July 4/09 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina is starting to see the season get going. Fishing and crabbing in May was great and we were hoping for the hot streak to continue but things slowed down in June. We are now into July and we are expecting the fishing to pick up for the summer as it usually does. Predictions are for good returns this summer. We have been seeing unusually great summer weather and most days, nice calm seas. Chinook returns to Port Renfrew Marina continue to be on the quiet side but with steady improvement. The shoreline seems to be fair to average with a few good catches. Spring fishing at Swiftsure Bank is very good with Chinook being caught in the mid 30 pound range. White hoochies at 180 feet is the ticket right now. The past week we have had unusually low tides and we still have some low ones so please check your tide charts.

Coho fishing is great everywhere. Two hatchery Coho are allowed with four possession. Any lure, any depth seems to work. The average sizes are 3 pounds to 8 pounds.

Sockeye may be open around the third week of July. We will try to keep you posted with any updates or new releases.

Halibut fishing continues to be on par with past years and the average size of the "chickens" seems to be a little bigger. The northeast corner and 170 at Swiftsure has been very good.

Notable Catches:

• Blair Houdayer 26, 27, 27, 28
• Tom Mawson  34
• Riley Swansen  23
• Calvin Kennet  32
• Eric Eckdahl  26
• Jordan Bruvold  32
• Hugh Hamer 28, 30
• Bob Huber  22, 30
• Mike Graham  30
• Terry Van Wieren  22, 25, 29
• Art Abrahms  31
• John Rogers of Jolly Rogers Fishing Adventures 30, 22, 24, 23, 20 100 Hali
• John Wells of Hindsight Charters limit of Springs and  131 Hali
• Bruce Miller of Millertime Charters 9 Coho, 8 Spring, 5 Hali
• Mark Perkins of Ace of Kings Charters  4 Hali 50 to 80,  9 Springs
• Desi Hatchard of Vicious Fish Charters 6 Red Snapper, 9 springs 4 Hali one 99

Dates to Remember: The Davey Derby coming up is July 24,25,26. The Port Renfrew Marina Labor Day Derby is Sept. 5th & 6th. The Coho Derby is to be announced soon.

Please Note: We are sorry that we STILL do not have our ATM machine working. We have tried everything to speed things up but to no avail. We are pressing for a quick repair and hope to have it in operation soon.  Please try to remember to bring cash with you so you won't run into problems there with no access for getting cash.  Also our phones have been on and off with some working issues so if you have struggled to contact us we are sorry for that inconvenience also. We have done some major changes and we think they are now in good working order. We are also working on getting more picnic tables made and there will hopefully be more available soon.

Wishing everyone a great fishing season and a wonderful summer, please practice safe boating.

Bud & Rex

June 10/09 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Following the fantastic May Chinook fishing Port Renfrew Marina is seeing typical early June results. Quality size big springs are hitting the docks but not in great numbers yet. Spoons and anchovy are what has been working at a depth of 37 feet generally. We have seen 2 springs that have made the over 40 board already this year, one caught June 5 and the other June 6th. Notable catches of Springs:

• Is. Outfitters 36
• Stan Robertson 35
• Eric Eckdahl 35
• Luke Bertrand 25
• Dan Harvey 45.5
• Keith Cook 42

Halibut fishing is good though the big barn doors are harder to find. The calm seas have helped anglers to catch their limit of chickens, always a nice size for eating. Ken Gillard caught a 70 pound Halibut on June 10th on a coyote spoon and had to net it.  A really amazing story though is on June 9th Randall Pruden and Carl Hien were fishing just west of Camper Creek for springs. They were using Purple Haze hoochies and barbless hooks when they knew they had a big one. It didn't take very long for them to realize it wasn't a spring but a Halibut. They could tell it was very big but had no idea it was a 120 pounder! They didn't have a gaff or spear so they ended up bringing it in with a net! They had to keep bending it to the right shape to get the fish in. How they kept a halibut that big on the line and got it in is what everyone wants to know! Apparently you don't have to go 25 miles out to sea to get the big ones!

Crabbing is still excellent with everyone catching their limits. They are getting larger and meatier and very sweet. Hard to compare the crab of Port Renfrew to any other crab!

Port Renfrew Marina now has all our garbage cans enclosed in heavy duty chain link fencing to keep the bears at bay. We are hoping this will discourage them for coming into the campground and look elsewhere for food. We are trying to take every measure to reduce the bear activity around the marina so please do your part. Please be careful about leaving fish and food stuffs around your campsite and boat and remove all your garbage to the cans.

Please note: To our complete frustration our ATM is still not working and we are hoping it may be in order by this weekend. If you are planning a trip to the marina soon please come prepared and bring cash. We apologize for any inconvenience and are working hard to get this problem resolved.

For anyone interested the marina now offers a seasonal launch for the boater who doesn't leave his boat in the water. The cost is $100.00 for the season. Please check the Rates page for any changes in the rates.

If you are a past seasonal customer and haven't contacted us regarding your spot you will now have lost your claim for your spot. It is assumed you are no longer interested in it. If anyone is wanting a seasonal spot there are still some available.

Bud & Rex

May 24, 09 Port Renfrew Marina Report

The 2009 fishing season is underway at Port Renfrew Marina.Spring salmon fishing has been the best anyone can remember for early May. Last week slowed somewhat as the bait appears to have moved east down the straits. Needlefish is the feed right now so small anchovies and spoons are working well. John Rogers of jolly rogers adventures  has been the hot boat with limit catches daily of springs to 27 pounds. Halibut fishing continues to be spotty. Some 30 to 60 pound range coming off the lighthouse but the barndoors are not there yet. Calm seas and light winds continue to make fishing quite nice. Although there was a 110 pound and two others in the bigger size caught today.

Crabbing is still spectacular! They are getting harder and so sweet. What a treat.

The road to Renfrew from Sooke is better, it is still bumpy and each year the wear and tear of the seasons takes it's toll but the worst parts have been repaired.  Be prepared for the small area just past Sombrio part of the road washed away and there is only one lane for about 100 feet.

Please Note:If you are a seasonal customer and haven't contacted us you will very likely be losing your spot. We have had many new inquiries and spots are going fast so please if you are returning, contact us and let us know.  Sorry for any inconvenience with our new ATM. It has been down and we are working as fast as we can to get it up and running. It should be in a weeks time. Some of you may have noticed there is clearing being done at the marina. We are creating more parking for vehicles and boat trailers and also we are getting chain link fencing with heavy lids to go around our garbage cans to help reduce the bear activity this year at the campground. we have also completed another 100 feet of new dock and are maxed out with dock space. For those of you interested we now have a new feature, it is a Seasonal Launch pass with unlimited launches for the 09 season for $100.00.

Bud & Rex

May,4 2009 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina is now open for the 2009 season.  Things have been busy out there with cleanup and new and old customers bringing in their units for the year. Our new caretakers, Wayne & Gwen Coleman are now out there and have been busy helping us. For those of you who were there last year you will recognize Knut. He is returning this year and will be working for the summer. Expectations are running high for a great Chinook return and if the last few weeks are any indication we would have to agree. Lots of limit catches coming from the can bouy from 40-85 feet deep on any needle fish pattern. Catches include:

• Gary Candy   4 spring in the teens to 22 pounds
• Dave & Gilles   7 springs up to 22 pounds
• Kerry Rawlick   29 19
• Desi Hatchard  8 10
• Glenn Wilson   22 23

Halibut fishing is very good with quite a few in the 80 pound range and a couple even larger. The weather is still a problem this early in the year so leave prepared and informed of sea conditions. 

Crabbing is the best we've seen!! Limit loaded traps are the norm right now. Fresh and sweet, the first of the year can't be beat!

A reminder: if you haven't confirmed your seasonal site by May 15th you may lose it. There are many new inquiries so please don't delay and let us know.  Gas and bait are now available 

Please note: We have an ATM machine to help customers with our cash only policy.

Bud & Rex

March 20th Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina's 2009 season is close at hand. Today is the first day of spring and we now have winter behind us. We are all looking forward to having the weather improve and getting things organized and having a good year fishing. It is going to be great to see all the people that we have grown to know and like at the marina, sharing fishing stories around campfires. Halibut limits will continue at 1 a day with a 2 day possession.

Chinook outlook is very positive. The Columbia System is expecting a huge return which could provide us with another unbelievable July fishery.

No predictions on the Coho stocks as yet.

Crabbing at the marina area has been very good this March and should continue in to June at least.

Port Renfrew Marina has acquired new caretakers this year. Noel and Pat Atkin have moved to Duncan and our new caretakers are Wayne and Gwen Coleman, long standing Port Renfrew Marina campers. Wayne and Gwen are great people and will certainly be a big help with us getting up and running this year. They have great energy and look forward to helping out. We will also have Knutt Haensel returning to help out in the office and around the marina.

A reminder to ALL past seasonal customers that you have until May 15th, preferably sooner to confirm you site from last year or it may be occupied. Failure to contact us will be assumed you aren't returning so please make sure to e-mail or call us.

Note: The road from Jordan River to Port Renfrew is in horrible shape. If you are towing your rig in we would recommend you consider coming in through Lake Cowichan. Also a reminder that we only deal in cash but we now have a ATM cash machine for customer convenience. The marina will have gas and diesel as of May1st.

At the close of last year in October we were inquiring as to how our bear attack victim, Blaine Pharis was recovering and he told us he is doing quite well all things considered. He explained how the trauma center was such a big part of his recovery and we discovered that the hospital is in the midst of fundraising to build a new and more comprehensive unit. It was at this time that we at Port Renfrew Marina decided it would be a worthwhile cause to make a donation to it in the marina's and Blaine's name.  We made a donation of $1,000.00. The hospital needs $2 million for emergency equipment and to date has raised $513,000.00. Anyone interested in making a donation can contact the Victoria Hospitals Foundation at 250 414-6688.

Looking forward to seeing old and meeting new customers at the marina this season,

Bud & Rex