Davey Derby -- July 24, 25, 26, 2009

Port Renfrew Marina is pleased to host the 9th annual Davey Derby, July 24, 25, and 26, 2009.  This event offers a great weekend's fishing, super prizes, as well as a good cause.  The derby is a major fundraiser for Port Renfrew and the Cowichan Valley. Entry fee is $45/rod, with all proceeds going to charity. 

Below is the thank you letter that the Davey Derby organizers sent to the Port Renfrew Marina.  The letter explains the good that this derby is doing in the local community.

But maybe more importantly....here's Des Hatchard with the winning fish, a 41 pound beauty!  Good fishing, good times, come on out to Port Renfrew and join in the fun!

***** 

The Dave Nicholson Benevolent Fund, its participants, and our associated charities would like to give thanks to the fine people at the Port Renfrew Marina for their kind donation to the 8th annual Davey Derby.

Through your help we were able to raise over $21,000 at last years’ event which was sent out to: the Cowichan Valley Food Basket Society, Chemainus Harvest House, the Lake Cowichan Community Services (Soup Kitchen), Lake Cowichan Food Bank, Cowichan Food Connection (Bread Bus), the CIBC Run for the Cure, Victoria and Cowichan General Hospital’s Neo-Natal Care Units, Cowichan Valley Search and Rescue, the Cowichan Lake Salmonid Enhancement Society, the San Juan Enhancement Society, Victoria’s Pink Salmon Foundation, and 6 families in the Cowichan Valley area who are were facing difficult financial times through loss of a loved one or serious illness.

You should feel proud that through your continued help The Davey Derby has been able to raise and distribute over $80,000.00 since our inception. This could not have been accomplished without the help of the caring people at the Port Renfrew Marina. Thanks again,

Audie Williams Derby Organizer

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