Port Renfrew Marina Report Oct. 2/17

We at Port Renfrew Marina held our annual Coho Derby, "Winner Take All" this past weekend. Well, weather and fishing leading up to the derby were awesome and all indicators seemed to say it would stay so but unfortunately the week's perfect weather could not last into the derby weekend. Saturday, the first day of the derby was pounded by the infamous Renfrew rain, Sunday was nice, clear and sunny but fishermen had to endure big seas and now on Monday it is sunny and calm. Fishing was also slower on the weekend than during the week but there were still a lot of Coho hitting the docks, numbers were high but the size of most were smaller, most in the 10 to 12 pound range. Small herring and Baitrix seemed to be the best choice of the more successful fishermen. The fishing should remain very good until we close, just keep an eye on the marina reports.

The winner for this years "Winner Take All" derby was  Don Smith  with a 17 pound 10 ounce Coho

First big Coho weighed in by Ian White at 15' 13" next big one to be in first place was Nathan Van Wieren with a 16' 12" Coho which ended up getting beat out by the winner Don Smith. On the Sunday an Ian McKinnon weighed in 17' 6" Coho, close but still second. Two others were weighed in at the 14 pound range. The prize money was presented to Don Smith by Bud Watt on the Sunday about 1o minutes after the 1:00 deadline and he was given a bag donated by Scotty to put his money in.

Notable Catches:

• Neil Hanson  & Gord Porritt  great catch ling cod up to 17'  7 coho up to 12'
• Ian McKinnon  17'6" Coho
• Kerry Rawlick  28 spring

For the 2017 season Port Renfrew Marina raised funds for the local San Juan salmon hatchery as we do each year. Counting monies raised from our donation jar, the Labor Day derby and the Coho derby we were able to raise a total of $16,180.85 to present to Maurice Trembley to help support and maintain the hatchery. A check was presented to Maurice Trembley by Bud Watt. Also the Lake Cowichan Kinsmen presented Mr. Trembley with their donation of $1000.00 to support the hatchery also from their Salmon Derby held each year in July at Port Renfrew Marina.

Important News: Port Renfrew Marina will be closing on Sunday October 15th this year. This season flew by so quickly! It is very important that you make sure you contact the marina regarding removing your boat or unit before closing or make arrangements for winter storage.  Winter storage is to be prepaid, if you do not contact us and do not remove your unit, winter storage rates will apply. We ask that all outstanding accounts be settled up before this date. Once we close if you need to come and check on your unit you will need to contact our caretaker, Reid Warren for access through the gate as it is kept locked. His number is 250 483-1486. Any person storing their unit on the marina property can stay overnight ONE night a month to make sure things are working correctly and your things are in order.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report Sept.28/17

For Port Renfrew Marina a very quick update. Coho fishing is off the charts!! Get out here and get some, great weather will make fishing a treat rather than the rain fest we normally see this time of year. Seriously, there are so many Coho and just straight out in front of the bay at 400 to 600 feet of water. On the Chinook front, Shane and Lisa from the local hatchery, report this years return is the best they have ever seen! They already have all their eggs with lots coming from the big five year fish. We took a trip across the lake to the river and even though the blocking fence is open there are still lots of springs schooling in the deep hole, so lots still to spawn. Best news!!!

Good News: The campfire ban has been lifted as of  Sept. 18th so you can now have a fire to enjoy, bring on the weenies! If you want a campfire this weekend bring your own wood as we don't have any.

Upcoming Event: Coming up in two days will be our annual Coho Derby "Winner Take All." This year the derby is on Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st. Tickets will be available at the Port Renfrew Marina only and are $25.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to the San Juan Hatchery. This derby is our most popular one we hold and we do get a huge turnout, the prize money is a cash payout to the person who catches the biggest Coho and the pot usually runs around $10,000 or more depending on attendance. We want to reassure everyone that even though we are a first come, first serve business we make sure we find room for all entrants to the derby for camping if needed and moorage. Please remember we are a cash business and come prepared and if possible small bills and change as it can be difficult for us since there is no bank in Renfrew! Come and have a really fun weekend and maybe even go home with a bag of money!!

Closing date: Well, it seems like we were announcing when the marina would be open for the season just a short time ago and now here we are posting the closing date. This year even though Thanksgiving is our usual closing date, the holiday is a week early this year. We were undecided as to whether we should close a bit earlier but our usual time is mid month and so that is when we will close the gate. This year the closing date is Sunday, October 15th. We ask that all our customers please make sure they have contacted us regarding any winter storage they may need for their unit and or boat. Winter storage is to be prepaid, if you do not contact us and do not remove your unit, winter storage rates will apply. We ask that all outstanding accounts be settled up before this date. Once we close if you need to come and check on your unit you will need to contact our caretaker, Reid Warren for access through the gate as it is kept locked. His number is 250 483-1486. Any person storing their unit on the marina property can stay overnight ONE night a month to make sure things are working correctly and your things are in order.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report Sept. 25/17

Port Renfrew Marina is seeing the last of this years Chinook. It was one of the best years for spring salmon in probably the last five or six years. Neil Hanson capped his season with a 33 pound spring on Saturday while Coho fishing in 400 feet of water running a hootchy. Coho catches had dropped off right after last weekends rain but are back on track again as of today, Monday. Limits of nice Coho are hitting the docks. Most are fishing 45 feet to 64 feet down in 350 feet to 400 feet of water. That seems to be the key right now. Hootchies and bait are working best.

Don't pass up the river mouth on the high tide as there have been lots of fish jumping in as little as 3 feet of water. Casting or trolling fast with spoons or Baitrix strip seems to be working well.

Notable catches:

• Neil Hanson  33
• Marion Randall  18 Coho

 Marion Randall 18 Coho

Good News: The campfire ban has been lifted as of a week ago so you can now have a fire to enjoy, bring on the weenies!

Upcoming Event: Coming up this weekend will be our annual Coho Derby "Winner Take All." This year the derby is on Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st. Tickets will be available at the Port Renfrew Marina only and are $25.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to the San Juan Hatchery. This derby is our most popular one we hold and we do get a huge turnout, the prize money is a cash payout to the person who catches the biggest Coho and the pot usually runs around $10,000 or more depending on attendance. We want to reassure everyone that even though we are a first come, first serve business we make sure we find room for all entrants to the derby for camping if needed and moorage. Please remember we are a cash business and come prepared and if possible small bills and change as it can be difficult for us since there is no bank in Renfrew!

Closing date: Well, it seems like we were announcing when the marina would be open for the season just a short time ago and now here we are posting the closing date. This year even though Thanksgiving is our usual closing date, the holiday is a week early this year. We were undecided as to whether we should close a bit earlier but our usual time is mid month and so that is when we will close the gate. This year the closing date is Sunday, October 15th. We ask that all our customers please make sure they have contacted us regarding any winter storage they may need for their unit and or boat. Winter storage is to be prepaid, if you do not contact us and do not remove your unit, winter storage rates will apply. We ask that all outstanding accounts be settled up before this date. Once we close if you need to come and check on your unit you will need to contact our caretaker, Reid Warren for access through the gate as it is kept locked. His number is 250 483-1486. Any person storing their unit on the marina property can stay overnight ONE night a month to make sure things are working correctly and your things are in order.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report Sept. 16/17

Fishing at Port Renfrew Marina has been very good for some time now, today it showed signs of slowing down slightly although everyone was coming back with fish, maybe one or two less than the few days before. Limit catches of springs and Coho have been amazing with Chinook fishing being good this long, it bridges the gap between spring salmon season ending and the Coho season starting. Coho, though slower today has been very very good! Twelve to eighteen pounds has not been uncommon. These hook nosed beauties are right in the mouth of the river! Low tide in the morning or just before dark are the best times.There is no need to snag. Zingers in peach reeled fast or a big blade spinner are all producing biting fish at both mouths of the river. This could be one of the best Coho years in recent memory

Coho Regulations: Quite a few people have come to us asking about regulations and boundaries so we are posting this information for everyone to see.

• Up to September 5th you are only allowed 2 hatchery Coho in or out of the bay.
• September 5th: 4 Coho per day only 2 may be wild INSIDE the whistle bouy.
• Oct. 1st 4 Coho per day, 1 may be wild outside of the whistle bouy.  This means you are allowed to retain 1 wild Coho on the outside, if you want to retain 1 more it has to be caught inside the whistle bouy.
• No Chinook retention in the bay except for the triangle from Woods Nose to the whistle bouy to East Point.

Notable catches:

• Brian Woodley & friends   30
• Mike Game  28.5
• Sorry, no name  16lb  Coho

Upcoming Event: Coming up in a month will be our annual Coho Derby "Winner Take All." This derby is on Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st. Tickets will be available at the Port Renfrew Marina only and are $25.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to the San Juan Hatchery. This derby is our most popular one we hold and we do get a huge turnout, the prize money is a cash payout to the person who catches the biggest Coho and the pot usually runs around $10,000 or more depending on attendance. We want to reassure everyone that even though we are a first come, first serve business we make sure we find room for all entrants to the derby for camping if needed and moorage. Please remember we are a cash business and come prepared and if possible small bills and change as it can be difficult for us since there is no bank in Renfrew!

Closing date: Well, it seems like we were announcing when the marina would be open for the season just a short time ago and now here we are posting the closing date. This year even though Thanksgiving is our usual closing date, the holiday is a week early this year. We were undecided as to whether we should close a bit earlier but our usual time is mid month and so that is when we will close the gate. This year the closing date is Sunday, October 15th. We ask that all our customers please make sure they have contacted us regarding any winter storage they may need for their unit and or boat. Winter storage is to be prepaid, if you do not contact us and do not remove your unit, winter storage rates will apply. We ask that all outstanding accounts be settled up before this date. Once we close if you need to come and check on your unit you will need to contact our caretaker, Reid Warren for access through the gate as it is kept locked. His number is 250 483-1486. Any person storing their unit on the marina property can stay overnight ONE night a month to make sure things are working correctly and your things are in order.

Bud & Rex

Port Renfrew Marina Report Sept. 12/17

At Port Renfrew Marina Chinook fishing is fantastic! It remains surprisingly and happily strong. Fewer boats on the water do make for some relaxed fishing after the combat months of July and August. Springs in the teens to the high twenties are still hitting the dock making Chinook fishing last longer for the season. Best depths this week has been 60 feet down in 100 feet of water between the Rockpile and Camper Creek. Anchovies and spoons such as Coho Killers are still doing the trick. Some Coho are showing up but it is still early. Anglers casting from shore are starting to see some nice fish already which should indicate a good season this year. Today a 16 pound Coho was brought in to the dock! Looking like it could be a good year for Coho, lets hope so!

Notable catch:

• Les Hilliard and his daughter Vida  4 springs biggest 28.5

Upcoming Event: Coming up in a month will be our annual Coho Derby "Winner Take All." This derby is on Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st. Tickets will be available at the Port Renfrew Marina only and are $25.00 a rod with $5.00 of each ticket going to the San Juan Hatchery. This derby is our most popular one we hold and we do get a huge turnout, the prize money is a cash payout to the person who catches the biggest Coho and the pot usually runs around $10,000 or more depending on attendance. Please remember we are a cash business and come prepared with cash and if possible small bills and change as it can be difficult for us since there is no bank in Renfrew!

Closing date: Well, it seems like we were announcing when the marina would be open for the season just a short time ago and now here we are posting the closing date. This year even though Thanksgiving is our usual closing date, the holiday is a week early this year. We were undecided as to whether we should close a bit earlier but our usual time is mid month and so that is when we will close the gate. This year the closing date is Sunday, October 15th. We ask that all our customers please make sure they have contacted us regarding any winter storage they may need for their unit and or boat. Winter storage is to be prepaid, if you do not contact us and do not remove your unit, winter storage rates will apply. We ask that all outstanding accounts be settled up before this date. Once we close if you need to come and check on your unit you will need to contact our caretaker, Reid Warren for access through the gate as it is kept locked. His number is 250 483-1486. Any person storing their unit on the marina property can stay overnight ONE night a month to make sure things are working correctly and your things are in order.

Bud & Rex