No fishing reports from Port Renfrew lately … everyone is hunkered down, avoiding the rain!

In the meantime, here’s a video with underwater footage of a crab trap.   It would be fun to film the action in San Juan Bay in Spring, when the crabbing is at its best.  The Dungeness crabs would be fighting it out to see which can get into the trap.

As we move info Fall, Port Renfrew’s fishing has mostly switched from Chinook to Coho salmon.  Though there’s still the odd Spring salmon around, like this 31 pound beauty caught with Hindsight Fishing Charters last week.

There are coho salmon in the San Juan Bay now, with lots of jumpers right at the river mouth.  However, not too many reports of people hooking into them there.  Most of the coho catches are out by the Can Buoy and beyond into the deeper water.  Jolly Rogers Fishing Charters reports that the coho aren’t huge, up to 10 pounds or so, but there’s plenty of action.  You are allowed to keep 2 hatchery coho caught outside the Bay, and 2 wild coho caught in the Bay, for a maximum daily limit of 4 salmon. Here’s a map that explains the salmon retention opportunities.

Port Renfrew Marina is holding its annual coho salmon derby on Oct.1/2.  It is $25/rod, with $5 to the San Juan Enhancement Society and the rest winner takes all.  Always a good time, a great way to end off the season.

Good luck out there!

As August comes to a close, Port Renfrew’s fishing remains excellent.

Kelly from Last Chance Fishing Charters says “Salmon fishing has been very consistent on Swiftsure Bank, and there have been plenty of halibut for those who take the time to anchor for them.  Shoreline fishing for springs has recently slowed down a bit but should pickup on the next set of flood tides!  Stay tuned for some of the biggest fish to pass through Port Renfrew this time of year!”

Jolly Rogers Fishing Charters reports that Chinook salmon have been biting better in the mornings lately, with halibut after. He figures salmon fishing should remain good through September.

Port Renfrew Marina also reports the recent trend is fewer salmon caught, but larger — just like in 2007, the best season in recent years, with the majority of the large chinook salmon coming in the first two weeks of September. The Marina’s reports that most of the action is coming from Logan and Walbran Creeks, but also that pink salmon abound everywhere.  Anglers are regularly catching 30 pound salmon at Swiftsure Bank, which is a bonus.  As well, halibut catches have been good and the crabbing is excellent. But if you want halibut, you better get out there before the September 5th closure!  Just a few days left…

All in all, September can often be the nicest month of the year for salmon fishing in Port Renfrew, with all salmon species passing through.  The weather is often very nice too, before the winter rains set in.  So if you’re looking for some fishing action, get out there soon!

Some great fishing reports coming out of Port Renfrew. this week.  Here’s “HL” with a beauty spring salmon, caught by casting a fly at porpoising springs. A great fight!

Kelly from Last Chance Fishing Charters reports “Fishing on the Swiftsure Bank was damn good for Spring salmon, hot hot hot, quick limits, several north of 30. Halibut was fair in close, but the usual anchor holes are getting pummelled, time to think outside the box guys! PM can be scratchy on the bank, best bet is first light, with weather like we have been having, run right out there and get ‘em!”

“Hootchie Bob” had a good trip too “Two days of big slab action at Camper Creek, out at first light and our limit by 8:30. 1- 40lber, 2-30lbers and a scrappy 28lber to round it out. Out to 600 ft of water to bag a sockeye and three pinks and back in to dry land by noon. Next day first light and another four slabs in the boat. 1-35lb , 1-30lb, a 26 and a 22, with a 24lber released for good Karma. Fresh run came through on the tide swing. Smaller fish, but super scrappy and shiny bright. Out to 100 feet of water for two quick double headers of pinks and the fishing was done. Probably my best trip of fishing… ever!  Lot of soft hits,especially at first light. Had to watch the lines like a hawk as a subtle tic was enough to maul the bait. Most hits were preceded by a tic on the line, with a good rod pump as much as twenty seconds after, so dont be quick to pull up if you think you had a strike. Ebb fishing at it’s finest!”

So there you go … clearly some pretty good Port Renfrew fishing to be had right now.

The Port Renfrew Marina is holding its 14th annual Labor Day Derby on Sept 3rd and 4th. Proceeds to the San Juan hatchery. Tickets $55 at the Marina, includes a t-shirt, dinner, beverages and a live band.

Also a Port Renfrew Coho Derby “Winner Take All” will be held this Oct. 1st and 2nd.

A report from Trevor at N0 Bananas Fishing: “Best day of spring fishing i’ve had in almost 20yrs of guiding. Put the rods in at logan at around 630 and it went off, we pulled the plug around 1230 and played over 25 springs. Non stop action all day! Largest was just a tad over 30 and most were 22 to 25lbs. 27- 30ft was the magic depth.  Offshore was still firing on all cylinders with the boys getting quick limits of springs , coho and halibut.”   You can’t beat that … the Port Renfrew magic fishing continues.

Here’s two videos of a fun day’s fishing with Blair from Swell Time Charters.  Good times!

Reminder: Coming up in Port Renfrew on July 22nd to the 24th is the 11th annual Davey Derby. Think about entering into this derby as it is a lot of fun with fantastic prizes and all proceeds go to a variety of worthwhile charities. First prize is a Yamaha T9.9 high thrust kicker complete with the controls which has once again been kindly supplied by Linda Slader at The Mortgage Centre-Duncan and Brad and Deidre at Monti’s Boat Sales-Duncan. Tickets are available at the Port Renfrew Marina and also at the Info Center in the town of Port Renfrew.

“Wow just when you think fishing can’t get any better it did! Unreal Unreal Unreal”.  That Facebook post from Trevor of “No Bananas Fishing Charters” about says it all.  He adds “I didn’t think the fishing could get any better then today happened lol! 7 miles of Spring salmon non-stop all morning and the average size was up in the mid 20’s range. Left the river at 6am back at the dock tied up at noon with 10 springs all over 20 as well as many let go and 5 chicken halibut. Flat calm water as well. Got all our fish on 7 inch plugs and apex lures down anywhere from 100ft to 220ft.”

Pictured from earlier this week is Marty Chomik with a Swiftsure Bank Chinook, his first tyee (30 pounder)!

Also pictured is Tim Street with a 36 pound beauty, caught off Camper Creek.  They were fishing “Renfrew style” with a broken Scotty manual downrigger tied down with string.  But it worked beautifully, and nothing was stopping them … overcast day with no wind, calm seas and a feeling of big fish.  They caught this salmon with a Green & Gold Flasher with anchovy 28 ft down in 60 ft of water by the waterfall just before the beach at Camper.  A 30 min fight with lots of power on a shimano mooching reel and berkley roughneck rod with 12 lb test line.   Also caught and released other chinook and coho over that day and next.

Needless to say – if you have the ability to get out to Port Renfrew, now’s the time to do it.  This is the best fishing in years – if you love fishing, you owe it to yourself to experience Swiftsure Bank at its peak.   The only negative being that old expression … how will you go back to fishing the old trout pond back home once you’ve seen just how good it can get.

Good luck out there!

Great fishing today with Blair from Swell Time Charters … calm seas, non-stop action.  Chinook up to 25 pounds, halibut up to 30 pounds, plus some coho in the mix.   Super fun day out there.  Frankly, as good as it gets … some fishing guides were calling it the best fishing they’ve seen in 5 years … that’s good!

Port Renfrew fishing is excellent right now, with big chinook salmon caught along the Beach and out on the Swiftsure Bank abundant salmon and halibut.

More details from Port Renfrew Marina’s report:

“Everywhere from the “chicken ranch” to East Point was on fire with limit catches for most boats. The offshore fishery is seeing bigger average size springs than usual with many Chinook in the 20 pound plus range.  Plugs, hoochies and large spoons, fished deep, are the ticket. The “beach” catches were coming in on a  anchovy or small needle fish spoons on long leaders. Fish seem to be in the 27 foot to 37 foot depth range.”

John from Hindsight Fishing Charters sent in some photos of the Dunn party having a great day out there.

Good times!

Excellent fishing reported in Port Renfrew this past week.   Port Renfrew Marina reports that Camper Creek has been the hotspot for big springs, with 8 “tyees” above 30 pounds caught in the past week.

Halibut fishing has been good off Carmanah and out on Swiftsure Bank.  Lots of coho around on the bank, though smaller — bring your light tackle and have some fun!

Trevor from No Bananas Fishing Charters reported a good day “Fishing in Renny was decent today. Fished springs off Logan for a few hours first thing and hit 3 springs largest was high 20’s also caught lots of coho all4-6lbs, funny thing was every one was a hatchery. Moved down to Bonilla and set the anchor for halibut in 90ft of water and it was boiling with coho — 5 hours of straight coho on the suface so we jigged them up all day while we picked up the odd haly.  Out of about 30 coho’s we had at the side of the boat, every one was a hatchery fish.  The boys that were out at the bank had a good day with limits of springs and haly in short order. Lots of 20 pound plus springs offshore as well as a 40 out there also.  Still tons of crabs. I’d say it’s good fishing on the beach and excellent offshore!”

That sounds like it is worth getting out there for a fish!

Here’s a video of a fishing trip with Blair from Swell Time Charters last week … good times!