Fish processing depot - Victoria

Eden Island

Eden Island

Well-Known Member
When Island Outfitters burned down, the St Jean's depot went with it. I've been hoping to see a new one -- for example at the new Island Outfitters or Trotac. I got tired of sending online queries to St Jean's, and finally phoned. Apparently they are in discussions to establish a Victoria depot.

For those that don't know, that means fish could be dropped at any other St Jan's depot - Campbell R Nootka, Tofino, Ucluelet - https://stjeans.com/sport-fishermen/ -- and shipped to Victoria or any other depot.

Now if only they'd start a depot in Port McNeill or Hardy...
 
St Jeans has gone down hill in my opinion. The last time we sent Chinook to get hot smoked, no one was happy with it.
That was a few years ago, so maybe it's better now.
 
St Jeans canned salmon, smoked boneless/skinless is very good. Been doing it for 15 years and it’s the same. They were bought out by FN about 3 years ago. Were they sold again?
 
pescador said:
St Jeans canned salmon, smoked boneless/skinless is very good. Been doing it for 15 years and it’s the same. They were bought out by FN about 3 years ago. Were they sold again?
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Not that I know of. The FN takeover is what I was referring to.
We've only used them for lox. I do my own hot smoked fish.
 
wildmanyeah said:
Do you not like Hardy boys?
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Hardy Buoys are generally fine, although we used to get a more personal level of service and packaging when there was a processor on Malcolm Island [Nick would pick up and deliver free at the dock - and each piece was labelled with date, species and name of fisher - which used to delight the kids]. No labels at all with Hardy Buoys.

This year, I had an adverse experience when my trip end coincided with their family wedding plans. We made an arrangement for me to pick up my fish but they were unable to complete due to an employee illness. Understandable. By the time they were available to discuss, I was in Victoria. My fish arrived by air freight via Vancouver -- at my expense. My box was already home with me so they sold me one -- for $50. My few fish, which would have cost $60-70 to cut up, vacuum seal and freeze arrived with a final price of nearly $200.

If St Jean's had depots at both ends, it would have arrived in Victoria for $60-70.
 
wildmanyeah said:
Okay everyone one I know who’s dropped off fish they had it flash frozen filleted packaged ready to the next morning
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Yup. That was my experience past few years.

In this case they closed for the weekend for a family wedding and were all out of town. We had arranged a staff person to meet me and return my fish into my styro box. When the staff person got sick, there was no plan B and nobody was answering office or cell phones. I had to be in Victoria the next day so left without my fish.

I was pretty disappointed that they loaded all the costs on me plus surcharges. Felt they could have shared the pain since they couldn't keep their end of the bargain.
 
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pescador said:
St Jeans canned salmon, smoked boneless/skinless is very good. Been doing it for 15 years and it’s the same. They were bought out by FN about 3 years ago. Were they sold again?
Click to expand...
First year that I’ve tried this and I’ll be doing it again.
 
I got my candied salmon in 4 weeks. Two drop offs June and July.

Was fairly quick. Just dropped off Nanaimo and wasn't that bad price wise.

I would just drive up here from Vic. You probably wait longer with the depot thing. Better too drop it off at the source.
 
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