2025 Port Renfrew Reports
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SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Yeah had a lot of fun on that boat....
Stizzla
Crew Member
Okay day 2:
Had a better sleep and only 1 cocktail the night before so I woke up feeling much better. You could say I got my mojo back!
Same 26 mile run to the salmon grounds at 05:45. Much better vis today and the waves were quite a bit less. The same amazing guide started us off where we left off yesterday. First fish within a couple of minutes and it didn’t slow down. We are allowed 2 any size per person and getting our 8 were done in less than a couple of hours, including a few that were in the mid 80cm’s and a couple more hatch cohos.
We maxed our possession on Hali yesterday so lings was the name of the game. Off to the new magical spot and we trolled swimbaits. As with everything else this trip it was unheard of. We scooped up 8 lings and a couple of vermillion in another couple of hours. I was on cloud 9.
I’ll show some pics of the harvest. Some may be offended by the number of fish retained here. It’s all on the allowable amount and in my 6 or 7 years of fishing this is my first fresh whitefish caught and kept and the most salmon I’ve had in a single year.
Freezer was empty, but not anymore! Feast your eyes on the totals from 4 guys in 2 INCREDIBLE days.
Not to be forgotten was the orca show, the humpback show, the most jumping salmon I’ve ever seen by a mile and some great times with some great buds.
Had a better sleep and only 1 cocktail the night before so I woke up feeling much better. You could say I got my mojo back!
Same 26 mile run to the salmon grounds at 05:45. Much better vis today and the waves were quite a bit less. The same amazing guide started us off where we left off yesterday. First fish within a couple of minutes and it didn’t slow down. We are allowed 2 any size per person and getting our 8 were done in less than a couple of hours, including a few that were in the mid 80cm’s and a couple more hatch cohos.
We maxed our possession on Hali yesterday so lings was the name of the game. Off to the new magical spot and we trolled swimbaits. As with everything else this trip it was unheard of. We scooped up 8 lings and a couple of vermillion in another couple of hours. I was on cloud 9.
I’ll show some pics of the harvest. Some may be offended by the number of fish retained here. It’s all on the allowable amount and in my 6 or 7 years of fishing this is my first fresh whitefish caught and kept and the most salmon I’ve had in a single year.
Freezer was empty, but not anymore! Feast your eyes on the totals from 4 guys in 2 INCREDIBLE days.
Not to be forgotten was the orca show, the humpback show, the most jumping salmon I’ve ever seen by a mile and some great times with some great buds.
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brutus
Well-Known Member
No fish in port renfrew,its way better in bamfield
, Stiz just posted on the wrong report page
Aces
Well-Known Member
I also
ReelSlim
Crew Member
Bridgemens is only open for special events etc if you want to book it. There is a couple running the food truck from 5-8 in the mornings for breakfast sandwiches and such and then like 12-5 in the afternoons.
ReelSlim
Crew Member
Yah..... Port Renfrew is OK....lol Glad you had a good trip. Can't wait to get back next week.
Stizzla
Crew Member
There are some around closer to shore, but the bank is on fire.
kaelc
Crew Member
Second day was Aug 1st hence the size increase?
Learn anything from the guide you can put to use in Sidney?
Rain City
Crew Member
Nothing like a remote offshore fishery with a seasoned guide to ruin your fun at home for the rest of the season. I for one love grinding it out on hard days on the inside for that one challenging fish. The spoiled, spare no expense, guide-only fisherman always seems to be the one using freezer burnt salmon for "the best crab bait". Such is life, I guess.
Not poo-pooing your trip or anything. Looks like you had a blast and I'm positive you're not that guy. I just know a few guys like that from the city that rubbed me the wrong way. Clearly I'm triggered lol.
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Aces
Well-Known Member
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Original
Well-Known Member
Just to back up the Stizz report we had a great time in Renfrew. This was a trip we won last year for a day of guided fishing from Wild Coast Wilderness in Port. Would highly recommend this company. With some thinking ahead we booked our days a long time ago trying to go on some slacker currents and decided to add the second day. Somehow it worked out to be opening day as our second day hoping the regs would be in our favour. The excitement on our guides face on day 1 about our 2nd day and the 2 each any size had us extra jacked. The Day1 was 1spring 80 cm.and a plan to get our Hali. As the guide said we’re going to harvest them. It blew our minds how it played out as we pulled into a area with 7 other big boats. Keep it simple with a white grub and a piece of salmon belly, no scent . This was the most intense few mins we’ve all experienced. Robin our guide was absolutely superhuman, Hali’s were slapping the back deck and up the side. I got a video of the mayhem just after the first hit the deck and within 2:34 sec we had our limit of Hali. I’m still shaking my head in disbelief. I’m sure the other boats watched us and wondered as we waved goodbye after 5 mins lol. So many firsts for all of us rookies on this trip in a completely different weather (fog,mist,rain, cool ) pattern only 2 hrs up the bumpy rd. So now it’s back hoping to get 1 back in Victoria trying not to get skunked.
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Stizzla
Crew Member
I will love grinding it at home still.
It’s nice to actually have food in the freezer for the family. I promise not a piece will go to waste. I was up until 11pm filleting and vac sealing it. My daughter gets to be the labeling girl with her best printing.
I will also share with my parents and good friends who love fish but don’t get to go.
@kaelc The tactics are different out there vs Sidney but I learned some great tips on the swim bait trolling for lings. Reel until the clip pops and get tension before pulling it from the rod holder. Hooking rate went way up after that.
Guide was very cool letting us run the gear and part time captain @Original was awesome at steering the boat and finding fish. That’s the best way to learn is by getting hands on!
billygoat812
Member
I’ll say it,the logic is there to hire a guide,if you own any boat you know.it’s also why the town of renfrew got a change in regs,I fish nitnat…in front of a federal hatchery and the only river kill chinook fishery on van isle (poss). yet it’s closed still even though Gail,John,Wayne et al petitioned the govt at the same time as renfrew,yet 4 flatlanders(not you bro lol…really nothing personal a dream for many)can go out and pound em first day at a fish rookery.we little guys just want our chance,I live thirty miles from Victoria but I don’t claim it’s where I live
brutus
Well-Known Member
You dont need a guide to pound spings and hali in renfrew, you just need , a big enough boat, mariners common sense and willing to put fuel to get out 26 miles in the fog to get them, gear you need is big spoons or plugs for springs, grubs for hali, but i still think bamfield is better
brutus
Well-Known Member
Ya the closures are stupid, and they keep getting worse every year, and will continue untill we all quit fishing that areaYou dont need a guide to pound spings and hali in renfrew, you just need , a big enough boat, mariners common sense and willing to put fuel to get out 26 miles in the fog to get them, gear you need is big spoons or plugs for springs, grubs for hali, but i still think bamfield is better
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