Port Renfrew Marina Report May 23/17

For Port Renfrew Marina fishing is similar as to last week but over the long weekend things picked up with salmon fishing. Chinook salmon at Camper Creek is being dominated by the cut-pluggers who can sit right over the reef. If you are a troller put out the smallest needle fish type spoon you have, ie: Coho Killers.  Many people were coming in the docks with one or two salmon with most in the mid teens. It was good to see and we hope that salmon fishing just keeps getting better. The weather was good, mostly calm seas. Crabbing is excellent, anyone with a good solid heavy trap was coming back with their limits.

Halibut fishing has been very good, slowed down a little with lack of ebb currents, you may have to jig your lure to get some action.

At Port Renfrew Marina work is moving along but slower than we hoped for. The work for replacing our power is about 75% done and we expect that things will be completed sometime in the first week of June hopefully. We apologize for the inconvenience, we know it's difficult when you are used to having power.

This past weekend there was a small salmon derby held at the marina. It is the Kevin Fiege Fishing derby put on by his sister and friends. The winning salmon caught by Ruth Haddad was weighed in at 26'5" not bad for this early in the year. They had many nice prizes and good weather. They raised $980.00 for the BC Wildlife Federation and $1300.00 for the Salmon Enhancement Society. Not bad at all for a small one day derby!

Coming up on July 29th and 30th the Cowichan Kinsmen will be having their annual Salmon Derby at Port Renfrew Marina. Make a note of the date so you can participate, it is a fun derby with lots of prizes and all for good causes. More info to come as we get closer to the date.

With the good weather it is the time when we see many motorcyclists out for rides. This weekend was no exception, we had probably over 50 come is for gas. Here is a photo of a group of cool "rat bikes"

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report May14/17

With all the work being done at Port Renfrew Marina this spring and having the power delayed, mostly due to bad weather, fishing trips have been few. We had hoped to have the power completed by opening but that was just not possible. We are shooting for another week but it may take longer. We are trying very hard to have it done by the May long weekend. The weather is still holding things up some with terrible rains more days than not. When you make your first trip to the marina you will see many changes, the first being a beautiful brand new sign at the entrance of the driveway. Please be aware in the next while to keep in mind no power means not expecting to leave food or bait behind. We did have some issues with our ATM and pay phone but they have been cleared up and both are now working. Halibut fishing is still very good. With no angling pressure for six months the first of the season always produces lots of fish of a good size. As usual the first catches of the season taste amazing!

Salmon are coming in from Camper Creel but again there are days without a boat in sight, if you like to fish quiet and without crowds this is a great time to do that. The third year net pen fish from Mill Bay will be returning this year so Woods Nose could be the place to be.

Crabbing is very good with the heavy commercial type traps out fishing all other kinds. If your trap isn't heavy then it is highly recommended you weight it with rocks or something to make sure the trap stays solid on the ocean floor and not swaying and moving with the current. The crab don't like the movement and will take off.

Important Date: This year the Cowichan Kinsmen Salmon Derby will be held July 29th and 30th. This is a great derby and grows bigger every year. It is following in the footsteps of the Davey Derby where they help various people and organizations in the Cowichan and other areas. They do great work and are a bunch of really great people. the derby is a lot of fun and they have great prizes. Stay tuned for updates and info as we get it.

IMPORTANT: If you are an existing seasonal customer at Port Renfrew Marina and have NOT contacted us yet as to your return you have run the risk of losing your spot as we have people wanting camping sites.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report May 3/17

  At Port Renfrew Marina the season seems to be off to a good start. Crabbing has been very good as it usually is this time of year. Again, hard and sweet and healthy sizes. Got to love crabbing time, there isn't much like it! Halibut fishing is good also but you have to know your weather and seas as it can still be windy and rough out there. Salmon fishing is also good but they are still on the smaller size but great tasting. Lets hope that this year's fishing stays good and just gets better!

At Port Renfrew Marina the electrical work continues. We are trying hard to get it completed but the weather has not cooperated. We are working every day all day to get the lines in and the grounds back to normal. We first thought it would be done around opening dates but that got bumped to mid May. At this time we are hoping that timeline will work but it may take longer. If you are planning on coming out to set up your camp and get settled in you may want to call the marina first to check on how things are in case there are trenches near your site or other work being done there. Please take note, there is NO POWER for hook up at this time. All power has been turned off while the work is being done. If you do come out before power is restored make sure you bring only foodstuffs that can be consumed while you are there unless you have your fridge set to propane. If you went o the marina's site and found it down, it was due to a domain transfer and should be fine now.

Also at this time the docks are being put back and repair work is underway. We would like to thank Odd Johansen, Dave Mills and TJ Watt for helping put out the docks.

Right now, the marina's ATM is not working. We are awaiting a part for it. The winters seem to affect even electronics that are indoors and kept dry, etc. We should have it up and running by this coming Sat. So please be aware if you are coming before that you should have cash on hand as we are still a cash only business.

A reminder: If you are a seasonal customer at Port Renfrew Marina it is time for you (unless you have already) to contact us regarding your return. We have people who are enquiring about sites and we need to know who is keeping their spots and who may not. Please take a minute to call the marina and update us as to your decisions. Please have a look at the rates page as some things have changed.

Port Renfrew Marina would like to welcome our new caretaker, Reid Warren. He has been a huge help with the excavator work needed there and is doing so much to get the marina looking clean and organized for the coming season. Also, Knut is back for the new season as you all know him.

For Port Renfrew Marina the first derby planned so far is the Kinsmen Salmon Derby. It is scheduled for July 29th and 30th.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report April 23/17

Port Renfrew Marina will be opening this coming weekend for the 2017 season. The office will be open Sat. April 29th and will be open every day until closing in October. To all early season guests for the 2017 season:  As many of you already know, we are in the process of upgrading our electrical distribution system at the marina. The underground construction process is taking more time than expected, in large part due to the terrible wet weather we have had. The electrical is all underground and the trenches have been like small rivers so we have had to work when the weather has permitted it. This will delay getting power supply to your campsite. If you are planning on setting up in the next two weeks please be aware that there will likely be no power available and to plan accordingly. Do not bring perishable foods that you aren't prepared to consume before you leave or have a fridge set on propane. We are estimating that electricity will not be available for most serviced sites until mid May. Also when you arrive with your unit please make sure you come to the office so we can advise you as to if your spot can be driven over, some people will likely have to park in the storage area if their spots are still under electrical construction. Best to call us ahead of time and we can update you. The number is 250 483-1878 and it will be active.

We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to seeing you soon.

On the up side we now have water available at certain spots around the campground in standing pipes and our hope is that getting water will be a much easier job now.

Recently Port Renfrew Marina's domain was about to expire and in the process of moving it to a different company there is a transfer that has to be done and there is a small chance that the site may go down for a day or two. We are hoping this won't happen but if it does just know that it is temporary and we will be back up shortly.

As mentioned in the last report we now have a new caretaker, Reid Warren, who, pretty much all of you have met. He is in the modular to the right of the office. He is there daily but may be driving the excavator so if you call, leave a message and he can get back to you. His number is 250 483-1486. At this time we ask that anyone who has been seasonal please contact us as to your status on your return for this coming season.

We at Port Renfrew Marina all look forward to seeing all our old and new customers for this season and lets hope it's a great one for fishing!

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report Apr.10/17

Well another season at Port Renfrew Marina is only three weeks away from starting. This year we will be open on the weekend of April 29th. Bud, Tedi, Rex, Diane, Knut and Reid welcome you all back and look forward to seeing both old and new customers and friends for this 2017 season.  As most of you are aware last year the focus was to get a new water system in place. That has been done and there may be even more improvements on it before we open. When you arrive you will notice standing pipes in different areas of the marina so there will be no need to fill up at the old water truck. We also have a fire hydrant for any kind of fire emergency. This year we have been busy upgrading our entire electrical system which was in dire need of doing. When you arrive this year please check in at the office if you are one of our customers who uses power, the system is different now. Redoing the electrical system is a huge job to get done in a very short period of time before we open this spring. Luckily we have Reid Warren (who seems to be a machine himself!) on the machines all day every day working to get this done before we open but if not please be patient! We are going as fast as we can. As each upgrade and repair is done we will be moving on to other much needed areas of work.

A heads up on a few other changes also. First, we recommend you check our website out on the rates page and check out some minor rate increases for the 2017 season to see if they apply to you. This is the first rate increase in four years.

Also we are pleased to announce we have a new caretaker for the marina. It is Reid Warren of RAW Charters. He will be in the modular and he is the person you need to contact if you are needing to come out to check on things while we are closed. The gate as usual is kept locked during that time and he will need to be contacted to make sure the gate is open for you. The phone number to reach him is the same as before 250 483-1486.

So far we have not  heard much in the way of the forecast for fishing this year and from previous years we have found often they aren't extremely reliable, so time will tell soon. At least your stay at the marina should be more comfortable this year. Reports through the grapevine say crabbing is good already so it should prove to be a good year hopefully.

Bud & Rex