|
|
JUNE 2008 May – The best of times, the worst of times. (Big kings and halibut but fewer of them) |
|
| More big kings hit the dock than any May in AU’s history while at the same time fewer total kings were landed than any May in recent memory. | |
 |
The tough fishing reflected the overall down-cycle with king salmon up and down the West Coast. A nasty storm for the Women Gone Fishin’ event and a howling Northwesterly blow toward the end of the month added to the challenge. |
In between the two weather events, AU’s anglers experienced king fishing that was decent for numbers and exceptional for size. We inducted two members to the Tyeeee Club – with Paul Fillon’s (assist to Stan Jackson) 50 pounder landed on May 19 and Jim Reed’s 52 pounder landed on May 24. AU anglers landed or released an even dozen kings between 40 and 50 pounds and 21 kings between 30 and 40 pounds this May. Halibut fishing mirrored the kings—some grand slams including Mike Draper’s 280 pound monster on May 18 along with fish of 60, 82, and 87 pounds for the rest of his party. However, there were stretches when halibut were very hard to find. AU added a total of 12 new inductees into the Big Butt Club (halibut over 100 pounds) – which is extraordinary for May. Lingcod and rockfish provided solid action also during throughout the month. |
|
|
VOTE THE BOAT AU needs your help! We have two new boats that need good names. We have 10 boat name finalists to vote on at www.AnglingUnlimited.com. Please vote the boat! |
|
WEBSITE UPDATE The Tide's Coming In! AU's New Website will soon be here! |
|
|
Angling Unlimited’s web site is currently undergoing an extreme makeover including links to Sitka weather, up-to-date catch information, current regulations, and lots of photos of our guests enjoying themselves in Sitka. The site will be updated on a regular basis throughout the season with photos of the day, fishing reports and guests receiving their own photo album to view on-line! |
 |
| So log on often for the latest and greatest from the AU and Sitka at www.AnglingUnlimited.com. | |
|
REGULATION WATCH Southeast Alaska is not immune to the salmon crisis hitting the lower 48. California and most of Oregon are closed to king salmon harvest and low returns are expected in Washington and British Columbia. Many of the kings we catch Alaska are migratory fish travelling south. There is a clear and present conservation issue with these fish which requires lower impact fishing coast-wide. Our king (Chinook) regulations for 2008 are: May and June: 1 king per day, 3 fish annual limit For complete details, download this PDF from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. There’s no candy coating the July 16 through end of season 48 inch minimum – it’s a non-retention of king salmon regulation unless you hook a once in a lifetime monster. For perspective, a 48 inch king that is long and lean will weigh over 50 pounds. A stout 48 incher will exceed 60 pounds. We understand that many of our late July/early August anglers come for the king/silver combo. This will still be available from the catching side of the equation, but for the take home – it’s a silver show. Halibut bag limits were reduced to one per person per day as of June 1, 2008. The entire charter industry is very concerned about this change and we are taking every measure we can to reinstate the two per day limit. We will inform you immediately if we succeed. The driving forces behind the decreased bag limit are declining numbers of halibut in Southeast (part of a cycle) and allocation issues with the commercial fishermen. There is no size limit or annual limit with halibut. |
|
 |
Angling Unlimited works hard every day through SEAGO (founded by Captain Tom and other concerned lodge and charter operators in Southeast Alaska – http://www.seagoalaska.org) to improve our regulations and representation. |
|
We support efforts to conserve the resource, but we believe strongly that sport fishers who travel to Alaska deserve greater consideration. We devote a good deal of time and money to the working toward long term improvement in allocations and regulations for the sport fishery. In the mean time, it’s important to remember there is no limit on fun during your Sitka trip. The scenic beauty remains, the fishing is great as is the bonding with friends and family. It’s all here with AU and Sitka. We’re committed to making 2008 the best year yet for everyone that fishes with us. “Living Well is the Best Revenge” (George Herbert) |
|
 |
|
Angling Unlimited • Sitka Alaska Fishing Charter |
