July 18/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina fishing has been slow for the past week. A large storm on Monday and Tuesday of last week and almost 0 foot tides in the morning didn't help the catches at all. Along the inshore coast the fish coming in were caught later in the day on a flooding tide. Offshore the salmon fsihing for both Chinook abd Coho has been very good but the sea conditions have been terrible with some long time guides commenting on it being "the worst they've seen." Conditions will be good this week with calmer seas and much better tides. We have seen improvement already with the fishing picking up on Friday.

Halibut fishing is still very good with drifting at various locations being productive for bigger than average catches. Crabbing is remaing good for this late date, a nice bonus for this season.

Notable catches:

• Ken Gillard     30  30
• David Cowie         36
• Marion Randall   32
• Tony Hodgson     34
• Harvey Wood       100 halibut

Please note: It has come to our attention that our website is not coming up regularly on Google. We are unaware of why this is happening and are looking into it. If you are reading this report then you have overcome this problem or had our site in favorites but if you run across anyone saying our site isn't there please let them know that it is likely to be reached if you type in the site name www.portrenfrewmarina.com  in the top tool bar in Google and not in the main center bar.

Bud & Rex

July9/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina salmon fishing is still going stronger than most Vancouver Island spots. Fishing on the beach continues to give up some big ones. Manny Gavin weighed in a 44 pound spring and there are many hitting the docks in the 20 to 30 pound range. Anchovies (if you can get them) as well as green white hoochies and "baitrix" lures are working well. The baitrix is a relatively new imitation anchovy and has had very good comments. (We have them in stock at the office.) With extreme tides this coming week first light and high slack will be the better times for catching those elusive springs. Both Camper Creek and Logan are areas showing the best results. Notable catches:

• Shemel Gillard            30
• Joe Serpa                      32   40  32
• Joe Maurer                  32
• Ken Gillard                   33    40  
• Ray Hamelton             35
• Manny Gavlin              44
• No Bananas Charters 56 (photo below)

Swiftsure Bank: the salmon have arrived off shore right on schedule. Plugs and hoochies fished deep (180') will get you fish.  Hatchery Coho have showed up in some numbers also.

Halibut catches continue to be very good and now drifting or backtrolling will put fish in the boat. Herring and "gulp" are working well at the NE corner and the 170' hot spots. Crabbing is slowing down as is usual for this time of year but they are still around if you are persistent.

Notable catches:

• Steve French of  Seawind Fishing Adventures   176
• Desi Hatchard of  Vicious Fish Charters                120 
• Blair Houdayer             71

There is a story behind the catch of Steve French's 176 pound Halibut. He was out fishing the day before andthe rod holder broke and the halibut rod went overboard and was lost. The next day he was out again in the same spot and when 3 lines got tangled, they reeled them in and hooked on the three was the rod he had lost the day before! Since it was the only one not tangled up they rigged it and that is the one that caught the 176 ! What are the odds??

If you have caught a spring over 30 pounds and would like it posted and we don't have a picture of it, check at the office for an email address to send it to us and we will post them.

Important Dates:

• Davey Derby                       July 31st & Aug.1st
• PRM Labor Day Derby    Sept.4th & 5th
• PRM Coho Derby               Oct. 2nd & 3rd. (tentative)

Bud & Rex

July2/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina is seeing fishing continue to improve on a daily basis. Unbelievably calm seas have allowed all size boats to get to the fishing spots. Fishing farther west from Camper Creek has started to light up, early mornings or on the high slack tides are best. Offshore salmon fishing for Chinnok and hatchery Coho is getting better and better with hoochies and spoons working best.  Anchovies in the 10 pack are doing well. Notable catches:

• Graham Smith          42                                   
• Ian Batty                 twins 29 & 29
• Eric Eckdahl   33.5  29  27
• Brian Dice                    32
• Steve Holgate              36       24
• Blair Houdayer    37                                         
• Ken Beachum              31    
• Wayne & Judy Schiffner   34   32    

 Halibut catches continue to be strong and with the weather being so perfect all spots have been accessed with great results. 

Notable catches:

• Steve French of  www.seawindfishing.com      176
• Desi Hatchard of www.viciousfishcharters.com  120

Important Dates:    

• The Davey Derby  is coming up on the August long weekend.  July31 st  to Aug.1 st.  This is a favorite of many, named after a great family man who passed away a few years ago and carried on since.  There are great prizes and all proceeds go to a variety of very good charities. This year there will be entertainment. Tickets are $45.00 a rod and available at Port Renfrew Marina.
• The Port Renfrew Marina Labor Day Derby is on Sept.4th and 5th. This derby is a fundraiser for the local San Juan Hatchery. All proceeds go to help maintain this hatchery that is all but forgotten by the government. There is a dinner, beverages, t-shirt and live band all for $50.00 a rod and will be sold at the marina soon. If you or a business you know would be interested in making a donation for this derby please contact us at the office, call or e-mail us with your suggestions.
• Port Renfrew Marina's Coho Derby "winner take all" is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 2nd and 3 rd.

We are happy to announce that the pay phone appears to be working and hopefully will stay that way! Our ATM is working fine this year and is for customers convenience when they arrive and don't realize we only do cash sales.

Bud & Rex

June 24/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Chinook fishing seems a little hot and cold right now except for the cut pluggers who are doing well everyday. For the trollers the bites seem to be very short, sometimes only 20 minutes long. First light seems to always be the best time. Small anchovies and needle fish hoochies behind UV flashers are working best. Notable spring catches:

•  unknown                         32
• Garnett MacDonald     34
• Cindy Pope                  42
• Quinn MacDonald  on Hindsight Fishing Charters   44

Halibut fishing remains very strong and with calm seas it can be a city of anchored boats at the hot spots to the west. Mackerel and herring are the choice of bait right now. Most halibut are in the 20 to 40 pound range though there are still some barndoors.

Notable halibut catches:

• Blair Legalis of  Swelltime Charters                78
• Desi Hatchard of Vicious Fish Charters        118

An update on the pay phone: It seems that we no sooner say it's working than it breaks down, we want to apologize to our customers for the inconvenience of it's ongoing problems. We sincerely want to thank Andrew Hoffman who has spent countless hours and phone calls trying to resolve the problem. Without his help we would have been lost! It appears it is working and the problem has likely been resolved. Fingers crossed!

The Davey Derby will the August long weekend this year. There will be entertainment this year. The proceeds from this derby go to an assortment of charities.  The Port Renfrew Labor Day Derby will be Sept. 4th and 5th this year. The proceeds from this one will go the local hatchery as usual.

A reminder: Port Renfrew Marina only deals in cash so please for those of you who are unaware of this come prepared. We do have an ATM machine.

Bud & Rex

June 11/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Chinook fishing remains very good with most in the 12 to 20 pound range. Fishing  further west than the usual spots is best right now as there is a needlefish hatch happening in the sandy flats. Spoons and hoochies in the whites on greens are working very well.

Halibut continue to hit the docks in good numbers with at least 1 barndoor a day hanging on the scales. Any bump in the contour lines in about 200 feet of water seems to hold fish. Bait is out-fishing plastic right now. Notable catches go to John Rogers of Jolly Rogers Fishing Adventures with a great catch of halibut and springs. The biggest halibut weighing in at 62 pounds and to Steve French of Seawind Fishing Adventures with also a great catch of halibut and springs with the biggest halibut weighing 92 pounds.

Crabbing is still excellent and should be for the rest of June, possibly later.

As was mentioned in the last report we have come to realize we lost our toll free number without our knowledge. At this time we are not reinstating it as we are making possible changes to our system. We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers.

We are in the process of making a few new fingers on the docks. We have also had Knut making more picnic tables so if you are in need of one for your site, let us know.

There will be a guide meeting with DFO Friday, June 18th at 6:30 at the longhouse.  All guides with Port Renfrew Marina are asked to attend for new  information.

Bud & Rex