Hello to friends of Jolly Rogers Fishing around the world!
I heard an announcement today that the 2012 halibut season will be opening up on March 1st, and it got me thinking of the good times out there in the past seasons and, more importantly, the good times anticipated for the season ahead!
The Jolly Rogers is getting her winter once-over and will be primed for action come Springtime …. and that’s not very far away now at all.
Here’s the waters off Port Renfrew and Swiftsure Bank can deliver as much salmon and halibut fishing fun as they did in 2011.
To whet your appetite for the upcoming Vancouver Island fishing action … below is a re-post of a video we made a few years ago, “a day in the life”, highlighting what you can expect on a typical Jolly Rogers day. (with the very fitting Primus song “I want to be a Fisherman”)
Not much to report on the Port Renfrew fishing front, on these stormy winter days. The crabs, salmon, and halibut are resting and feeding, fattening up for when we get back out there in Spring.
The Jolly Rogers is out of the water, getting all the TLC she needs to be ready for the 2012 season. My only Christmas wish this year is that we have a fishing season that is even close to what we saw in 2011 — the salmon and halibut fishing were just epic for most of July and August. Hopefully Santa delivers the same level of fun in 2012!
Summer 2012 is already more than half booked, so contact me to reserve your spot if you want to get out there in prime time.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday season, hope to see you on the water soon!
Steve Hilliar and friends with a whole bunch of fish
Fishing on Swiftsure Bank this month has been fantastic. Typically the Chinook salmon have been biting in the mornings and then halibut after. Pictured at left is Steve Hilliar from Washington State, who fished with his son, grandson and friend Kurt and had excellent luck with salmon and finished the day with some chicken-sized halibut.
Below is Craig Adamson with a memorable Chinook. Which is bigger, the salmon or the smile?
Salmon fishing should remain good through September, so come on up to Port Renfrew for your fishing adventure!
The fishing out of Port Renfrew right now is nothing short of unbelievable, everyone is talking about how it really can’t be any better.
Spring (chinook) salmon to 30 pounds on Swiftsure Bank, along with nice halibut to 40 pounds. Plus, plenty of smaller coho around for playing around with too. Weather has been cool, but some days with beautifully calm seas.
Sean Morris and 9 friends were out from Seymour Arm and experienced 4 days of unforgettable fishing.
Roy Gansby and friends
Ray Gansby and his family from Manitoba also enjoyed a superb fishing adventures and are returning home with a good catch of halibut and salmon.
Time to get out to Port Renfrew and experience the fun for yourself!
Fishing is very good in Port Renfrew these days. The spring salmon are on the Swiftsure Bank, fishing deep, with plenty of nice fat chinooks in the teens and into the low 20 pound range. A few coho have started showing up too, so that’s lots of fun too.
The halibut fishing is steady too. We are catching them drifting out at the Bank and also some bigger ones anchored up closer to shore.
Here’s a video of Jerry from Minnesota having a fun day chasing some salmon and halibut earlier this month.
Good times! Get out to Port Renfrew and get in on the fun.
Port Renfrew’s fishing has really heated up. Nice size chinook salmon have arrived on Swiftsure Bank, 14-25 pounds, fishing deep. The halibut fishing has also been good, anchoring off Carmanah … 20-80 pounds, with plenty in the 50s. As well, there is lots of life out on the Bank … birds, bait, whales. All in all, great fishing and great days on the water. Come on out to Port Renfrew and get in on the fun!
Some photos from recent trips:
Kelly had his friends out Saskatchewan and enjoyed a sunny day they all caught their first ever halibut and salmon.
2 brothers, Ryan and Pete were rewarded for their patience with a pair of 50 pound halis and finished the day with some quality Chinook salmon.
Jolly Rogers Fishing is back in business … and business is good!
We’ve finally had a few nice days of Spring-like weather, and with it, some fun fishing days. We haven’t had to go too far for salmon, with consistent action off Owen Point and with some bigger Spring Salmon up to 24 lbs. Pictured is Sunny with a couple of nice Chinook salmon.
We’ve also been catching some decent-sized Halibut on the anchor. Here’s Marty with a 40 pounder, some tasty filets to take home and cook up.
We are looking forward to another great season ahead. If you are interested in fishing this spring or summer, feel free to give us a call, 1-250-646-2747 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting1-250-646-2747end_of_the_skype_highlighting. JR will be happy to help you plan your fishing adventure!
A video of a fun day fishing for coho salmon in October. We didn’t have to go far, fishing just outside the harbour in Port Renfrew. Vancouver Island fishing in October can be the great, in some ways even better than summer — no crowds, no fog, and lots of salmon action. Enjoy!
Grant from Alberta showing off a good a catch of Springs, Coho, and halibut caught on his birthday
We are in the tail end of the fishing season for Port Renfrew, but the fishing is still quite good!
Salmon fishing continues to be productive for large Cohos up to 20 lbs and quality halibut are still being caught. Springs are mostly gone up the river but we are still getting nice-sized feeder springs into the teens offshore at Swiftsure Bank.
We have been having fun targeting the coho with light gear on fly rods … lots of fight in these fish, that is as fun as fishing gets!
As long as the weather stays calm and the coho keep coming and getting bigger, we’ll keep fishing. Come on out to Port Renfrew and get in on the late season action.
Hope to see you soon
John (JR)
Jack Jr. from Ontario caught this large halibut in late August (with a little help from his buddies).
Ray Hacaiya’s group with a good mix of springs, halibut and cohos
Any time is a good time for fishing in Port Renfrew, but August is hard to beat. The weather has been nice and the salmon and halibut fishing has been excellent.
For halibut, there’s lots of “chickens” out on Swiftsure Bank and you’re willing to put in the time and get a little bit of luck, there’s some big halibut out there too.
We’ve been catching lots of salmon out on the Bank, and larger spring salmon at Logan Creek.
Come out out to Port Renfrew and get in on the fun!
Gary, Tim. Dave & Steve with a good payoff for being patient at Logan Creek
Jim Dealey and his crew with 3 nice Swiftsure springs
