If you have a question that’s not covered in this FAQ, feel free to reach out to us through our Contact Us page or directly at info@stjeans.com
If you have a question that’s not covered in this FAQ, feel free to reach out to us through our Contact Us page or directly at info@stjeans.com
For account-specific inquiries, please use the dedicated account support channels listed on our Contact page.
Our operating hours at our retail stores and processing plant vary depending on the season. Please refer here to find current hours.
* 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 results
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.
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!
Our canned seafood should be stored in a cool, dry place, while retort pouches should be stored according to the instructions on the packaging.
Yes!
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!
We understand that shipping costs can sometimes come as a surprise—especially for larger sport fish orders. Because your catch is valuable and perishable, we take extra steps to ensure it arrives safely, frozen, and in top quality. Here’s what goes into the cost:
Your fish is shipped frozen, which means it must arrive quickly to maintain quality and food safety.
We use FedEx Priority Overnight service to ensure your order gets to you within 1-2 days of shipping.
To keep your fish frozen during transit, every order is packed with:
These materials add both weight and size to your shipment, which directly impacts shipping costs—but they’re essential to protect your fish.
Seafood is naturally heavy, and once you add:
…the total shipping weight increases significantly, which raises the carrier cost.
If your order is large, it may need to be split into multiple boxes:
This is often the biggest factor in higher shipping costs.
Your shipping cost isn’t just postage—it also includes:
For customers in the United States, we handle:
This ensures your order crosses the border smoothly without delays.
If your fish is coming from a remote fishing lodge or depot, additional logistics may be required to get it to our facility before shipping. These transport costs are included in your total.
We don’t cut corners when it comes to your catch. Every step—from packaging to shipping speed—is designed to ensure your fish arrives frozen, safe, and ready to enjoy.
If you ever have questions about your specific shipment, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to walk you through the details.
Yes—we can ship your catch around the world, with a few important requirements and limitations.
For any shipments
For any shipment outside of Canada, we require:
These are necessary to meet export and import regulations.
International shipping can vary depending on destination regulations, so we strongly recommend contacting us ahead of time to confirm details and avoid any surprises.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help you plan the best way to get your catch home.
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!
Most fishing lodges on the BC coast have shipping arrangements with us; simply speak to your guide or host. We also have a series of drop-off depots in western BC that can ship your fish to our processing plant. Click here to see a list of our drop-off locations.
Calculate the cost and yield for your fish processing needs with our comprehensive calculator
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.