Sept.23/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

For Port Renfrew Marina the less than spectacular spring season is over for another year. Perhaps it was the early rains that had them rushing for the rivers rather than staying around to feed. The Coho have arrived with some good sized "footballs" hitting the docks. The largest so far was Brian Longs 22 pounder. That would have been a great one for the upcoming Coho Derby on Oct.2nd and 3rd. There have been a few in the mid to high teens so we are hoping for a good run that weekend. The coho seem to be right from the whistle bouy out of 500 feet of water. Coyote spoons, white or white and green hoochies and anchovies are all working well.

Halibut fishing is still excellent with many limit catches coming in with the odd one in the 100 pound range even this late in the year.

This late in the season make sure you check the weather forecasts as the fall storms and swells are starting to fire up!

Notable catches:

• Brian Long  22 coho
• http://www.viciousfishcharters.com/  140  halibut
• sorry no pics and there were other cohos caught in the high teens but have no names to match weights.

Very Important Dates:

• Port Renfrew Marina's Coho Derby:  Oct. 2nd and 3 rd. "Winner Take All"  This derby has one winner and he or she gets the entry fee money total. In past years it has been anywhere from $5,000.00 up to $13,800.00. This year the entry fee is $25.00 with $20.00 going to the winnings and $5.00 of it going to the local  hatchery.
• Port Renfrew Marina Closes: The marina closes on Oct.11th this year.  It is very important for anyone who has a boat in storage to contact us and arrange to have their boat out on or before that date otherwise storage fees will apply. If you are leaving your unit over the winter you also need to sign in at the office and let us know how long and if you require power.  If you are leaving your unit for winter storage you are allowed one night a month to come and check on it. Daily checking is permitted but call first to make sure the gate is open or can be opened for you.  Keep in mind that Renfrew winds and rains will destroy a costco tent left up. At season closing all customers are required to leave their site clean of debris and broken or damaged goods. A $100.00 clean up fee will be charged to any left with "stuff" that attracts bears and or critters and general garbage.

Bud & Rex

Sept.15/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina is seeing typical mid September fishing. Chinook salmon are still showing up in small numbers and the odd coho up to 20 pounds are being caught also.  Early September spring fishing was slower than usual as the big whites never showed up. With this rain possibly more springs will show. The best spots are from Camper Creek to Logan. Coho will continue to show in greater concentrations as we get into October. They are already jumping in the river. Spoons, apexs and hoochies will all work when they arrive.

The real bright spot on the fishing front has been the halibut. Much larger fish in good numbers are still being caught by those at anchor. If the weather holds halibut should still be biting.

Important Dates: 

• Coho Derby:  Oct. 2 nd and 3 rd. "Winner Take All" This derby entry fee is $25.00 with $20.00 going to the winning pot and $5.00 going directly to the local San Juan hatchery. This derby has never had a wining pot of less the $5,000.00 and the best year it was $13,800.00 So with better odds than the lottery enter this derby, have some fun, support the hatchery and maybe go home with a lot of cash!
• Port Renfrew Marina Closes: Oct. 11 th Thanksgiving Day. If you noticed our sign out front of the office we mistakenly wrote Oct.12 th so please make a note of the date. We also had to do a correction in previous post. Sorry for the confusion.

  If you have a boat in storage please make sure you have made arrangements to come and pick it up on or before closing or winter storage rates will apply. If you are planning to leave your unit for storage you must sign in at the office so we have you registered. You must do this before we close also.

Sept.8/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina is seeing spring fishing to be up and down these past two weeks. It has been a bit slower than normal for this time of year although the last two or three days did pick up. It appears the sockey have moved on, sure was great while it lasted! Coho should be arriving by the third week of September. There are the odd ones being caught now but mostly at Swiftsure Bank.

Chinook fishing was average but slowed dramatically over the derby weekend. It did pick up again after the weekend rain. Camper and Logan produced fish on the high slack tides. Rumor has it that there are huge schools of springs farther up the coast and we are hoping that they are just running late this year.

Halibut catches remain good though only for those anchoring closer to shore than Swiftsure Bank are loading up.

Notable Catches:

• Mark Jordan   37  (not in the derby)
• name lost         39  (also not in derby!)
• Bud Watt          30  after derby

Some interesting and exciting news for Port Renfrew Marina. One of our own guides won the Sooke Harbor Derby this year.  Desi Hatchard of www.viciousfishcharters.com came in first place with winnings of $100,000.00! Congrats to Desi, who was also celebrating his 40th birthday, (hence the funny picture) couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

This past weekend was Port Renfrew Marina's 13th Annual Labor Day Derby. It was another resounding success with outstanding efforts by many. Although attendance was down slightly the people who were there really came through with all their efforts to help raise funds for the San Juan Hatchery again this year.  Fishing was quieter than past derby's but that didn't stop the upbeat attitude of everyone there.  The event went smoothly with the delicious dinner and beverages and then the prizes got under way with a live band that played from about 7:30 and didn't stop until 12:00.  Who knew that fishermen dance?

Winners:

• 1st. Place Wolf Kadgien  34.1     $1000.00
• 2nd Place      Joe Serpa       31.7       $ 500.00
• 3rd Place Mary Dice     30.14     $ 250.00

Port Renfrew Marina had 3 large raffles,  6 silent auctions, 5 live auctions and some cash donations bringing the total amount of monies donated to the San Juan Hatchery this year to  the outstanding amount of $9,587.00! We would like to thank a few generous people and businesses for their great  "over the top"   donations and efforts.

A great thanks goes to Jared at Rona in Langford that donated the Broil King BBQ which raised $2311.00 dollars!   Won by: Neil Young

Also a special thanks goes to Lindsey Wilson of Four Points Sheraton Gateway of Victoria who gave us a few generous donations, one, the limited edition print "Fall Run" in memory of her brother Matt Cardin who worked at the hatchery and passed away and with those we raised $837.00 plus had prizes to give away.     Print won by: Pooh Parker

Another thanks goes to Port Renfrew General Store for their donation of 2 nights for four people in the Country Cottage and a $100 certificate to the store and it raised $329.00 Won by: Linda Grieve

A wonderful thank you goes out again to Audie Williams of the Davey Derby that was held at Port Renfrew Marina this past July.  They donated $2000.00 to the San Juan Hatchery as they do every year.

Very special thanks also go to :  Island Outfitters,  Gizmo's (Victoria),  Desi Hatchard of Vicious Fish Charters and Neil Young who personally donated and also raised $600.00 from guys he works with in Alberta! One even came from Nova Scotia!

And to all the other businesses and people who donated and there were many, to many to list, thank you so very much for all your contributions. None of this would be possible without businesses and people like them who donate to this great and important cause.

Bud & Rex

Aug.30/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

Port Renfrew Marina August Chinook fishing has been much slower than we usually see. There are very short bite times and if you are there you will do well, if not you may come up short. It is difficult to predict the possible results as it varies so much each day and even after a few hours. The waterfall past Logan Creek seems to be the hot spot in the afternoons. Coyote spoons on a 48 inch leader have been working well as the bait for many fishermen.

Sockeye fishing remains strong with early a.m. producing multiple hook-ups. Pink hoochies and a large black open eye hook work best.

Halibut catches are still amazing for this time of year. Guides are anchoring on spots normally drifted over and are seeing great limit catches of fish in the 30 to 50 pound range.

Coho predictions are for a very good return though they haven't shown up in any big numbers yet.

Notable Catches:

• Mike Graves 50
• Mark Gagen  34  38
• Jared Gagen  34
• Kris Kadgien  33
• Wayne Schiffner  30
• Kerry Rawlick  32
• Ken Gillard  38
• Bob Biggs   30 32
• Gord McGeachy  38
• unknown   34
• Blair Houdayer 49  59 82 hali's

With another season winding down Port Renfrew Marina is having it's 13th annual Labor Day Derby this upcoming weekend on Sept.4th and 5th. This derby is to raise funds for the local San Juan Hatchery which is run basically with very devoted guys who without their ongoing efforts it is unclear how the hatchery would keep going.  If you would like to support the effort get your ticket and enjoy the fishing, dinner and live band.  First prize is $1000.00, 2nd prize is $500.00 and 3rd prize $250.00 with many other prizes, raffles and silent auction items. There is also a free bullhead derby for children under 12 with prizes for the most bullheads for a boy and girl.

We have three raffles on for this derby.

• A Broil King two in one SS. BBQ with rotisserie, storage cupboards, side burner and back burner. Value: 1500.00 Donated by: Langford Rona
• A Limited Edition Print  "Fall Run" by Bruce Muir. Value: $500.00 Donated by: Lindsey (Cardin) Wilson, Rod & Nancy Cardin in Matthew Cardin's memory who worked at the San Juan Hatchery and was very passionate and devoted to the salmon enhancement cause.
• Two nights stay for four people at Country Cottage in Port Renfrew and a $100. certificate at the Port Renfrew General Store. Value: $380.00 Donated by: Port Renfrew General Store.

Dates to Note

:

• Port Renfrew Marina's Coho Derby  Oct. 2nd and 3rd "Winner take all"
• Port Renfrew Marina closes  Oct.11 th

Please make sure if you have a boat in storage or need to take a unit out  for the winter that you are aware of the closing date, otherwise winter storage fees will apply. For those who want winter storage please make arrangements in the office.

Bud & Rex

Aug. 23/10 Port Renfrew Marina Report

 

Late August fishing at Port Renfrew Marina is very good and should continue for the next few weeks.

Sockeye catches remain very strong. These prized eating salmon are found in 380 feet to 500 feet of water with shallow depth, 40 feet, early in the morning and deepter, 100 feet, when the sun comes up. Pink hoochies with a large black open eye hook works very well.

Chinook fishing is up to late August standards. Many limit catches are hitting the docks. First light and on the flood are the best bite times. Anchovies are still the favorite and 6 inch spoons or plugs work well at Swiftsure Bank. Logan Creek, Cullite and Walbran continue to be the hot spots. You will find coho out there also and hopefully this is a good sign for the coho coming in Sept.  Check out the notable catches and you will see the spring fishing is going strong with John Stoulger bringing in the second biggest spring this year at 55 pounds.  We apologize for any over 30's we missed, being so busy not getting down for photos.

 for this time of year although you may need to put more time in. Sizes are much bigger than usual and the numbers are up more than usual also.

Halibut fishing remains surprisingly good

Notable Catches:

• Ken Gillard  32  32  30
• Wayne Schiffner   30.5
• Clint Coleman  32
• Gerry hamilton   33
• Mike & Dan Burkmar  32  32  34
• Alex Gard   35.5
• Terry McKenna  34
• Jim Aggergaard  40
• Jolly Rogers Fishing Adventures  171 hali
• David & Terry Tobacco withJustin & McGaw 29 30 31 32 32 40
• John Stroulger   55
• Leroy Coombs   32
• Larry DeFrane  34
• Brian Batty  32
• Bud Watt    30
• Paul Mahoney  40

Important Notice: The Baird Creek bridge ( small bridge shortly before entering Port Renfrew) will be closed Aug.24th from 9 am to 2 pm.There will be other delays for unknown amounts of time off and on during the days of Aug. 23, 25, 26 and 27th.

Other things to note: The pay phone at the marina is no longer working. We hope to have it replaced for next year. If you are wanting moorage only for the next couple weeks please call ahead and check with the office as to availability. It is very limited. There is still a complete camp fire ban in effect at the marina and all of Port Renfrew.

Important Dates: Sept. 4th & 5th Labor Day Derby This derby's proceeds go to the local salmon hatchery in Renfrew. Tickets are $50.00 a rod & include a t-shirt, dinner, beverages and a live band. 1st prize, $1000.00 2nd prize $500.00 3rd prize $250.00 and many other draws, raffles and auction items.

Oct. 2nd & 3rd Coho Derby This derby is "Winner Take All" with the fisherman who gets the biggest coho taking the winnings of the $25.00 entry fee, $20.00 of it goes to the winnings and the $5.00 from each entry goes to the San Juan Hatchery. Previous years winnings have been anywhere from $5,500.00 to $13,800.00.

Oct. 11 th  Port Renfrew Marina closes. Please be advised that if you have your boat in storage you are responsible for removing it on or before that date or winter storing costs will apply.  Please make sure that you have made it clear with the office if you are leaving your unit or boat in storage for the winter and have left your site clean of garbage and other misc. items that may get damaged or ruined in the winter months. Costco type tents DO NOT withstand the winter rains and winds.

Bud & Rex