Fishermen Find Fun During Slow Salmon Times

When we brush the dust off the water skis and the crewmen take turns carving through the skiff's wake before dropping into 45-degree water wearing just shorts, it's a sure sign that it's been a slow salmon season.

I married into salmon fishing three years ago. Since then, we've spent May through October at our setnet site in Uyak Bay, on the west side of Kodiak Island. This summer is my first experience with fishing closures lasting more than a day or two. In previous seasons, we worked nonstop all summer, with little time for hiking, building or gardening.

Because my husband grew up spending every summer at this site, he has never experienced the summer activities I considered childhood standards while growing up in the Interior. He has never mowed a lawn or chased swallowtails or ridden his bike from sunup to sundown for days on end. But coming to this life now, as an adult, I will never be as calm as he is driving the skiff, as good at spotting whale flukes and otters, or as comfortable leaving town for five months without missing ripe peaches, ice cream and summer road trips with the car windows down.

Over time, I have grown comfortable with the extremes of a fishing schedule. When pinks are heavy, the teapot whistles at 5 a.m. and the Alaska evening light almost makes our midnight dinners seem reasonable. At a setnet site, those long hours sometimes challenge the balance of work and family life. I don't get upset anymore at dinners that have lost all shape and color after cooking for hours while we waited for the tender to arrive.

This summer, fishermen around the bay have been taking skiff rides, firing up banyas, practicing guitar or talking about books over the radio. This year was the first time since I've been at our site that the Fourth of July setnetter picnic could actually be held on the Fourth of July.

I know I should be wishing for nets sunk with fish and pinks jumping abundant as rain. When fishing is your livelihood, you aren't supposed to appreciate a slow season. You check the weir counts, you ask your neighbors if they've heard anything or seen any jumpers. But for the first time, we spent leisurely August mornings together, drinking coffee and watching our 1-year-old run laps around the cabin. We had time to put up a swing on the front porch. The engines and nets are cleaner than they have been for years...

http://www.adn.com/life/story/518424.html

See also Fishing for Alaska Salmon

Alaska Silver Report

There was little traffic on the Kenai River on this mid week morning.
Maybe folks didn't know that the silvers are in!

Once again, we went with Jimmie Jack of Jimmie Jack fishing and he had a plan.
"We are fishing with plugs, just sitting on anchor waiting for them to hit," said Jimmie. "So they're swimming up and we're sitting in their way. It's pretty easy fishing. It's probably the easiest fishing you can do."

He wasn't kidding.

Sandy, a friend of Jimmies, hooked a silver right away...

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=8956634

See also Alaska Silver Salmon Fishing

Fishing Location Spotlight - Kodiak

Dave Densmore is a lifelong fisherman, earning a full share on a Kodiak seiner by the time he was 12 and purchasing his first boat soon after. He currently fishes salmon out of Kodiak and is
gearing up for crab...

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/OPINION/809220346

See also Alaska Fishing Spots

Fishing Guide Battle With Slow Run Perceptions

It's bad enough that so few salmon have trickled up the Deshka River that the state last month was forced to close the Susitna Valley's most popular king fishery.

But guide services, lodge operators and others in the Su Valley sportfishing sector are also battling the perception that there are no fish in Alaska, period -- even as salmon are finally showing up in some area rivers and streams.

Reports of the Deshka closure, coupled with news stories about poor returns throughout much of Alaska, scared off at least a quarter of the clients at iFish Alaska Guide Service.

Pat Donelson, owner of iFish, spent Wednesday floating the Little Susitna River with customers.
"Most people aren't canceling because they're that set to go on the Deshka," Donelson said, reporting slow but steady fishing on the Little Su. "They're canceling because they've heard fishing just isn't good...

http://www.adn.com/matsu/story/455431.html

See also fly fishing in Alaska

Chitina Dip Net Fishing Is Slow

Dip netting for red salmon in the Copper River is still reported to be slow and an extended closure of the commercial fishery in Cordova will result in decreased fishing time for dip-netters later this month, area management biologist Mark Somerville at ADF&G in Glennallen said.

The Chitina dip net fishery will remain open through July 13 but after that there will almost certainly be reductions in fishing time. The extended closure of Cordova’s commercial fishing fleet, which reached 13 days on Tuesday, triggered a reduction in harvest for the personal-use fishery, Somerville said.

As of Tuesday, the commercial fishing fleet had been shut down for 13 straight days and the sonar count at Miles Lake still had not caught up to preseason projections. The sonar counts did not go up as expected with commercial fishers out of the water...

http://newsminer.com/news/2008/jul/03/dip-netters-face-cuts-fishing-time-chitina/

See also Alaska sockeye salmon fishing

A Day in the Life of a Novice Fisherwoman

I've never considered myself much of a fisherwoman, but catching a few halibut last year got me started thinking that, with a little practice, I could be pretty bad-ass. So it made perfect sense to grab a friend and plan a day of fishing.A quick pooling of our finances showed that getting out of town and renting a canoe as we'd originally hoped to do just wasn't going to happen.

We grumbled for a bit about the soulless gas-guzzling society we live in while lamenting the fact that we couldn't afford to guzzle our own share. Then we decided to hit a few local lakes instead.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game stocks many area lakes with trout, char, grayling and land-locked salmon. For boatless folks like us that had no urge to combat fish in the last days of the Ship Creek king salmon fishery, this was perfect. I fantasized about catching a sleek, glittery trout and cooking it up that night. I figured that an 18- to 20-incher would be about perfect...

http://www.anchoragepress.com/site/basicarticle.asp?ID=709

Tough Times For Yukon King Fishermen

FAIRBANKS — The king salmon run in the Yukon River may not be as bad as state fisheries biologists thought, but it still won’t likely be big enough to fill fish racks and smokehouses in many villages on the middle and upper part of the river, or meet Alaska’s international treaty obligations to Canada.

Thanks to a late spike of fish, biologists with the Department of Fish and Game upped their projection for this year’s chinook run past a sonar counter on the lower Yukon from 80,000 last week to as high as 120,000 this week, which is still short of the required 140,000 needed for adequate spawning numbers and a sufficient subsistence harvest.

http://newsminer.com/news/2008/jul/03/yukon-river-life-takes-hit-because-dismal-king-sal/

See also Alaska guided fishing

Unalaska Opens for Commercial Fishing

Unalaska's commercial salmon season opened over the weekend with four fishing vessels seeking pinks in Unalaska and Makushin bays.

The area has opened to commercial salmon fishing every year since the early 1980s, but Alaska Department of Fish & Game biologist Forrest Bowers says it's not always fished.

"There's been about two roughly five year periods since 1982 when we haven't had a fishery," he explains. "And that wasn't necessarily because the fishery was closed, that's just because people didn't come out to the area to fish...

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kial/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1334094&sectionID=1

See also Fishing in Alaska

First Time Alaska Visitor Makes Big Catch

Two years in the making, George Wambold's perfect summer was topped with a whale of a Kenai king salmon.

Only a day before the July 31 end of the season on the state's most popular salmon stream, Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials say Wambold landed the biggest Kenai king registered with the state trophy fish program this year. It weighed 72 3/4 pounds.

It had a girth of 32-inches, Wambold added, about the waist-size for a pair of pants for your average American male before the obesity epidemic hit.

An angler most of his life, Wambold had never seen such a fish. "It looked the size of an alligator,'' he said...

http://www.adn.com/fishing/story/486200.html

Charter Fishermen Sue Over Halibut Limits

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A court hearing in Washington, D.C. will deal with the issue of halibut catch limits in southeast Alaska.
The Charter Halibut Task Force lawsuit asks for an injunction over a rule that reduces the daily catch limit for anglers on charter boats. The hearing takes place Wednesday.
The limit drops from two to one fish a day.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the newly enforced rules are needed because charter fishing has grown in Southeast Alaska, but the number of halibut has decreased.

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=8430315

See also halibut fishing in Alaska

Combat Fishing Tournament

Nearly 300 soldiers from throughout the country, some with hometowns in Northern California, gathered in Seward, Alaska, last week for one of the most unique fishing tournaments ever organized.
The participants in the derby were Army, Air Force and National Guard members who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Many will soon be headed back for their second or third tour in the battles zones, but last Thursday, their main concern was catching the biggest halibut to win a new truck, ATV, motorcycle or other prizes in the Combat Fishing Tournament.

http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=8944

Gas Prices Hit Fishermen Too

Pat Hammers isn’t going halibut fishing this summer.
“This is the first time since I moved to Alaska (in 1993) that I’m not going halibut fishing,” Hammers, a local magistrate, told me the other day.
While that might not necessarily mean much to some folks, it speaks volumes for Hammers, who ranks halibut fishing as one of his favorite things to do.
“I love halibut fishing,” he said. “I moved to Alaska to go halibut fishing.”
But when Hammers called the halibut charter company he usually books his trips with out of Homer a couple weeks ago, the price for a charter was $285, and that didn’t include a 7 percent sales tax in Homer, which puts the price at just more than $300.

http://newsminer.com/news/2008/may/22/gas-prices-may-mean-more-hiking-and-less-fishing-s/

Closing of West Coast Fisheries May Help Alaska

Alaska salmon could get a boost if West Coast fisheries are called off this summer. Federal managers will decide next month if salmon fisheries in Oregon and California should be shut down completely. Washington might dodge the bullet, but that remains to be seen. It would mark the first time ever that the traditional salmon season - which runs from April through mid-November - was canceled.

The crisis stems from major declines in salmon returning to the Pacific coast to spawn in their home waters. Most scientists point to 'broad scale ocean survival problems' as the primary cause for the coast wide salmon collapse. Others blame faulty fresh water management and pollution.
According to the Seafood.com news site, the shut down will jeopardize the livelihoods of nearly 1,000 commercial fishermen. The closures also will kill recreational salmon fishing for millions of anglers.

While the West Coast pain is likely to prompt a gain in interest and prices for Alaska king salmon, and to a lesser degree, coho, it does raise a few red flags. Planet conscious buyers believe they are doing the right thing by not purchasing Pacific salmon because it is endangered ­ and to them, that includes Alaska.

"It's amazing how many times we get asked - 'aren't your fish endangered?' There's a lot of confusion out there in the market place, particularly when they hear reports about all the fish in the oceans will be gone in a few years. We have a real challenge explaining to people that there is no shortage of fish in Alaska," said Ray Riutta, executive director of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI).

http://www.sitnews.us/LaineWelch/031708_fish_factor.html

See also Alaska king salmon fishing

High Moorage Rates in Juneau Drive Out Fishermen

Juneau's moorage rates are the highest in Southeast Alaska. Some fishermen say they left town partly because of them, but port directors say the fees are as low as they can go.
Aldwin Harder moved himself and his fishing boat, the 47-foot Kelcey Michele, to Hoonah three years ago. He said he spends more than $50,000 a year in goods and services in whatever town he fishes from, not including moorage and fuel.

"If you kick me out, you kick that money out," he said.

Nine other boats located on his finger in the Hoonah harbor came from Juneau, he said.
Fees are based on boat length. The annual moorage fee for a 40-foot boat costs $1,687 in Juneau, $1,280 in Petersburg, $1,040 in Ketchikan, $960 in Sitka, $720 in Hoonah, $640 in Haines, $600 in Wrangell, $480 in Skagway and $410 in Pelican.

Juneau's moorage fees rose seven years ago after the state gave up harbor administration to Alaska municipalities, Juneau Harbormaster Lou McCall said. The Department of Transportation funded the city's harbor operations, but it wasn't enough to deal with harbors that in some cases were more than 40 years old.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/031808/loc_258951066.shtml

New Alaska Cruise Excursions

Small ship cruise line Cruise West will offer seven new shore excursions for 2008 to complement the line's eight Alaska itineraries.

Cruise West, which will have eight ships and 167 departures to Alaska for the 2008 season, has more permits than any other line to enter Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. In total, Cruise West offers more than 63 optional and 14 included shore excursions in Alaska.

Passengers on board Glacier Bay Highlights, Alaska’s Inside Passage or the Gold Rush Inside Passage cruises will enjoy five new or revised shore excursions in authentic Haines, known for its numerous artisans and scenery. A sampling includes: The Chilkat Valley Photography Tour that provides a rare opportunity for guests to focus on photographing the stunning scenery and wildlife of the Chilkat Valley with a local professional photographer.

Guests can retrace John Muir’s footsteps on the Haines Nature and Wildlife Expedition , which offers a comprehensive bus and walking excursion through the local river valleys or get an insider’s look with a knowledgeable local resident of what makes Haines so special on Haines Highlights.

http://cruises.about.com/b/2008/03/15/cruise-west-introduces-seven-new-alaska-shore-excursions.htm

Prices High for Salmon

The Prince William Sound produces the highest prices per pound for sockeye salmon, with Copper River reds fetching upwards of an excess of $12 per pound for the early run.
The bottom of the per pound values for sockeye come from Bristol Bay.

While there are experts who can undoubtedly explain variations for market access, quality, availability and a myriad of other factors, I want to raise the question of how the salmon prices may be affected by the development of oil and gas, mining, industrialization and urban sprawl.

There has been fear cast on Bristol Bay fisherman by the specter of development as a death knell for all Bristol Bay fisheries. While we must be extremely careful and be most diligent in our application of the best science to protect and enhance opportunities for subsistence, sport and commercial fisher people, we need not paralyze our economy by preventing responsible development.

http://thetundradrums.com/news/story/1734

See also salmon fishing in Alaska

Halibut Prices Go High

Alaska halibut fishermen were likely to fetch high prices again as the season got under way on Saturday, March 8.

Longliners holding quota shares of the prized flatfish will haul in about 50 million pounds during the eight-month season, a drop of 2 million pounds from last year.

Whether the startup prices will mimic last year’s blowouts of well over $5 a pound in major ports remains to be seen, but it’s a given they will be high.

"Solid prices generally aren’t locked in until fishing deliveries are made. Prices will be good to start, but I would expect a rather steep backslide to the market by midweek," a major Kodiak processor said.

He added there is some reluctance by major buyers who "got stung fairly badly" on the high opening prices last year, when the halibut cost more than the market would absorb. There also is some inventory of frozen halibut in the nation’s freezers.

"Buyers will scramble to get the fish they need, and it will be expensive," predicted market watcher Ken Talley of Seafood Trend newsletter.

http://thedutchharborfisherman.com/news/story/1695

See also Alaska halibut fishing

Board of Fisheries Appointments

Governor Sarah Palin today announced her recommendations to the legislature for three vacancies on the Alaska Board of Fisheries. Governor Palin is recommending the reappointment of John Jensen, of Petersburg, and Mel Morris, of Kodiak, and the appointment of William Brown, of Juneau, to the board.

"I am pleased to advance the names of these three fine individuals to the legislature for confirmation," Governor Palin said. "They will bring unique knowledge, expertise and balance to the process, and I am delighted that they are willing to serve on this important board."

http://alaskareport.com/news31/z49189_fish_board.htm

Fishing Events in Alaska

The annual banquet for Trout Unlimited and the Midnight Sun Fly Casters will be March 21 in the Tom Rowinski Banquet Room at the Fairbanks Elks Lodge. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Alaska Fly Shop and Sportsman’s Warehouse.

Anyone interested in learning the basics of fly fishing and fly tying can sign up for a workshop to be offered later this month through the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Tanana Valley Campus.

Local fly fishing and tying instructor Shann Paul Jones will be leading the “Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Basics” workshop slated for March 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the TVCC building on Barnette Street and Seventh Avenue.

http://newsminer.com/news/2008/mar/13/outdoor-calendar---march-13/

Alaskan Salmon Gets Word of Mouth Marketing

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Bragging doesn't come naturally to Marvin Okitkun, but the Yup'ik Eskimo fisherman doesn't miss a beat when talking up king salmon, the valuable fish that makes life possible for villagers on the cash-poor Yukon River delta.

"Once you've tried our salmon, you wouldn't want to have any other salmon from any other place," Okitkun said. "To us, everything else is hype."

The sterling reputation of the Yukon king is buoying the fragile economies of the tiny delta villages, which are among the state's poorest communities. Strikingly high fuel costs and disastrously low fish counts in the last decade have pushed the mostly Alaska Native region deep into poverty.

To survive, local fishermen have immersed themselves in the language and mindset of the modern gourmet in what has become a successful courtship of the upscale commercial seafood market.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g1RYwtlaHANQyvMrUVbkgFSqcjdg

See also Alaskan king salmon

UFA Opposes Fishing Rights Expansion

The United Fishermen of Alaska are opposing any expansion of the waters and fishing rights around Annette Island. UFA has just sent a letter to the Department of the Interior. Read the full letter here:

http://www.sitnews.us/0308Viewpoints/030608_phil_doherty.html

Location Focus - Sitka, Alaska

It's all about location, location, location. Sitka is a major pit stop on an ocean freeway used by salmon heading to British Columbia, Washington, and other Alaska waters.

Catch rates per angler are higher here than at any other marine area in southeast Alaska, and June is the No. 1 month. Mooch herring off Vitskari Rocks in the middle of Sitka Sound or outside Kruzof Island in the shadow of a towering dormant volcano

http://www.fieldandstream.com/article_gallery.jsp?ID=1000014342

More on Sitka Fishing

Fishing Crew Rescued After Fire

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Nearly 100 members of a fishing boat crew safely abandoned ship after their vessel caught fire off Alaska's Aleutian Islands, a report said Wednesday.

The U.S. Coast Guard in Juneau said more than a dozen fishermen stayed aboard the Pacific Glacier to battle the blaze as rescue aircraft and the cutter Alex Haley sped to the scene.The 253-foot Pacific Glacier is a fish processing ship based in Seattle.

It was working about 136 miles southeast of Dutch Harbor when the fire broke out Tuesday night.The Anchorage Daily News said the fire apparently broke out in the ship's laundry.

http://www.bendweekly.com/Nationwide-News/13916.html

Yukon River Panel Appointed

Governor Sarah Palin today announced the appointment of eight advisers to the Yukon River Panel. The advisers assist the Yukon River Panel in achieving conservation of salmon stocks originating from the Yukon River in Canada through development and implementation of agreed upon research and management programs, identification of restoration and enhancement opportunities, and submission of recommendations to management entities in Canada and Alaska.

http://alaskareport.com/news28/z49161_yukon_advisers.htm

See also Alaska fishing

Alaskan Fisheries Debate on March 20

KODIAK -- It takes guts to talk fish, but five candidates hoping to snag Alaska's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives will take on the challenge next month in Kodiak.

Congressman Don Young, state Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, R-Kodiak, and Democrats Diane Benson, Ethan Berkowitz and Jake Metcalfe have agreed to participate in the well-known fisheries face-off. That's the catch: the debate is limited to fisheries and the seafood industry topics.
Since 1990 the fisheries debates at the ComFish Alaska trade show have attracted nearly 100 percent participation by candidates for Alaska governor and U.S. Senate. This year will be the first time that U.S. House candidates participate.

The big hook is that the debate is broadcast across Alaska via Kodiak radio station KMXT and the Alaska Public Radio Network.

"The fishing industry is Alaska's Number 1 private employer and produces more than half of our nation's wild seafood. This debate allows the candidates to share their knowledge and ideas about this vital industry," said Deb King, director of the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of ComFish.

The fisheries debate takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 20.

http://www.adn.com/money/story/324348.html

Health Coverage For Alaska's Fishermen

Affordable health care coverage for America’s fishing families could soon become a reality.

Sens. Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski last week introduced the Commercial Fishing Industry Health Care Coverage Act to Congress. The bipartisan bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts; Congressman Don Young is introducing the same bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The measure would require the secretary of Health and Human Services to fund $50 million in matching grants for fishing states or organizations. The money would help jump-start the process for getting health-care coverage plans up and running based on each state’s needs. The money also would be used to offset individual health care costs and provide group insurance coverage for more fishing families.

http://thecordovatimes.com/news/story/1506

River Poets Film Focuses on Bristol Bay Fishing Resources

Marysville native and former Helena resident Tyson O'Connell has filmed "River Poets," a DVD documenting the invaluable natural resources of Bristol Bay, Alaska.

"The film stresses the importance of salmon fish to the Bristol Bay ecosystem and economy, and focuses on the threat of a proposed open-pit copper and gold mine, the Pebble Mine, in the heart of the world's largest salmon spawning ground," reads the video's jacket introduction.O'Connell, who is studying law at the University of Montana, has been a lifelong outdoors enthusiast.

He attended Capital High School from 1994-98, where he played quarterback for the Bruins and was a standout American Legion baseball player for the Helena Senators. After graduating from Macalester College, O'Connell spent five summers as a fishing guide in Alaska - four of those seasons on the rivers of Bristol Bay.

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/02/21/weekly_features/outdoors/100ot_080221_documentary.txt

Fishing Guide Organization Forms In Alaska

A new organization has formed to protect the interests of the charter boat industry in Southeast Alaska. The Southeast Alaska Guides Organization (SEAGO) debuted publicly after almost a year of organizational planning.

Currently conducting a membership drive, the organization will be led by a board of 12, with two representatives from six Southeast areas. Representing Petersburg for the interim phase is Stan Malcom, a local charter boat captain who also serves as president of Petersburg Charter Boat Association.

http://www.petersburgpilot.com/www/stories/022108charters.htm

Alaska Fly Fishing Film Tour

Winter has just about run its course for the Grand Valley, which means the local ponds will warm to the point where anglers can find at least a little flatwater angling to fight off cabin fever.
But until the numerous layers of ice and snow eventually melt from the Gunnison, Fryingpan, Roaring Fork and any other stream you might be dreaming of in late February, the best short-term bet for cabin fever reliever might be the 2008 Fly Fishing Film Tour that lands at the Avalon Theater on March 13.

The tour is brought to us by Merlin, Ore.-based AEG Media, The Angling Exploration Group, which describes itself as a production company “specializing in adventure fly-fishing entertainment.” Among the current offerings are videos from Mongolia, Argentina, Bahamas and Christmas Island.

“We spent 62 days in Mongolia, getting our butts kicked trying to find the elusive taiman, which are close to being endangered,” said Thad Robison, one of the “Fish Bums” that make up AEG Media. “We didn’t take the conservation spin but it’s mainly an adventure documentary, a video journal of four guys in the middle of nowhere, struggling with the weather, transportation, eating strange foods and getting sick.”

The tour this year features eight short videos ranging from 10 to 20 minutes long, all made by small teams of anglers and independent videographers.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/sports/stories/2008/02/20/022008_OUT_fish_movie_WWW.html
Also see Alaska fly fishing

Challenges to Tanner Crab Regulations

When the Kodiak Fish and Game Advisory Committee met last week, it wasn’t just to elect new members and talk about letters; they were also there to discuss and make recommendations to the Alaska Board of Fisheries on proposals effecting the crabbing fleet.

The first two on the agenda were proposals 366 and 367, written by Tary Middlesworth. One proposal aimed to repeal the superexclusive registration area as it pertained to the Kodiak Tanner crab fishery. In the second, he wanted to implement crab pot limits based on vessel size.
In Proposal 366, Middlesworth wrote Kodiak’s superexclusive area discriminates against fishermen who have earned the right to fish in other fisheries. He wanted to change the superexclusive to a nonexclusive fishery.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game crabbing regulations, a vessel that has fished for Tanner crabs in a superexclusive area cannot fish elsewhere. On the other hand, a fisherman can fish in as many nonexclusive areas as the fisherman has permits for.

Fishing Location Spotlight - Wrangell

Here's a little background information on one of Alaska's great fishing areas, Wrangell.

POPULATION: 1,911 (2006)

LOCATION: On the northwest tip of Wrangell Island, 155 miles south of Juneau and 89 miles northwest of Ketchikan, near the mouth of the Stikine River.

DESCRIPTION: A mainly non-Native community with a mixture of Tlingit, Russian, British and American historical influences. Its economy is based on commercial fishing and timber from Tongass National Forest. Fishing and fish processing are important segments of the economy; 250 residents hold commercial permits. Dive fisheries are under development -- 60 divers harvest sea urchins, sea cucumbers and geoducks. Although Wrangell offers a deep-water port, it caters to the smaller cruise ships. Stikine River sportfishing attracts independent travelers. The Alaska Pulp Corp. sawmill was sold to Silver Bay Logging and reopened in April 1998 with 33 employees. Renewed gold mining up the Stikine River has given a boost to the economy. There are three schools, attended by about 440 students.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/319129.html

Also see other Alaska Fishing Locations

Alaska is Great Location for Cruisers

Alaska is hot.If that sounds counterintuitive, hang on to your mittens!As a tourist destination, the last frontier sizzles and, consequently, space aboard the flotilla of ships that call the 49th state home from May through September fills quickly.

In the 17 years from 1990 to 2007, for example, the number of cruisers who've sailed there has nearly quadrupled from 235,000 to a tad more than a million, says Marty Trencher, owner and managing director of Travel Direct and Alaska Cruisetours Online, a 9-year-old firm specializing in vacations to the "Last Frontier."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-cruise_alaska_pmfeb10,0,7378194.story

See also Alaska cruise fishing

Update on Fisheries Meetings

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The state Board of Fisheries meeting is winding down after two weeks of listening to public testimony and voting on proposals.
Some attendees say they are disappointed with the outcome and according to a few Mat-Su fishermen, the board is showing favoritism to commercial fisheries in the central district.
The fishermen asked the state to declare silver, red and chum salmon as stocks of concern. The Board did agree to list sockeye salmon in the Susitna and Yentna Rivers as a "stock of yield concern."

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=7863653

See also sportfishing in Alaska

Crab Season Begins

As the sun set on a slushy gray Monday, the last crabbers still in town were scrambling to leave for this week's tanner crab opener in Southeast Alaska.
The crew of the Mongoose, at Aurora Basin boat harbor in downtown Juneau, was loading crab pots for the tanner season. They were still unsure of where they were going, or when they would leave.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/021208/loc_246228452.shtml

New Regulations for Early King Salmon Fishing

The Alaska Board of Fisheries passed four proposals Monday in Anchorage dealing with early-run king salmon on the Kenai River as amended by record copy 158.
Record copy 158 was prepared by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to address concerns they had with the proposals brought before the board dealing with early-run king salmon regulations. These proposals were placed before the board by sport fishermen in an effort to promote fishing for kings on the river during the early run.

http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/021208/news_4209.shtml

See also Alaskan king salmon fishing

Fisherman Rescued Near Kodiak

The Coast Guard assisted rescuing a fisherman from a capsized fishing vessel after it was washed ashore Saturday near Kodiak, Alaska.
From a Coast Guard press release: The Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers and the Bayside and Kodiak City Fire Departments rescued one individual from a capsized fishing vessel after it was washed ashore Saturday near Kodiak.

http://alaskareport.com/news28/z48189_boat_kodiak.php

Proposal During Alaska Fishing Trip

Move over, Jonah. Make room for a gemstone inside that great fish.

Remember the biblical story of Jonah, the man who fled when God asked him to go to Ninevah?
Thank heavens, Lori Peterson didn't do that when God beckoned her to Alaska.

This is a wonderful Valentine story of love and faith. Wait 'til you read how a Pacific halibut helped Larry propose a year later.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=66634&section=features&freebie_check&CFID=4072037&CFTOKEN=26647850&jsessionid=8830207893b1594370e5

Alaska Fishing Board Has Big Decisions To Make

After more than six hours of deliberation and decision-making at Saturday's meeting, the Alaska Board of Fisheries called it quits for the day in order to take more time to review proposals dealing with commercial fishing seasons.
Proposal 83, which would extend the end of the late-run sockeye season to from Aug. 10 to Aug. 15, set off confusion amongst board members, who tabled discussion of the proposal until this morning.

http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/021008/news_4173.shtml

Looks like there are a lot of decisions being made concerning commercial and sport fishing interests all over the state. There are issues dealing with Cook Inlet, Kenai, Stormy Lake and other fishing areas.

More on Red Salmon Fishing

Invasive Snow Crab May Affect Alaska Crab Sales

KODIAK -- It's an invasive species problem that Alaska would love to have. Millions of snow crab are on the march in the Barents Sea, and no one knows how they got there or what to do with them -- yet.
The Barents Sea, which straddles Norway and Russia, is the same source of all of that jumbo king crab, much of it caught illegally, that wreaked havoc on Alaska's market for the past couple of years.
But unlike king crabs, which were purposely introduced by Russia into those waters in 1966, the opilio, or snow, crab is a true invasive species. Longtime market analyst Ken Talley reports that no one is sure how the snow crab reached the Barents. The first sightings appeared in the Russian zone in 1996.

http://www.adn.com/money/story/310803.html

Making the River Safer for Anglers and Bears

SOLDOTNA -- There'll be some changes in how bears and humans see each other along the Russian River this summer, starting with the bears' hair.

As part of an interagency effort to pacify a danger zone where hundreds of anglers daily mingle with bears expecting to dine on human leftovers, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game plans to make over several grizzlies in bright shades of drugstore hair dye. The idea behind yellow, green, orange or blue bears is to make them instantly recognizable to anyone who reports an encounter, area wildlife biologist Jeff Selinger said.

http://dwb.adn.com/front/story/8902973p-8802899c.html

Sounds like a radical idea, but if you read the entire article, you'll see that bear specialists don't see dyeing the bears as a problem. With so many fishermen and bears congregating in the same place, there are bound to be confrontations. The best idea in the article is to give anglers a place to dispose of their fish carcasses so bears won't find huge piles of treats left by humans.

Federal Funding for Fishing May Get Dropped

Alaska fisheries and jobs from Ketchikan to the Yukon will be big losers if more than $7 million in federal funding is cut by Congress.
The looming shortfall took state policymakers by surprise, according to industry watchdog Bob Tkacz.
In his "Laws for the Sea," a weekly report on fisheries news before the Alaska Legislature, Tkacz said the state had already written the money into its FY09 budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

http://thearcticsounder.com/news/story/1305

More on Alaska fishing

Fishing News Updates

This year there will be a few changes in the halibut fishing regulations. The regulations have not been printed yet, but they are coming soon.

First, charter boat operators can expect a change in halibut retention. I have not seen a final rule yet, but expect a change to be coming.

http://www.sitnews.us/0208Viewpoints/020608_drew_mathews.html

Nice Alaska Salmon Photo

Katie Beesley, Clearfield: Katie caught this 55-pound king salmon while fishing near Denali National Park in Alaska in July. She managed to get the beauty in on a 20-pound test fishing line.

Check out this photo of a 55 pound salmon caught near Denali National Park.

http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_8187577

What a fish!

See also Alaska King Salmon Fishing

Fly Fishing Show in Charlotte, NC

The Fly Fishing Show, the largest event of its kind in the Southeast, has for years been a fixture on the Charlotte scene during what is one of the slowest months of the year for sporting activity.

http://www.goupstate.com/article/20080203/NEWS/432481599/1018/SPORTS

One of the big door prizes is a fishing trip to Alaska. The winner will stay at the Lake Marie Lodge and the To-toy-lon River Lodge for four days each. If you're suffering from cabin fever during the slower fishing season, the Fly Fishing Show will get you back in the angling spirit.

See also Alaska fly fishing

Fishery Board Meeting Highlights

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- More than 100 Alaskans showed up this weekend to testify in front of the Alaska Board of Fisheries.
The board says it heard viewpoints from individuals as well as groups on some 277 proposals it's considering that deal with management of the Upper Cook Inlet Fishery...

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=7816608

This is a good example of anglers standing up for their rights to fish.

See more on Alaska sportfishing

More Questions on Alaskan Halibut Cut

"It's discouraging to learn that several fishing organizations will not oppose the proposed reductions for Area 2C halibut allocations that cite low catch rates and the need to rebuild halibut stocks. Are we following good science?..."

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/010808/opi_20080108006.shtml

The lack of research in the decision to cut halibut catches is ruffling the feathers of some of Alaska's halibut fishermen. This article raises questions about what is exactly hurting Alaskan halibut numbers.

Fishing Goes All Year in Alaska

"Because salmon is at the heart of Alaska's fisheries, many people regard summer as "the fishing season. But it is at this time of year - the dead of winter - when Alaska's largest fisheries get underway. On January 1, boats using hook and line, pot and jig gear begin plying the icy waters of the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea for cod, rockfish and other groundfish. Then on January 20th trawlers take to the seas to target Alaska pollock, the world's largest food fishery..."

http://www.sportfishingmag.com/news/news/noaa-and-partners-install-artificial-reefs-in-southeast-alaska---21288585.html

Alaska's fishing literally goes on all year round. During these winter months, recreational fishermen can catch some king salmon, and halibut among other saltwater going species. Ice fishing is also very popular in Alaska's lakes.

Learn more about Alaska fishing seasons

Alaskan Reef Creation is Good News

"NOAA, the State of Alaska and the University of Alaska Fairbanks have cooperated to build two artificial reefs made of stone in the waters of Lynn Canal, in Southeast Alaska just north of Juneau. The reefs are in 18 to 25 feet of water and are designed to enhance near-shore marine habitat for fish and invertebrates..."

http://www.sportfishingmag.com/news/news/noaa-and-partners-install-artificial-reefs-in-southeast-alaska---21288585.html

This is a great initiative and will give a habitat for smolt and other fish in the Lynn Canal area. Artificial reefs are usually placed in areas with a lack of such natural structures. What usually happens is that invertebrates take hold (like kelp, barnacles and algae) and then fish follow because the invertebrates create a food source for the fish. The creation of these reefs should boost the fish populations providing better opportunities in Alaska for fishing.

Location Spotlight: Ketchikan

Widely accepted as the Salmon Fishing Capital of the State of Alaska, Ketchikan is a "must see" for Alaskan fishing trips. Get a guide from the many service operators that base in the city or rent equipment from an outfitter and fish from Creek Street or any other well known fishing haunt.
If you have an interest in fishing history, check out the George Inlet Cannery - this is where pink salmon was canned and Ketchikan became synonymous with salmon.
Ketchikan's fishing bravado is not only for salmon, you can also fish for steelhead trout, halibut, and rainbow trout there. Check out other fishing spots in Ketchikan

Top Tips for Fishing Alaska

Don't Get Stuck on One Type of Fish
Sometimes, you'll get ready to fish with your eye on one particular species like rainbow trout, but no matter what you do you the rainbows just aren't biting. You aren't having luck with rainbows, but maybe silver salmon are more easily had. Be flexible enough to change your strategy and catch a few silvers. That way, you can still enjoy a day of fishing and come back from rainbow trout some other time.

Know the Fishing Seasons
If you come to Alaska for king salmon fishing in April, you will be disappointed because the king season just hasn't started. Research the major fishing seasons for Alaska and fashion your trip during the most appealing time of year for the fish that you're most interested in.

Don't Break the Law
When you come to Alaska for fishing, you'll need to be aware of the applicable fishing laws. There are limits to how many of each species you can catch and the size of the fish that you can keep. You'll also need a fishing license for any recreational fishing and an additional license if you're angling for king salmon.

These few tips will help get your Alaska fishing trip off to a great start.

Get more Alaska fishing advice

The Best Places for Halibut Fishing

If you're interested in catching big halibut, Alaska is the place to go. Regularly during the fishing season, fishermen pull in halibut upwards of 100 pounds or more. But where are the best spots for fishing halibut? Read on to find our most recommended halibut fishing locations.

SC Alaska:

Prince William Sound

Cook Inlet

SW Alaska:

Dutch Harbor

SE Alaska:

Bucareli Bay

Gulf of Esquibel

Upper Clarence Strait

Behm Canal

Lower Stephen's Passage

More halibut fishing locations

Location Spotlight: Bucareli Bay Alaska

Between small off shore islands and Prince of Wales Island lies Bucareli Bay. This tiny bay is chock full of fish and is easily accessible. Fishermen can stay in Prince of Wales of if they prefer, Ketchikan also makes a good base to travel from. The fish species that abound in Bucareli Bay include king salmon, silver salmon, halibut and others.

Lots of accommodations can be found in Prince of Wales. There are also plenty of fishing guides and charters that operate out of that area of Alaska.

See extra info on Bucareli Bay Fishing

Location Spotlight: Kah Sheets River and Lake

The Kah Sheets River goes from Kah Sheets Lake to Kah Sheets Bay. It is a somewhat remote fishing area because you can only reach it via plane or boat. There are several fishing areas along the lake and river where you can find salmon or trout.

Popular fish species found in this area include red salmon, silver salmon, steelhead trout, dolly varden,

If you wish to stay for a weekend or longer, you can rent a cabin along the lake or bay. The cabins are reasonably priced and some come with a small boat. At current pricing, the cabins rent around $25 to $35 depending on the time of year. Cabins can be reserved by contacting the US Forest Service. Book in advance, these cabins fill up pretty quickly during heavy fishing seasons.

More on the Kah Sheets River and the fish in that area

Salmon Panel Gets OK

Funding for the state's participation in the Pacific Salmon Commission, a key panel in Alaska's commercial fishing relationship with Canada, was included in the passage last month by Congress of the omnibus spending bill.

http://thearcticsounder.com/news/story/1083

More cooperation between Canada and Alaska to protect native fisheries is a wonderful thing. The state of Alaska will also be providing additional funding for the panel.

Learn more about Alaska salmon fishing

Don't Lie on Your Fishing License

"Soldiers helping themselves to a military discount when getting an Alaska hunting or fishing license might take note of what happened in Fairbanks last week."
http://www.adn.com/outdoors/story/248531.html

It only seems fair that residents should be the only ones benefiting from Alaska resident fishing license rates. Anyone altering their resident status to save a few bucks on a fishing license deserves to pay the price whatever it may be. It's good to know that officers are checking the facts on fishing licenses for enforcement.

Want to know how to get a fishing license for Alaska? Read more on Alaska fishing licenses

Passing on Wisdom to Young Fishermen

"Alaska commercial fishing veterans Robin Samuelsen and Arne Fuglvog told young harvesters Dec. 11 they are the industry's future, and encouraged their full participation in both the fisheries and the regulatory process that governs the harvest."
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/123007/hom_20071230009.shtml

It's a great thing when wisdom is shared across generations. Promoting Alaska fishery and respect for the environment will only help continue Alaska's commercial industry.

Are you a novice fisherman? Learn more about Alaskan fish species

A Good Year for Alaska Fishing

"Commercial fishing in Alaska remains a vibrant industry that each year provides more than half of our nation's seafood. Alaska's fish stocks are the envy of other countries around the world, and its management programs are regarded as a model for sustainability."
What more needs to be said? "

http://www.adn.com/money/story/249369.html

Alaska's fishing popularity is growing larger and larger. With the rise of awareness regarding farm raised versus wild caught salmon, Alaskan salmon is some of the most coveted. - These are some of the positive results of an overview of Alaska's fishing in 2007. It appears that things can only get better in 2008.

Read more about Fishing in Alaska