Last weekend saw some slower salmon fishing in Port Renfrew, with a low pressure system coming in and dumping rain. Still Des Hatchard of Vicious Fish Charters was able to take both 1st and 3rd in the Fathers Day Derby, with a 30.1 and 18.7 pound chinook. Second went to Corey Arnett with a 27.7 pounder.

Trevor from No Bananas was the organizer and reports a donation of 850$ to the San Juan hatchery. He also thanks Bud from Port Renfrew Marina for weighing in the fish.

Here’s a photo from Trevor of a tyee salmon caught at Nitinaht, plus a few halibut friends.

There’s been good reports of both salmon and  halibut catches out at Swiftsure Bank.   Let’s hope for some nicer weather, think happy thoughts for some sunshine and calm seas.

Good luck out there!

The  word on the street is that East Point is HOT right now, with  lots of springs to 25 pounds.  Trevor from No Bananas Charters says “hot may be an understatement”.

Just in time for the 1st annual Port Renfrew Fathers Day Derby. It’s $1000$ per boat, 40 boats maximum.  5% off the top is going to the San Juan hatchery, with the rest going to 1st,2nd and 3rd. all cash prizes.  It’s a no frills big cash derby … no hats no shirts and no dinner involved just a good shot at some good cash prizes!  Sign up with Trevor if interested, only a few spots left.

And finally, here’s a video of some early season fishing with Des Hatchard of Vicious Fish Charters. We caught a couple of halibut quite quickly, didn’t have to go far this morning. The fish were about 25 and 60 pounds — the big guy put up a bit of a fight, racing down to the bottom a couple of times. Afterwards, we pulled anchor and caught a couple of small feeder chinook salmon on the way home (winter springs), and then came back to a full crab trap. A fun time was had, a nice start to another season of Vancouver Island fishing adventures.

Last weekend saw sunny weather, calm seas, and some good fishing.   Logan Point was the hotspot, with steady action for chinook salmon 15-20 pounds.  Halibut was reported to be good in the nearshore spots and south-west of Carmanah towards Swiftsure Bank.   The crab traps were full, with limits of male keepers, though they had softer shells.

All in all, a fun weekend fishing!  Pictured is Tom K with a tasty treat for the BBQ.

Both salmon and halibut fishing are reported to be good in Port Renfrew. Salmon along the beach, Camper Creek – Rockpile area. Lots of halibut everywhere!

Dan Harvey from Pacific Sportsfishing Charters had a week with family and friends, prepping for the season ahead. Here’s some photos. Good times!

Port Renfrew Marina is once again open for business.   They are reporting great halibut fishing right now, but salmon and crabbing are a little slow.  Here’s Des from Vicious Fish Charters with a couple nice halibut.  Also, Des provides a couple of videos on how to properly filet a halibut and also how to use up the carcass effectively, to not waste that precious meat — making soup stock for example.

Good luck out there, play safe!

Des from Vicious Fish Charters has been finding some nice salmon and halibut out Port Renfrew way.  It is early season, so you have to watch the weather closely … but there’s definitely some good fishing happening now on Vancouver Island’s south-west coast.  Check out the gallery for proof!   Also, the early season crabbing is reported to be great too.

Some good news for Port Renfrew is that Highway 14′s upgrading is finally going to proceed. They are replacing two of the switchbacks with nice highway bridges … the drive to Port Renfrew will be getting faster and safer soon!

Get out to Port Renfrew and catch a fish!  Have fun and play safe.

Renfrew flatties from Hindsight

John from Hindsight Fishing Charters posts that Good Friday was a good day fishing … 50-70 pounders.  Look at the smiles in photo to the right!

Des from Vicious Fishing has also been having some luck with both halibut and salmon, as you can see in the photos below.

It’s a good time of year to get out to Port Renfrew, when you hear the early season fishing is good, get on it! Bonus this time of year is truly exceptional crabbing.

Early season fishing in Port Renfrew is going strong, with nice size halibut coming in from everywhere (you don’t necessarily have to go far this time of year) and salmon in the teens caught right off Owen Point.

Here’s a great video from Seawind Fishing Charters of early spring action on Vancouver Island’s  wild west coast.   Keep an eye out for good weather and head west for a reel good time!

A press release yesterday from Fisheries and Oceans Canada confirmed that the halibut fishing season will open March 1st this year.  The recreational share of the total allowable catch has also increased from the historic 12% to 15%.  Retention is still one halibut per day, two possession, but hopefully this means halibut fishing opportunities will remain open through summer.

Get ready, halibut fishing will be coming soon to Port Renfrew and Swiftsure Bank, woo hoo!

Greater Certainty in the Pacific Halibut Fishery

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire – Feb. 17, 2012) - The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, made an announcement today that will provide greater long-term certainty to the Pacific halibut fishery.

“Our government is making good on a commitment to provide greater long-term certainty in the Pacific halibut fishery for First Nations, commercial and recreational harvesters, and, most importantly encouraging jobs and economic growth in British Columbia,” said Minister Ashfield.

Based on a thorough review process conducted by Parliamentary Secretary Randy Kamp involving First Nations, commercial and recreational sectors, and the province of British Columbia, the Minister has instructed the Department to make an immediate correction in the allocation formula for the Pacific halibut fishery. Under the new formula, 85% of the resource will be allocated to the commercial sector and 15% to the recreational sector.

“I want to express my appreciation for Randy Kamp’s dedication to finding a solution that strikes a fair balance between the sectors and establishes a stable environment for the future,” added Minister Ashfield.

The experimental licence introduced last year, which allowed recreational harvesters to lease Pacific halibut quota from commercial harvesters based on market value, will continue to be available. Improvements to the program will be made, reflecting feedback received from 2011 participants. Fisheries and Oceans Canada will move forward with regulatory changes to continue this market-based transfer mechanism for the long term.

The 2012 Pacific halibut recreational fishing season will open March 1^st. Recreational anglers with a tidal water licence will be able to catch one halibut per day with two in possession. Fisheries and Oceans Canada will continue to work with recreational community representatives to identify monitoring and management measures that will provide greatest flexibility and season length while staying within their allocation.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will continue to work with First Nations to ensure priority access for Food, Social and Ceremonial purposes, and to engage First Nations in pursuing opportunities for commercial access to halibut through existing aboriginal programs.

All participants and sectors have a shared responsibility for the conservation, stewardship and careful harvest of Pacific halibut and this will continue to be a priority for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Not fishing news, but definitely of interest to Port Renfrew visitors.  Congrats to Ken Wu and TJ Watt for all their hard work!