We're halfway into September, and the switch has started from summer to fall fishing. There are fewer Spring salmon around the nearshore spots (Camper Creek, Logan Creek, East Point), with some speculating that the unseasonably rainy August brought them upriver to spawn earlier than normal.

JR from Jolly Rogers Fishing says "salmon fishing on Swiftsure Bank has been steady, with lots of medium-sized feeder springs and coho to keep the anglers happy. The coho are starting to show closer to shore as well, and we're hoping for good coho fishing well into October. Halibut continues to be steady on the Bank as well, with the fish smaller but fairly plentiful."

Kelly from Last Chance Fishing reports "Good coho fishing today out in 300-600 feet of water, 50-90 feet down. Anchovy and Coyotes worked for me, some nice hooked noses up to 12 pounds, pretty steady action. There are some halibut still if you can get out there, but the seas have been big and rough."

Mark aka "Nitnat Junkie" provides the following report of his weekend around Port Renfrew: "Spent the weekend out there, fished around East Point Saturday, got 2 small coho, fished the same spots Sunday and got nothing, went out today off Logan in about 400-600 ft of water 40 to 60 ft down, got our limit of springs between 15-20 lbs and 2 small coho under 15, fishing with anchovy and a lime green hoochie seemed to work". Good job out there Mark...Just goes to show you...if you don't succeed doing the usual, try something different. You never know what might happen.

Fishing Derby news from Port Renfrew Marina: Port Renfrew Marina’s Coho “Winner Take all” Derby will be held this Sept.27th & 28th. The cost is $20.00 a rod and the rules are dawn to 6:00 p.m. on Sat. the 27th and dawn to 1:00 on Sun the 28th. All fish are expected to be caught within the legal fishing areas. The fisheries rules for Coho are: Two wild Coho can be kept if caught inside the whistle buoy. Hatchery Coho can be retained in or outside the bay. Up to four Coho in total may be kept. For more information, see these links:

• Regs for area 20
• Detailed map

The weather has been great in Port Renfrew, hopefully it continues....rainy season is coming soon, so you better enjoy the sun and calm seas while they last!