Port Renfrew Marina Report June 21/14

For Port Renfrew Marina and Renfrew in general Chinook fishing has been fair to good though the size of the fish remains on the smaller side, mainly in the teens. The runo f the 30 pounders from the about 1o days ago seems to have passed but with the usual predictability of Port Renfrew they will be here again and most likely soon. Halibut fishing has improved now that the currents have slowed down. The regular spots off Carmanah and NitNat are still producing fish. The "chicken ranch" was slow for fish during the big tides and strong currents. Fishing is back on now. Calm seas and good tides are proving to be a great combination for spring salmon to 25 pounds and halibut to 40 pounds. Trolled hootchies are working for both.

IMPORTANT NEWS: On Friday the ATM at Port Renfrew Marina went down. The part has been sent on a rush courier but unfortunately with a weekend it will be at least Monday, possibly Tuesday before it will be up and running. We are sorry for the inconvenience and advise anyone coming to fish please bring cash as we do not accept credit cards and do not have an Interac machine. We will be getting the ATM up and running as soon as we can but it will be down for the weekend.

In each report we have posted the fact that Port Renfrew Marina no longer is able to sell fishing licenses. We hope that by repeating this information that the word gets out to everyone it may concern. Fishing licenses are available online only now and you can purchase a license wherever you can access a computer with internet and a printer. Please be sure to get yours before coming to Renfrew. We are aware that both Canandian Tire, Island Outfitters and Eagle Eye Sports offer that service. Please phone around and check what options you may have if you aren't able to do one at home.

UPCOMING EVENT: Port Renfrew Marina has decided to hold a derby for the first time in July. The Chinook Salmon Derby will be held on July 12th and 13th and tickets are $30.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to salmon enhancement. This derby is a simple affair with a first, second and third place winner, each getting 50%, 30% and 20% respectively from ticket sales. We are hoping this will help a little to fill that big gap where the Davey Derby used to be held. There will also be a $10.00 side bet for the highest weight of the two fish weighed in over the two day event. Now this could be interesting because if a 35 pound salmon wins and the other fish that the winner caught was say 15 pounds then someone who caught say a 27 and 28 could win the bet. winnings will be gauged by ticket sales. Tickets are available at Port Renfrew Marina, Eagle Eye Sports in Sooke and Wise-Buys Fishing Supplies in Colwood. Come have a weekend of fishing, maybe win some money, help support salmon enhancement and have a good time.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report June10/14

For Port Renfrew Marina and area the Chinook finally showed up on Thursday, June 5th. The cleaning tables have been busy ever since. Needle fish spoons like the Coho Killers or Krippled K and 12 pack anchovies are the lures of choice right now. Luckily Owen Point to Camper Creek have been the hot locations, nice and close especially for the smaller boasts and easier on fuel consumption. 45 to 60 feet down was the magic depth but that can change daily. Halibut fishing onshore had slowed slightly due to lack of current but undoubtably will have picked up by now. The "chicken ranch" is starting to turn on though you will have to fish as deep as 200 feet on your down-rigger some days. Monitor VHF channel 06 for daily chatter.

Notable Catches:

• Ken Gillard    35
• Glen Wilson  32

Important News:  Port Renfrew Marina is having a new derby this year to help take the sting out of the cancellation of the Davey Derby. This derby is the Chinook Spring Derby and is being held at the Port Renfrew Marina on July 12th and 13th. Tickets are $30.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to salmon enhancement. This derby is a simple affair with the prizes being for first, second and third only. For 1st place the winnings will be 50% of the total take from tickets sold, 2nd place will be 30% and 3rd place will be 20% of the total monies brought in. There will also be a side bet at $10.00 for anyone wanting to enter the combined weight of their 2 fish caught. The highest combined weight will be declared the winner and they will get the pot. Tickets will be available at Port Renfrew Marina 250 483-1878, at Eagle Eye Sports at 6734 West Coast Road in Sooke, the number there is 250 642-7983 and at Wise-Buys Fishing Supplies #102 1740 Island Highway in Colwood 250 590-6431. Regs will be posted at all locations.

At Port Renfrew Marina we are raffling a Bradley Smoker and selling tickets in the office. It is a 4 shelf smoker which retails for $550.99. This a perfect item to have if you are someone who enjoys smoking your own fish and meats. Tickets are $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00.

A reminder: For all anglers out there we are letting you know that Port Renfrew Marina is no longer able to sell fishing licenses of any kind. PLEASE make sure you purchase your license elsewhere before coming out to Renfrew. They can be bought online anywhere you can have access to a computer and a printer. We are aware that Island Outfitters and Canadian Tire both offer that service for a small fee but of course they are available through your personal computer if you have one.

For anyone new to Renfrew we would like to let you know that we do have an ATM in our office (the only one if town) for customers and residents convenience especially since we are a cash business. We do not take credit cards and do not have interact. Please come prepared if you are planning on staying with us. We hope that everyone that comes to Renfrew will have a great fishing experience! If you are new to the area or just need some advice feel free to come by and ask for help. We are there to show you the do's and don'ts of the area and hot spots.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report June 1/14

At Port Renfrew Marina salmon fishing is still a bit slow but should turn on any day now. June Chinook feed mostly on needlefish so your tackle should match them. Coho killers, small strip and the 12 pack anchovies will all work. Halibut fishing is still the best we have seen in the 18 years of running Port Renfrew Marina. As it is still too early for the "chicken ranch" all focus has been on the north side of the closure. The NE corner, the 170, the well and the flats between Carmanah and NitNat are all producing not only lots of fish but a good size average.Herring has been out fishing all other baits. Check out your fisheries guidelines book or go online to make sure you have the correct info on size and quantity for legal catches.

Crabbing has been spectacular but has slowed down to very good. It appears as though a third boat has moved into the bay so we will see what impact it will have.

Our 1st Summer/Spring Derby will be held this July 12th and 13th. It will be very similar to our annual Coho Derby we hold every fall. The cost will be $30.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to Salmon Enhancement. 50% of the total pot will go to the first place winner with the largest Chinook, 30% to the second place winner and 20% to the third place winner. There will also be an optional $10.00 side bet. The angler that weighs in the most weight for two salmon will win the total side bet pot. This derby was thought of to help dull the disappointment of a cancelled Davey Derby which we all loved. Lets hope we get a good turnout and raise some money to help keep salmon stocks going strong for years to come so not only we can enjoy the plentiful catches but future generations also! Lets hope that the fisheries is correct in their estimations and predictions of strong healthy runs this year.

As mentioned before, Port Renfrew Marina is no longer able to sell fishing licenses. We apologize for this inconvenience but with fisheries making licenses only available online now it is not possible for us to offer that service out there. Our internet does not have the band width to handle such use. PLEASE make sure you purchase your license before arriving to Renfrew and if speaking to anyone who you may think will be going out that way inform them also. We have tried to make this notice as public as possible but we know we can't reach everyone.

Bud & Rex 

Port Renfrew Marina Report May 24/14

It is hard to believe that Port Renfrew Marina has been open nearly a month already. The season is starting and already feels like it's going fast. Most of our seasonals have arrived and people are settling in along with the arrivals of new customers eager to experience fishing in that area. Fishing is still very good for halibut mainly in the area between Nitnat and Carmanah. There is no need to go to the "chicken ranch" as yet. We feel that halibut fishing is one of the best years in quite a few years. There are a few salmon coming in and they are mostly in the teens, things should pick up for salmon in June. Crabbing is still good, you will see good days and off ones when the commercial guys hit the area but for the most part it's still a predictable catch that you can expect. We at the marina apologize for the phones. If you have tried to contact us over the last two weeks and got no where then you aren't alone. It is very frustrating for all of us. We are out of the Telus area and they aren't interested in coming there as yet since there isn't the population or demand to make it profitable for them. Our system when put in was new but is now older and the main issue is we are not wireless so our phone lines and internet go down a fair bit. If you get a busy signal or it refuses to connect you then you will know it is the phones. This happens through out the year. Thanks for bearing with it as we have no other options at this time.

If you read the last report then you already know and if not then you will be aware that the Davey Derby has been cancelled this year. This derby was a lot of fun and so popular that the marina is hoping to hold a smaller derby this July to help dull the sting of missing it. This news of the cancellation of the Davey Derby came to us just two weeks ago so the derby we are planning is very impromptu. We have yet to come up with a name for it but it will be a derby for the largest Chinooks caught and there will be a prize for first, second and third place. The date of the derby so far is planned for July 12th and 13th. The tickets will be sold at the marina office and will be $30.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to Salmon Enhancement. The monies collected will then be divided for the winners. The amount decided on how many tickets sold. Sorry, there will be no side prizes or dinner, etc like we do for the Labor Day Derby. That derby is still going on as it does every year as will the Coho Derby in the first weekend of Oct. Tickets will only be available a short time before the derby. More info will be coming and hopefully a name for it and confirmation on dates, etc. Anyone wanting to know more can call the marina 250 483-1878 a little later on.

An important note to remember is that as posted, Port Renfrew Marina is no longer able to sell fishing licenses at the office. Fisheries has stopped offering hard copy licenses that they supplied to businesses. The only way to purchase or acquire a fishing license is to do so online. You can do this at home if you have a computer and printer but also anywhere public that offers access to customers such as a public library or a business such as Island Outfitters. We have heard that Canadian Tire offers this service also. Please make sure you arrive with your license before coming to the marina and if you aren't able to get one before coming then you will need to find a place in the town where access is allowed to the public. If you are speaking to anyone regarding fishing in the marina's area please give them the heads up on this new situation and hopefully we can get this news out there. We have been selling licenses ever since we have been there so this will be a big transition for some people and we do apologize for anyone coming in the future and getting this bad news. Unfortunately we have no other alternatives to offer people so they can avoid this issue.

We at Port Renfrew Marina look forward to seeing are returning customers and meeting all our new ones. May everyone have a great year filled with good fishing and safe boating!

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report May 16/14

Port Renfrew Marina has been open now for a little over two weeks. Many of our customers are coming in and getting set up for the new season. There are also many new people inquiring so if you are a past seasonal please contact us if you haven't already as the deadline for confirming your site has passed. The opening season is off to a great start, the halibut fishing is going very well and crabbing is great also. The area most popular for halibut fishing is mainly between Nitnat and Carmanah. There is nothing like the first fresh catches of the season for both of those. If fisheries is correct this could be a good year for salmon fishing also as they have predicted record runs in some areas. If you have stayed at Port Renfrew Marina you will have likely noticed that we post that all recyclables collected go to helping a food bank down in Bucerias, Mexico where we usually holiday in the winter. This organization is run by a couple who now live there year round and they are tireless in their efforts to help the poor there. They are good people that take nothing for their time and costs such as fuel, etc. They feed over 140 families and try to help them find work if possible.

As many of you may know the Davey Derby usually held at Port Renfrew Marina has been cancelled. Audie Williams who has organized and run this derby for the past 13 years has retired himself from this huge job and as it grew in popularity it was a very huge job! Since this derby will be missed by so many, Port Renfrew Marina is planning a simple derby in July to help fill that gap because who doesn't love a derby!? So the plan is to have a derby the weekend of July 12th and 13th. We have no name for the derby as yet and it is in the early planning stages and we will confirm all the info in a week. This derby will be somewhere in the lines of the Port Renfrew Marina's Coho derby only the fish in question will be springs of course. A two day event with a percentage of the ticket sales going to first, second and third place winners. Keep an eye out for upcoming info once we have worked out the details.

Bud & Rex