in all the regular spots including the NE corner and the 170. Anchovy is still the best bait for the big ones. If the current is not too strong backtroll drifting with herring on a hootchy skirt while covering more area.

Notable catches:  (mentioned previously in last report but now with pics)

• Bill Valentine      46
• Gerry Hamilton  50

                                                                                                                                                                       

Note: Port Renfrew came in 5th in the WFN contest. The winning prize for that placement is $1000.00 from Bell. We now have our payphone repaired and soon to be installed.  

Port Renfrew Marina is looking for a gas boy for the summer. Anyone who may be interested or knows of a boy who might be please contact us at the office. The job will be July to just after Labor Day roughly 5 hours a day in the afternoons.   

Bud & Rex