The 2015 season for Port Renfrew Marina is almost upon us again! The winter went by quickly, the fishing will be starting up soon and we will all be looking forward to the crabbing to turn on. As most of you know the marina opens on May 1st. Those of you with your units in storage with us may want to check on things but with the mild winter our caretaker, Desi, says things are looking ok. The season this year is from May 1st to Oct. 12th. Anyone wanting to bring their units in will need to call and make arrangements either with Bud 250 474-2643 or with Desi Hatchard 250 483-1486. The gate is kept locked and it is important for all customers to call ahead. We at Port Renfrew Marina look forward to seeing our regular customers again for another season and to meet new our ones who we hope will enjoy their stay with us. Bud & Rex
Port Renfrew Marina Report Oct.14/14
Well, for Port Renfrew Marina the 2014 fishing season in now over. While we had one of the driest and warmest summers for some time and many calm sea days, Chinook and Sockeye fishing was poorer than predicted. The springs just weren't around in the numbers or sizes that we have come to expect. The Coho fishing proved to be the best in probably 10 years. It is still fantastic but the winter storms have moved in and it can be far to dangerous to get in and out of the river. A heads up for next year, trolling in the river mouth and the river itself can be very successful. No weight with spoons or apex trolled 80 feet back of the boat can be deadly. Just yesterday we fished in as little as 2 feet of water to get our fish. The biggest being 15 pounds.
As of this past weekend Port Renfrew Marina is now closed for the season and will reopen on May 1st 2015. The gate is kept locked and there is no launching available until we reopen. Anyone who may have a boat or unit at the marina and is not planning on doing storage must contact us or our caretaker, Desi, 250 483-1486 to arrange for the gate to be opened. If left, winter storage fees will apply. There is no gas available and will not be any also until we reopen in May. Please remember for next year to get your fishing license before arriving at the marina. As of this past year we no longer are able to sell licenses.
We want to thank our caretaker, Desi Hatchard, Reid Warren, Odd Johansen, Todd Garrett, and our old caretakers, Wayne & Gwen Coleman and Knut, our employee for their help with the marina in many different ways and keeping an eye on things for us while we are closed. We also want to thank all our customers for their continued support at the marina and we always look forward to seeing them again in the new season and meeting any new ones we get. Again we want to thank all the people and businesses that help us out with our derbys. The successes of those derbies are very reliant on their help and donations. It is all very much appreciated.
Bud, Tedi, Rex, Diane and Knut all want to wish you the very best in the coming winter, have a safe year until we see you again in the 2015 season.
Bud & Rex
Port Renfrew Marina Fishing Report Oct.7/14
At Port Renfrew Marina Coho fishing is the best it has been in ten years! Just like the old days, getting 20, 30, 40 fish on per day is not uncommon. Truly sore arms! Offshore in 250 to 500 feet of water and 50 to 70 feet down is the hot spot. Baitrix, spoons and hoochies are working very well. If you are brave enough put down some strip or anchovies but don't expect to sit down or eat your lunch! The river mouths are giving up fish mostly just after the high tide as it starts to drop. Bait, Baitrix or spoons with no weight, 70 to 80 feet behind the boat in as shallow as 4 feet deep out to 20 feet deep seems to be the ticket. Watch for the jumpers! If you want some of the best fishing you will ever have then come on up in the coming week before we close on October 12th! The water is thick with Coho and then they are gone, you don't want to miss out!
So as most all of you know Port Renfrew Marina held it's annual Coho "Winner Take All" Derby this past weekend. It was a huge success and possibly one of the best derby's we have had. We had 481 entrants fishing for the two days. The weather was fantastic, sunny, warm, calm seas and best of all the fishing was excellent! Everyone was enjoying the weekend even if they didn't bring in the big one, everyone got their limits. Fishing seemed to be a bit hotter on the Saturday and the winning fish was caught on Saturday and held up until the derby was over on Sunday at 1:00 PM. The winners were Gord and Janice Lee weighing in a Coho at 15 pounds and 13 ounces. The grand total for the biggest Coho this year was $9620.00 with a total of $2405.00 to be donated to the local San Juan Hatchery. There was a side bet going on and 63 people chose to enter that and again Gord and Janice Lee won that also! That total amount was $1260.00, giving them a grand total of $10880.00 prize money! You can tell by their happy faces that they were over the top with the winnings and had a great weekend fishing!
Also Port Renfrew Marina held the annual Labor Day Derby on Aug. 30th and 31st, already over a month ago! It also was a success due to all the efforts of the donators and people who pitch in and help. The final totals for that fundraising event and others during the year with a break down of misc. cash $335.00, the Chinook Derby, held in July this year, $710.00 and the 2014 Coho Derby just held $2405.00 and the PRM Labor Day Derby raising $3493.85 for a total of $6973.85 all going to the San Juan Enhancement Society to the local hatchery in Port Renfrew. Also raised was a donation of $5000.00 to the B.C. Wildlife Federation. A big thanks to all that participate and contribute, it wouldn't happen without all of you.
Important News: It is important to know that Port Renfrew Marina will be closing on October 12th this year and if you have a boat or unit on the grounds you must come in and settle your account and make arrangements to with do winter storage or remove your units. By Sunday October 13th the phone in the office will not be working and if you need assistance with anything regarding your unit or boat or have any questions you can call our caretaker at 250 483-1486 or Bud and Tedi at 2590 474-2643. After that weekend the gate will be locked and you will need to call ahead to make sure you can get in.
Bud & Rex
Port Renfrew Marina Report Sept. 28/14
For Port Renfrew Marina the 2014 Chinook and halibut season has come to an end. It was a very good halibut year and as everyone knows a very poor spring season. Coho fishing has been quite good though last Wednesday's huge swells put a damper on catches for a few days. It is picking up on a daily basis now. Offshore in the 300 to 700 foot depth water is where most boats are. Bait was working best the last few days but Coho killers and hoochies in green/white or yellow on super short leaders are good stand by's. Little known or tried Baitrix also works very well for Coho.
Inshore, really inshore, as in the river mouth can be very good. Bait, Baitrix, a green apex and peach zingers trolled with no weight seems to be bringing in the bigger fish. Troll fast in as shallow water that you dare!
Upcoming Event: Coming up very soon is Port Renfrew Marina's last derby of the year. The well known and popular Coho Derby called "Winner Take All." This derby is being held on October 4th and 5th this year. Tickets are available at the office and are $25.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to the local hatchery. The derby is a very informal affair with a simple concept, whoever gets the largest Coho wins the pot. The amount of winnings varies depending on the number of tickets sold. The cash prize can be anywhere from $5300.00 (first year) up to the most we ever had of $13,800.00! So come and enjoy two days of Coho fishing for a small cost with the possibility of winning a huge pot of cash! At the same time you will be helping out the local hatchery. Please remember that we are a cash business so please be sure to bring cash as we do not take credit cards or have interact. We do have an ATM for your convenience.
Important News: Port Renfrew Marina will be closing this year on October 12th. Please be sure to contact the office regarding your unit and or boat. You will need to remove them on or before that date or make arrangements for winter storage. If you do not contact the office it will be assumed you are having winter storage and those fees will apply. We appreciate each customer to call and give us their decision on how they want to deal with the season closure for their personal items so we are clear on what each one wants. As usual we will have a caretaker on the grounds for the off season to keep an eye on things and to be there if someone wants to come in to check on their unit. You will need to call Desi Hatchard before coming out to be sure he can be there to open the gate for you as it is kept locked. His number at the marina is 250 483-1486.
Bud & Rex
Port Renfrew Marina Report Sept.19/14
For Port Renfrew Marina the 2014 Chinook season has pretty much wrapped up. A very poor season in with mostly small fish and nothing as was predicted by the DFO. Hopefully the 2015 season will see the fishing we are used to in the summer. Coho season is very good though and should become fantastic in the next month. They are, for the most part, 6 to 8 pounds right now with the occasional 14 to 16 pounders. We predict that there will be lots of 20 pounders plus by mid October. Lots of limit catches are coming in from offshore waters in the 400 to 550 foot depth water with 40 to 90 feet on the rigger. Short leaders behind flashers armed with hoochies in blue, green, yellow or white are popular. Coho killers in green/white and Baitrix are working very well. Herring strip is a great Coho bait and a company called Black Label in now making it again.
Halibut fishing is very slow right now but should improve with the ebb currents next week.
DFO Notice:
Recreational Fishers fishing for Coho Salmon in the Port San Juan and Juan de Fuca Area
This notice is to clarify Coho limits in the Port Renfrew area.
1. From September 11th, 2014 until December 31st 2014 the daily combined quota for Coho Salmon in Sub-areas 20-2 and a portion or 20-1 (Inside a line from Owen Point to the Whistle Buoy thence to San Juan Point) is Four (4)…of which Two (2) can be wild.
2. From September 11th, 2014 until September 30th, 2014 the daily combined quota for Coho Salmon in the rest of Area 20 (Bonilla Point east and excluding the area described above in 1.) is Two (2) … of which only One (1) can be wild.
3. From October 1st, 2014 until December 31st, 2014 the daily combined quota for Coho Salmon in the rest of Area 20 (Bonilla Point east and excluding the area described above in 1.) is Four (4) of which only Two (2) can be wild.
Please note…The daily limit for coho is 4 of which the maximum number of wild is 2 regardless of what area they are caught in. For example you CANNOT have two wild Coho from inside Port San Juan and one wild Coho from outside in Area 20. For further clarification please contact the local Fisheries and Oceans Office Victoria: (250)363-3252 Duncan: (250)746-6221
Upcoming event: Coming up on October 4th and 5th Port Renfrew Marina will be having its annual Coho Derby "Winner Take All." This derby is very popular and this year it should prove to be a good one if the amount of Coho we are seeing so far is any indication. The tickets for the derby are only available at the office and only for a few days before the derby. The tickets are $25.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to the local hatchery. The winnings vary in size and are dependent on the amount of tickets sold. The winnings have been anywhere from $5,300.00 (for the first year) all the way to $13,800.00 one year and all cash. This a great derby, its not expensive to get entered and you can hope to go home with a lot of cash in your pocket and it helps the hatchery. It's a great way to say goodbye to the 2014 fishing season. PLEASE remember we are a cash business and bring cash with you for your stay. We do have an ATM for customers to use in case they need it. We DO NOT take credit cards or Interac. The Salmonberry Bistro is planning on being back at the marina for the Coho Derby so it will be available for early morning coffees and quick breakfast sandwiches.
IMPORTANT INFO: Port Renfrew marina is closing this year on October 12th. Please make sure you are aware of this date to make arrangements to pick up your boat or unit or make arrangements for winter storage. If a boat or unit is not picked up it will be assumed you are wanting winter storage and the fees will apply.
Bud & Rex