Good Fishing

August 1, 2010

I set off today to catch some halibut.  The summer has been slow in the usual spots so I headed out someplace new.  I wasn’t sure which way I’d go though, the local charter boats won’t give up where they take their clients and the few people I know who fish say they haven’t been having much luck.

Halibut come shallow in the summer time, I figured I try in the 150 to 170 depth range and see what happens.  I spent a few hours checking out different random spots before

finally coming upon a nice spot on the other side of the island that produced two nice fish in short order.

Once I got back I cut the fish into single size servings ready for the vacuum sealer.  I went to the store to pickup some vacuum bags only to find out they were out.  I had to settle for some seal-able freezer bags instead.  I got home and started to package the fish before I realized I’m out of space in the freezer.

Uuuugh, well I managed to get most of it in there, the rest I put in the refrigerator or cooked.  I need to find more space.

I have plenty of fish for the year, I might go after halibut again and I could use some crab, but I’m running out of space to hold all if.  The Silver salmon are on the way and they are my favorite of all the salmon to fish for.  Of the silvers I get this year, some will be cut into steaks, some will be cut, smoked and jarred.

Bering Sea Sockeye Salmon

July 7, 2010

More images of these two fishing trips in the gallery.

If there is one thing out here that most of the locals talk about when it comes to sport and subsistence fishing, it’s the arrival of the Sockeye Salmon at McLees Lake and Reese Bay.  The past few years the fishing has been hit and miss.  Fish and Game would close the area around the rivers outlet to the bay until at least 10,000 fish passed through the fish weir to the lake, then the area from the outlet and around the bay would be open for gill netting.  In the past the immediate area would remain closed until the first or second week of July.

This year however, the escapement number was reach early and the area around the river outlet was opened to fishing.  Jennifer, Shari and I made plans to head out early on Friday to go fishing.  We took two boats and headed out about 0800.   We ended up with 32 fish in just over and hour.  It was fun fast fishing, we were certainly happy with our catch.

I had also made plans to fish with Aura the following Monday.  Earlier in the year she had ordered a net and was very anxious to get it in the water and see it fish.  Originally we were going to meet up and leave about 0530.  However I was on fire watch with the fire department and ended spending my Fourth of July night putting out unattended (abandoned) bon fires until about 0300.  So we ended up leaving about 0730 instead.

We headed around to the bay, we were the first ones there.  It took a little bit to figure out the best location to fish her net, once we got it dialed in – it fished very well, netting fish every few minutes.  After a few hours we packed up and headed back.  She was happy with her net, and the fish it caught.

Once we got back to the dock, we cleaned up the boat and I started to fillet the salmon.  I keep the roe (eggs) also, I like to cure them and use them as bait for Silver Salmon (coho) later this year.  I have a large batch of salmon that are in

a nice dry brine getting ready to head to the smoker, and the rest I vacuum sealed with a variety of seasonings and put them them in the freezer.

All in all, two good fishing trips, and a few good pictures.  I believe I ended up with 18 fish for myself.  I could use  a few more though.

More images of these two fishing trips in the gallery.

Hunting King Crab

June 7, 2010

I guess that’s not really a fair title, there are a few of us in a unique position to actually find them.  For the past few years I’ve been diving with friends for Alaska King Crab.  In the summer time they come shallow then when winter comes around they head back deep.  So from June to January King Crab is open for personal subsistence fishing and were able to use our scuba gear to dive down and grab crab.  The State of Alaska considers Scuba gear to be acceptable subsistence fishing harvest gear.  Here is an early video of me diving for crab.

This year I’ve decided to try my hand at pot fishing for King and Bardai crab.  I borrowed three pots from friends and set two of them yesterday.  These first two are set for Kings and the last one will be set much deeper for the Bardai.  I need to get a little more line because of the depth and hopefully I’ll get it this week.

I’m still going to dive for crab but with the summer season here and the Fire Fighter Academy in full swing – my time isn’t as free as it used to be.  So I figure why not.  One of the biggest considerations for using pots to fish crab is getting them out of the water.

Most boats fishing pots have a ‘pot puller’ or a block with an electric or gas motor and wheel used to pull up the pots from the bottom.

I’m not really interested in adding anything to the boat and the exercise wouldn’t hurt me – so I’m hand pulling the pots.  Takes a few EXTRA minutes to pull them from 60 to 80 feet but they get eventually get up and when I’ve worked out all the the cramps in my arms – I check and set them back.

Memorial Day Weekend .a

June 2, 2010

My original plan for Memorial Day weekend was to load up the boat with fuel. Dakota and some camping gear.  Head out Friday night to English Bay

or Beaver Inlet and do some beach camping while hiking, fishing, exploring and relaxing and head back to town on Monday.  Well as is usually the case out this way, the weather on Friday and Saturday didn’t  work to my favor in regards to getting the boat out and through Unalga Pass.  So the first few days were spent in town just relaxing.

When Sunday rolled around the winds were down to almost nothing and the water was really flat.  It was time to get on the water.  Headed out of town and decided that a closer Kalekta Bay was the destination.  The water was fairly flat and the going was easy.  Fished around the bay with no luck.

To me it’s a little early for serious fishing.  The Halibut are deep and the Salmon are still a week or two away.  There is some good bottom fishing for some lesser known and fished species but I have yet to find them.  I’m working on it though.

Sunday was nice, spending nearly 10 hours on the water just cruising around the bays enjoying the day and weather.  Summer is almost here.

Winter Fishing

April 19, 2010

This post is almost three weeks due.  After spending some time up north of Fairbanks, I headed down to Anchorage and spent some time with some old friends.  One of them was Rob who had lined up a company fishing trip to Seward to chase some late season Winter Kings (King Salmon).  I spent a few days with Chris in between his hitches on the slope, and then met up with Rob en route to Seward.  I should say first off that we didn’t catch any fish, although we did hook an eagle.  I’ll post the video of that later on.

The drive down was just as I remembered.  The tides of Turnagain Arm, the long stretches of highway with abrupt semi-blind curves.  All the mountains and trees.  I’ve driven the stretch at least a hundred times.  The last however about six years ago to do some fishing on the Kenai.   We treated the drive like  a poker run, stopping at the Brown Bear Saloon near Indian for a beer.  I had one of my local favorites.  Midnight Suns Kodiak Brown Ale.  While we waited for the rest of the group to show up the guys played pool and I just milled around chatting.

Our next stop was a little bar and hotel in Moose Pass.  We all ordered a few more beers and some exotic blueberry hot wings, then drove another 20 minutes in to Seward where we made it to the hotel and got settled.  That night we had dinner and drinks then spent four hours or so at the world famous Yukon Bar having more drinks and took in the live music and local folk .

I’ve spent the last 13 years drinking with Rob and I’d say were both pretty good at it, as well was most of the others in our company.  It was like old times and I was happy to be there.

We eventually made our way back to the hotel and crashed.  Our boat the next morning was supposed to leave at 0800.  I think we got there about 0830.  Since the whole boat was chartered for two days, the skipper and crew didn’t care when we showed up.  They already had the money and knew we would be there at some point.

We spent a good portion of the day on the water, heading out and fishing along the cliffs that lined the bay.  We trolled up to Bear Cove and Glacier, then over behind Fox Island.  We fished at varying depths but had no luck.  Just wasn’t our day.  No worries though, good stories, good company,  and lines in the water.

Had we actually caught some fish, the pictures would be different and the story would continue for pages.

You can check out more images from the trip in the Photo Gallery.

Distractions

April 16, 2010

For some reason today is really difficult to get focused.  I have a lot going on right now with work and although on the edge of finishing a big part of my current project, I find my mind being pulled away from work to thoughts of fishing and boating.  Is the next fishing season really here already?  I can’t put my finger on exactly what is pulling my attention from work to play but I’m sure I’ll figure it out.

I am one of the lucky ones that can fish year round where I live.  Sure it’s a little slower from November thru April, but there is still some fishing to be done and when the weather is good, I’ll take the boat out and drop a few lines.

The last of my winter boat maintenance and upgrades are nearly complete.  I added hydrofoil wings to the engine in hopes of improving it’s fuel efficiency and to keep the boat on step at slower speeds.  So far, I’ve only had it out once with the wings and I have mixed feelings about them.

I’m happy to report I finally replaced the rubber boots on the toggle switches for the electrical distribution panel.  I spent four or five months searching forums and service bulletins, calling and email marine experts trying to find the right ones. Then about two weeks ago I broke down and called the manufacturer, and as you might have expected they had them in the mail the next day.

Also added to the boats fuel system is a tank selector / fuel shut off for the two 12gal tanks I’m running.  I had originally tied the two tanks together with a brass T, however after reading several posts about connecting two tanks together it was obvious I needed to be able to isolate the tanks.  The primary reason is that if the tanks do not empty evenly and one becomes completely empty, the fuel system will pull air from the empty tank because it’s easier than pulling fuel from the other.

I have bids in on a few more small accessories on eBay.  I’m in need of a sea anchor to slow me down when fishing for halibut.  The winds can pickup up and blow you around pretty quickly here.  The other item(s) I’m hoping to get are some rod holders that mount to the rails of the boat.  So far I have the winning bid on both, but I expect that at the last minute the bidding war will begin.

…. oh jeeez, where was I?  Online inventory tracking and availability integrated with the PMS system and the global distribution system connector to travel agents?  Hard to image getting distracted with this one.

Unalaska Island Trek II

January 30, 2010

Well as most you (and by you I mean you my blog visitors, the local community and my friends) know – ever since trekking the island last fall I’ve been itching to get out and finish what I started.  My knee is healed up nicely (it only pops and cracks once in a while) and I’ve gained what feels like 30 pounds, over the last four months.

It looks like June is the month I’m going to go back down to the far end of the island.  I’m hoping to start at Station Bay again if not, Chernofski will do just fine.  Maybe I can visit Art Christensen at the old sheep ranch there.  I know Buck (a sheep that kept head butting Dakota for six miles) will be happy to see us again.

Same as last time for the most part, I’m not changing much.  The route is perfect thanks to Jeff Hancock of Aleutian Adventure Sports.  My meal planning and food cache in Pumicestone Bay were perfect. (although I’m tossing out trail mix.)  The amount of food Dakota carried in her pack was spot on, although I may carry a little extra in my pack for her.  I’ll be renewing the registration on my SPOT Satellite Messenger and that will of course include up to $100,000.00 of whatever it takes to rescue me insurance!  I’ll have it post in real time my location on the site here just like the last time.

One BIG change this year will be NOT having a flight crew from the USCG fly out to come rescue me after 11 days of trekking and just two days shy of my destination because I fell in the Shaler Mountains and couldn’t walk anymore.

Here is the gallery of images from my first trek across the island in August / September of 2009.

Engine Power

August 3, 2009

Well after what seemed like forever, the new engine for my project boat has arrived. The Horizon Tacoma was late and our containers were some of the last to off load, so I had to wait until Saturday to pickup the beauty.

I ordered this motor for a variety of reasons.  The company I ordered it from is based in Waterford Connecticut.  Outboard Exchange, LLC has been rebuilding, refurbishing, servicing and selling outboards forever.

I had several options when it came to the engine I wanted.  Evinrude, Mercury, Yamaha are the three they specialize in.

However, since I have an Evinrude and a Johnson v-4 88 SPL – I chose to have them send me an Evinrude that would bolt up to the OMC controls I already have installed on the boat.

It’s been six days since I installed the motor.  I have had no problems at all with it.  It fired right up, purred like a kitten and winked at me, like a taunt to take her out on the water to give her a test run.  – Which is what I did.

It’s Friday

July 31, 2009

I’ve waited and waited and waited and I’m still waiting.  The container ship Horizon Tacoma pulled in a few hours ago and the containers are being off loaded now.  In one of those containers is an engine.  A engine that goes on the back of my boat.

The boat has been washed,  both tanks filled with fuel, electronics installed, battery charged, fuel lines installed.  I just need the engine now.
THe ship was late and the UniSea containers are in the back, or is it the bottom, or is it both?  I’m not sure.  Rumor on the street is that were not getting out containers until later tonight. -eeeeeergh.   Oh well, whats a few hours or another day at this point.  I’ve been restoring this boat since Septamber of last year.  I think I can handle it.

Robert & The King

June 14, 2009

My nephew Robert made his way out to the island for a visit.

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