Port Renfrew Fishing

• What to know before you go: licenses, clothing, food & drinks, seasickness prevention. Click here for the info!
• Salmon fishing: chinook, coho, sockeye
• Bottom fishing: halibut, red snapper, black cod
• Fresh water fishing: steelhead, trout, salmon
• Port Renfrew fishing locations and fishing weather
• Port Renfrew Fishing Charters, Last-Minute Charters, Fill-A-Charter
• Port Renfrew and Vancouver Island Fishing Derbies
• We proudly support the San Juan Enhancement Society
• Fishing Recipes

Port Renfrew's salmon fishing is legendary!

Chinook (aka Kings/Springs):

• Anglers come from all around the world to chase Vancouver Island's mighty Chinook, the largest species of Pacific salmon. Once hooked, Chinook put up a powerful fight, with long reel-screaming runs.
• July-September. Troll with anchovies, herring, or spoons. When the going gets good, some also mooch with cut-plug herring, so you can feel the bite and get a better fight. As fun as fishing gets!

Coho (aka Silvers):

• Coho are the most acrobatic and energetic fighters of the salmon species.
• Mid July-August. Troll on the surface out on Swiftsure Bank with bucktail flies or Coyote spoons right on the surface.
• Sept-Oct. As they get ready to head up river, they come closer to the Port Renfrew harbour mouth. Trophy-sized scrappers, up to 25 pounds.

Sockeye:

• Sockeye are considered the best quality table fare of BC's salmon species.
• July-August. Subject to limited openings. Troll in deeper water with hootchies. When you get into a school, it is non-stop fishing action.

Abundant bottom fishing on Swifsure Bank and nearby hotspots:

• Halibut: the best white meat fish money can buy, plus a lot of fun to catch! Swiftsure Bank halibut range from 10-20 pound chickens in summer to 30-60 pound turkeys in spring and every once in a while some lucky angler catches a "barndoor" up to 200 pounds or more.
• Red snapper (aka yellow eye): distinctive bright red/orange bottom fish, excellent white meat.
• Black cod (aka sablefish): tastiest species of cod commonly caught off Vancouver Island; a tasty treat smoked.

Fresh water fishing opportunities around Port Renfrew

• Trout, steelhead, spawning salmon
• San Juan River, Gordon River, Harris Creek, Caycuse River, Fairy Lake, Lizard Lake
• Visit our Fresh Water Fishing webpage for more information

Port Renfrew fishing locations:

• Swiftsure Bank: the "crown jewel" of southern Vancouver Island fishing, 1 hour run from Port Renfrew. Halibut: April-September, early season offers fewer but larger halibut (30-60 pounds, with the occasional 150 pound plus); in later season halibut are smaller but plentiful (15-30 pounds). Deep water fishing for Chinook salmon, June-Sept, smaller fish but plentiful (10-20 pounds); shallow Coho fishing, Aug-Oct, smaller fish but can be super productive (5-20 pounds)
• "The Beach": Camper Creek, Logan Creek. 15 minute run from Port Renfrew. June-Sept, shallow fishing for trophy Chinook salmon, 20-40 pounds with a few 50 pound plus caught per year.
• East Point, Can Buoy: minutes outside Port Renfrew harbour mouth. Summer Chinook salmon fishing July-Sept, coho fishing Sept-Oct.
• Port Renfrew Satellite Map and Marine Chart

Port Renfrew Fishing Adventures
info@fishingportrenfrew.ca