CustomSport Fish Processing
Important Processing Information
While we are still accepting frozen guts in fish, at this time we will not be accepting fresh fish with guts in for processing, please either freeze your fish first or gut it before dropping of at our depots. Thank you and happy fishing!
Rates effective March 1st 2025
Custom Canning
- Canned Salmon 3.45/can
- Smoked & Canned Salmon 4.45/can
- Canned Tuna 4.15/can
- Smoked & Canned Tuna 4.90/can
Shelf-life: best-before date is five years from point of canning. Ready to eat out of the can; no cooking required.
Shipping: Ground courier.
Cost: billed based on the number of cans produced
Approx. yield:
Salmon: 1.4 – 2.0 cans per lb
Tuna: 0.9 -1 .2 cans per lb
Hot Smoked
- Hot smoked salmon 5.95/lb
- Peppercorn hot smoked salmon 6.25/lb
- Hot smoked tuna 6.50/lb
- Peppercorn hot smoked tuna 6.75/lb
Shelf-life: 2 years from point of smoking/processing. If seal is intact.
Shipping: Express courier shipping (overnight or 2 day shipping)
Cost: Billed based on the incoming weight of your fish.
Approx. yield:
Salmon: 40-60%
Tuna: 30-40%
- 15-pound minimum of fish required per process.
- Sliced lox processing requires whole fish, sides, or larger fillets.
- Individual fish cannot be split between multiple processes.
- Our processing time can be approximately 15-20 weeks once we receive your fish during peak season.
- All processing will be vacuum packed into 3/4lb packaging* (with the exception of pre sliced lox)
How should I get my fish done?
Sport-caught fish that has been handled with care can be processed in any way with good results...
..but we recommend these options for optimal products.
Candied | Honey Glazed
- Candied Salmon 6.60/lb
- Peppercorn Candied Salmon 6.75/lb
- Skin-off (Salmon) 0.50/lb
- Candied Tuna 6.70/lb
- Peppercorn Candied Tuna 7.30/lb
Shelf-life: 2 years from point of smoking/processing. If seal is intact.
Shipping: Express courier shipping (overnight or 2 day shipping)
Cost: Billed based on the incoming weight of your fish.
Approx. yield:
Salmon: 40-60%
Tuna: 30-40%
Cold Smoked | Lox
- Salmon Lox 5.65/lb
- Pre-Sliced Salmon Lox 7.70/lb
Packed in 1/2 lb bags
- Tuna Lox 6.60/lb
- Pre-Sliced Tuna Lox 7.95/lb
Packed in 1/2 lb bags
Shelf-life: 2 years from point of smoking/processing. If seal is intact.
Shipping: Express courier shipping (overnight or 2 day shipping)
Cost: Billed based on the incoming weight of your fish.
Approx. yield:
Salmon: 40-60%
Tuna: 30-40%
Fillets & Loins
- Salmon Filleting 3.95/lb
Filleted & packed into 3/4 lb vacuum packed bags.
- Salmon Option: Skin Off 0.50/lb
- Salmon Option: Pin Bone Out 0.50/lb
- Tuna Loins 4.50/lb
Cut & packed into 3/4 lb vacuum paced bags
Shelf-life: 2 years from point of smoking/processing. If seal is intact.
Shipping: Express courier shipping (overnight or 2 day shipping)
Cost: Billed based on the incoming weight of your fish.
Approx. yield:
70-75% for salmon fillets
40-45% tuna loins.
Fish Processing Cost Calculator
Calculate the cost and yield for your fish processing needs with our comprehensive calculator
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Summary
Enter your fish details to see processing summary
Note: These costs do not include shipping. Please call us at 1-866-754-3191 for shipping cost estimates.
Enter your fish weight to see cost calculations
Note: These costs do not include shipping. Please call us at 1-866-754-3191 for shipping cost estimates.
*Yield and cost are based on an incoming weight of fish with the head off and guts out.
*Cost is based on incoming weight for Smoked, Candied, Lox, Fillets/Loins, and vacuum pack only.
*Cost for cans and smoked cans are based on the yield (per can)
Wondering about your order?
If you have a sport fish order with us, please fill out the contact form below if you have a question. Our sport fish staff will respond promptly via e-mail or phone.
The most common questions we receive are about the shipping of frozen seafood. Once your frozen order is complete, we will contact you to arrange a delivery date and confirm the delivery address. We will never ship any frozen orders without making these arrangements, so you do not need to worry about frozen fish arriving on an unexpected day.
If we cannot reach you for any reason, we will hold your frozen orders in our freezer until contact can be made.
For the form below, please ensure that you include the full name that is written on the processing receipt as well as the Master Number (the red six-digit number in the upper-right corner of your processing receipt). Our staff can find the status of your order and answer questions much more quickly with this information.
Please visit any of the drop-off locations listed below. Thank you for your support! Whether you are fishing at a lodge, on your own, or with a guide, getting your fish to St. Jean’s is a straightforward process.
- Lodges: If you are fishing at a lodge, just ask the staff about sending your catch to St. Jean’s Cannery and they will fill you in on shipping and processing details. We have agreements in place with virtually every lodge on the West Coast, so it doesn’t matter if you are fishing in Haida Gwaii, Rivers Inlet, Port Alberni, or Campbell River–getting your fish to us is easy.
- Depots: There are many depots on the West Coast where you can drop your fish off for us in addition to our stores in Nanaimo, Delta/Tilbury, Port Alberni, Campbell River, and Richmond (YVR Airport). Simply drop off your fish at the depot and we will arrange transport to our facility. As well, we can ship your finished product back to a number of these depots for your convenient pickup. There is no extra charge for dropping or picking up at a depot on Vancouver Island or the Lower Mainland (Greater Vancouver). No other processor can offer you this convenience!
St Jean's Gift Stores & Depots
Nanaimo - Main Processing Facility
242 Southside Dr.
Nanaimo, BC
Toll Free: 1-866-754-3191
Local: 250-754-2185
Delta (Tilbury)
106-7950 Huston Rd.
Delta, BC
604-270-3384
Campbell River
581-B 11th Avenue
Campbell River, BC
250-287-2457
Port Alberni
3653 3rd Avenue
Port Alberni, BC
250-723-7744
Richmond (YVR)
YVR South Terminal
#134 – 01 4440 Cowley Cres.
Richmond, BC
604-207-1664
Affiliate Fish Drop Off Locations
Moutcha Bay Resort
1631 Head Bay Road
Nootka Sound, BC
Toll Free: 877-337-5464
Local: 250-337-8962
Tofino Fishing
561 Campbell Street
Tofino, BC
Toll Free: 1-888-534-7422
Local: 250-725-2700
Tofino Resort & Marina
634 Campbell Street
Tofino, BC
778-841-0186
Ukee Seafood and Fish Pack
2066 Peninsula Road
Ucluelet, BC
(250) 726-6647
Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina
6971 W Coast Rd.
Sooke, BC
(250) 642-3236
Enjoy your sport fishing experience in British Columbia!
The Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia (SFI) has represented the interests of over 300,000 tidal water anglers and related businesses to elected officials, management agency staff, other fishery sectors and the non-angling public since 1981. St. Jean’s Cannery & Smokehouse is a proud member of the SFI.
The SFI is also a valuable resource for sport fishers in British Columbia and those wishing to visit B.C. and learn more about sport fishing opportunities in the province.
SalmonForever.ca highlights the SFI’s conservation strategies and the economic impact of sport fishing on B.C.’s economy.
All of these BC sport fishing lodges can help their guests arrange transport of their prized catch to St. Jean’s Cannery & Smokehouse in Nanaimo for processing.
North Coast BC (Haida Gwaii)
Central Coast BC
Need help deciding where to take your next fishing trip? fishingbc.com is an online information guide for sport fishing in B.C. that includes a trip finder resource.
We process sport-caught salmon, tuna, halibut, and ground fish. (We are not accepting trout at this time.)
Please contact us if you have any questions about other species. As well, while high-quality fish of any species can be processed in any way with decent results, we can recommend processes that will work best with your catch.
Most people transport their fish in coolers with ice. Do not wrap your fish in newspaper, tissue paper, or plastic wrap. If you are freezing your fish at home before bringing to St. Jean’s, please wrap it in freezer paper.
We can accept fish fresh or frozen. Fish can be whole, cleaned (heads off/guts out), or filleted. To comply with DFO regulations, please ensure you are able to identify individual fish during transport.
We always weigh your fish when you drop it off. Because all non-canned processing is billed based on incoming weight, you are at an advantage if you bring in fish that is already cleaned, with heads off and guts out. If you are canning your fish, you only pay for the cans you receive, so there is no cost benefit to filleting your fish beforehand; however, leaving the guts in causes your fish to degrade much more rapidly, so you are strongly advised to clean your fish beforehand in order to maximize the quality of the fish meat.
Often, during busy periods (including the heart of sport fish season, from June-October), we will not accept fish with guts. To be on the safe side, always clean your fish!
You will need to allow 10-12 weeks for processing and delivery, especially during the peak of the sport fish season (mid-July to mid-September). However, most orders will be completed much more quickly (3-5 weeks).
The fish processing itself is quite fast and completed over a handful of days once your fish is in our plant, but typical delays are due to sport fish volume, packaging backlogs, and courier requirements. Hand-filleting and hand-packing fish is definitely slower than what machines can do, but we believe the resulting quality is worth it!
Note: international orders (outside of Canada & USA) often take longer because of volume shipping and customs requirements outside of St. Jean’s controls.
We have developed a comprehensive tracking system to ensure that you receive your own fish back, beginning with your initial processing card. Each card–filled out in triplicate–documents the store, depot, or lodge drop-off point and assigns a master receipt number to your order. Futher paperwork is produced for every process request. This information stays with your fish during the entire process: when it is received, weighed, filleted/portioned, packaged/canned, and boxed up for delivery or shipping.
This level of tracking is another reason why our sport fish turn-around times may not be lightning-quick, but it’s the right way to ensure you receive the one that didn’t get away!
Most canned salmon and tuna are cooked twice; once before canning, and once during the canning process. However, we only cook our fish once, during the canning process. We believe that this allows the fish to retain more of its natural flavour and nutrients, and it’s still ready to eat right out of the can. As well, we don’t add any extra water, oil, or fillers to our canned salmon and tuna. Finally, we hand-pack all of our cans to ensure that portions are correct and quality is always high!
Our operating hours at our retail stores and processing plant vary depending on the season. Please refer here to find current hours.
Don’t see your questions in our Frequently Asked Questions list? Drop us a line at info@stjeans.com or call toll-free 1-866-754-3191. We’ll be happy to help.