Port Renfrew Marina Report Jan.4/17

2017 marks the 20th season we have been operating Port Renfrew Marina.

 During that period, which began with us leasing the site from TimberWest, we jointly purchased the property with the Pacheedaht First Nation, and as of January 2016 we secured 100 percent ownership of the site.

Changes and upgrades to our facility have taken place over the years. These changes have been made with a careful eye on keeping the rates affordable, thereby allowing working class people to continue enjoying the recreation or even passion for fishing and camping we all have.

Our new piped water system is now operational and while that water is not piped to the individual campsites, there are several hose bib locations for water fill up. We even have a fire hydrant!

Changes have also been made to our communication system at the Marina. We now finally have a fixed "land line" for telephone and Internet. This replaces the wireless system we have used in the past which has often been inconsistent and inoperable during BC Hydro outages. By upgrading here our hope is to provide our guests with better access to these services.

Over the years, the marine environment at the campground has reeked havoc with our electrical power distribution system. 2017 will see a major rebuilding of the power distribution system.

 The Port Renfrew Marina "family of guests", many of which fished and camped here prior to our first year of operation in 1998, continue to return each year. There is a real community of friends here with most of the Seasonal guests securing the campsites and moorage slips they had the previous year. We want to extend a secure thank you to all our Seasonal and Monthly guests along with the many weekender and daily guests for their continued support of our facility. As you all know, there is a real sense of camaraderie here making it an enjoyable experience both on and off the water.

 On behalf of Port Renfrew Marina, we wish you all a very Happy New Year, and look forward to seeing you all when we re open in May.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report October 18/16

For Port Renfrew Marina our 2016 season is now finished. We are now officially closed until May 1st 2017. Shortly after our fantastic Cho derby mother nature put a definite and abrupt end to the season. Epic early October rains have not let up since then. It's too bad as it was going to be the best Coho fishing in a dozen years. Well, this makes lots of fish for the river systems. At the marina we still have some units left that need to be clarified as to whether they are to be stored or pickup. Any left will incur storage costs. If you suspect you may have any costs still unpaid please contact us so we can get things all accounted for. We want to send out thanks to Todd Garrett for staying on at the marina after closing (and in the bad weather with no power) until our caretaker, Desi Hatchard, is home from his hospital stay and is well enough to handle things.

Please take note that now that the marina is closed the gate is locked and access can only be done through the caretaker. The storm on the past weekend did some damage to the area, besides many trees in the area but not in where the units are, caused tarps, costco tent covers and misc things left at sites to get torn or blown around. We have tried to contact the people who we knew needed to come get things but you can call and make arrangements to come out and see your place or just park outside the gate and walk in to see. Please note that power was off for about a day and a half. The number to call for Desi is 250 483-1486 the office phone is no longer active.

We at Port Renfrew Marina want to thank all our customers both new and long standing a healthy, happy and safe winter and look forward to seeing everyone again in the new season. Lets all hope for a better year of fishing!

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report Oct.12/16

For Port Renfrew Marina the 2016 season is a wrap. Unfortunately the rain killed what was shaping up to be an epic Coho season. With the pending weather prediction of heavy extreme rains and strong winds for this upcoming weekend we are hoping to close the gate early. It is not safe or manageable or even worthy of your time to try and fish in the conditions that are predicted. If you are planning on coming to take your units out, come early if possible and make sure you don't leave anything that can get blown away such as Costco tent frames. They will blow away even without the tents on them no matter how hard you think you have staked them. A big thanks goes out to Odd and Reid for their help again this year in putting the docks away.   Closing date: Port Renfrew Marina will be closing this year on October 16th not October 15 as first stated, sorry for any confusion. It is imperative and your responsibility to contact the marina regarding your items at the marina to inform us as how you want to deal with taking or storing them. If left, you will incur winter storage fees. Once the marina is closed the gate is locked and you will need to contact our caretaker, Desi Hatchard @ 250 483-1486. The marina number 250 483-1878 will become inactive after October 16th until opening of May 1, 2017                                

At this point our caretaker, Desi hatchard is not well and is in the hospital. If you do not reach anyone at the marina after closing for a few days you need to consider the marina closed and locked so don't make a trip out as you will find you can't get passed the gate. It is imperative you contact someone first so arrangements can be made but better yet, come by before October 16th while we are still open. We will be shutting down that day at 4:00pm. 

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report October 2/16

Well, for Port Renfrew Marina the "world famous" "Winner Take All" Coho derby for 2016 is over for another year. This extremely popular derby is a pretty level fishing contest, anyone, with anything, can win the pot. This year the story behind catching the winning fish is great! Our long time customer at Port Renfrew Marina, Mark Perkins fishing with his friend from Saskatchewan, bought a third ticket to be able to run the Prairie trout rod his friend brought from home. Sure enough the trout rod went off, on a 8 pound test line, 5 feet long with a 2 ounce weight. They chased it and had no choice with a small rod, the multi jumping Coho for 3o minutes, into the backing, thinking oh it's gone over and over then finally it the net! Caught early on Saturday it held up all that day and through Sunday to be the winning Coho at 19 pounds and 14 ounces and a real beauty.

There were lots of last minute weigh ins in the 15 to 16 pound range but no new winners.

Coho were being caught on spoons, hootchies but the best was anchovy. Thirty to fifty feet was the best depth. Sundays seas and weather conditions were the best of the year! Flat calm seas, no wind and lots of sun. You could easily have gone to the bank and maybe even motored to Hawaii at 30 mph with water flat like a lake. Got to love those fishing days!

The final numbers are in for monies raised for the San Juan Salmon Hatchery. With money raised at Port Renfrew Marina's Labor Day derby, general donations given during the course of the season, and the money raised at the Coho Derby Port Renfrew Marina is happy and proud to say we have given the hatchery a total of $16,001.75 this year. We want to thank everyone who made donations either directly or through donations for the derbies and are pleased to know that we all played a part in helping out our local hatchery to keep it being a viable source to help maintain and support the salmon in our area. 

The raffle that was held at the marina for the nights stay at the Villa Eyrie Resort and the 1 day member experience at the circuit racetrack under the guidance of an instructor team and access to drive an assortment of luxury vehicles such as Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, BMW and more  valued at $3000.00 was won by a Steve Rogers. Very generously donated by Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit, Dan Maxwell & Rutland Glass.

 Closing date: Port Renfrew Marina will be closing this year on October 16th not October 15 as first stated, sorry for any confusion. It is imperative that you contact the marina regarding any winter storage you may need for either your boat or unit. It is your responsibility to contact the marina regarding your items at the marina to inform us as how you want to deal with taking or storing them. If left you will incur winter storage fees. Once the marina is closed the gate is locked and you will need to contact our caretaker, Desi Hatchard @ 250 483-1486. The marina number will become inactive after October 16th until opening of May 1, 2017.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report Sept.27/16

For Port Renfrew Marina a quick short report before our Coho Derby coming up this weekend. Coho fishing remains good, with the mornings seeing the better fishing. The main focus has been offshore in the 400 foot to 600 foot depth of water. Fishing depths have ranged from on the surface top right down to 80 feet! Bait is always number one but pink, yellow, blue and silver hootchies are doing well on a very short leader. The herring "Baitrix" should work well as most of the fish have herring in their stomachs. Baitrix is somewhat unknown lure to use but can work very well.

If you see jumpers in the river mouths you should stop and cast for them. Zingers seem to work best for these fish. We are of the thinking that this year is going to be a very successful derby as there are lots of fish around and some big hooked nosed northerns!

Check out our raffle below! It is a chance to win a once in a lifetime experience!

EXPERIENCE the ULTIMATE ESCAPE!

Donated by: Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit & Dan Maxwell & Rutland Glass

There will be a raffle draw on Sunday October 2^nd for a package of a 1 night stay for 2 at the beautiful Villa Eyrie Resort, 1 day of member experiences at the circuit under guidance of instructor team & access to drive a fleet of vehicles including an Alfa Romeo, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Porsche to name a few with a value of $3000.00!

Tickets: $20.00 each available at  Port Renfrew Marina

Upcoming Event: Coming up on this weekend October 1st and 2nd Port Renfrew Marina is it's annual Coho Derby "Winner Take All." This derby is incredibly popular and people by the hundreds show up for the chance to win a large chunk of cash usually with winnings around the $10,000.00 mark. The entry fee is $25.00 a rod with $5.00 of each fee going to the local San Juan salmon hatchery in Port Renfrew. This derby should prove to be an interesting one since the Coho seen so far are proving to be the largest at this time in years. Come and make the most of the closing of the season in Renfrew, have a fun two day fishing trip for $25.00 and help the hatchery at the same time. Please be advised that we are a cash business so please bring cash for your expenses and tickets. We do have an ATM for your convenience.

Closing date: Port Renfrew marina will be closing this year on October 16th not October 15 as first stated, sorry for any confusion. It is imperative that you contact the marina regarding any winter storage you may need for either your boat or unit. If left you will incur winter storage fees. Once the marina is closed the gate is locked and you will need to contact our caretaker, Desi Hatchard @ 250 483-1486. The marina number will become inactive after October 16th until opening of May 1, 2017.

Bud & Rex