Friday was rainy and cool, and we wondered if our fourth of July fireworks might once again be postponed. But things cleared up as evening approached, and although everything was wet, the sky was clear and the night was calm, so the fireworks continued as scheduled…
Category Archives: Blog
Fourth of July Celebrations in Sitka
The fourth of July has come and gone, and, like all over the U.S., Sitka celebrated our nation’s independence. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t cooperating for the three-day celebration. It was cold, wet and rainy, but it didn’t hamper anyone’s enthusiasm. The whole town had a carnival atmosphere…
Fishing For Halibut
Halibut are another exciting fish to catch in Sitka, Alaska. Of all flat fish, halibut are the largest, averaging about 25 to 35 pounds, but growing up to over 400 pounds. They are typically found on the bottom of the ocean in depths from 50 feet to over 600 feet…
Mooching for Salmon
Many people who fish at our lodge for the first time have never “mooched” before, for salmon. “Mooching,” (not to be confused with smooching), is a style of fishing developed by the Japanese in Seattle’s Elliott Bay in the 1920’s. In essence, the purpose of mooching is to get the bait (a cut plug herring)…
BIG King Salmon in Sitka
“I was reeling up my line, and at 10 feet below the surface, I got a bite. Something took the bait straight out from the boat, and I wondered if a sea lion had gotten a hold of it, line was peeling out so fast. Then it breached, and I saw this monster king salmon…
Photography on the Ocean
I like taking pictures. The problem is, as a deckhand I rarely have time to pull out my camera while on the boat. I’m usually very busy, making sure our clients are having a good day on the water, including keeping their baits fresh, and serving up cookies. Not only that, when there is a…
Big Brothers Big Sisters
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska strengthens our communities by providing mentors to all children who need and want a caring adult role model – special friends who can help them expand their horizons, realize their potential and enrich their futures – changing their lives.” The Sitka Charterboat Operators Association sponsored another Big Brothers Big…
Grizzly Bears and Water Spouts
Recently, while motoring north through the inside passage, we witnessed our first brown bear of the season. Our captains keep in radio contact all day long, and when one of them sees something interesting, they usually pass it on to the others. Our boat had already passed the bear without noticing it, when Mike White…
Big Brothers Big Sisters Outing
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. They have been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters mentors children, ages…
Dressing for the Weather, Fishing with the Elderly
Typical weather out on the ocean is a mix of sunshine, clouds, maybe a few sprinkles, and a breeze blowing the ocean into a mild chop. From what I’ve seen (I’m in my 2nd season), the days are predominantly sunny, though rain can appear on any given day. The day may start off in a…
Take Your Kids Fishing
I like it when families with young kids come fishing with us. It brings back the excitement of fishing to see their eyes light up in awe, no matter what size or kind of fish they catch. The other day we took a family of four out for a half day of fishing. The two…
King Salmon Frenzy
Summer has come to Sitka, at least for the time being. The last few days have been beautiful, bright, and sunny, with highs in the 70’s. Shorts and t-shirt weather, even out on the ocean! It feels HOT, compared to our usual marine temperate weather with highs in the upper 50’s. We’re not that used…
Sitka Area Fun
A lot of the staff have been taking advantage of Sitka’s natural charms lately. It seems like every day, somebody else is talking about their plans for hiking, kayaking, or biking. Any time off is appreciated and enjoyed to the fullest, as all of us know that when the season really gets going, we won’t…
New Lodge Carpeting, Staff Fishing Trips
We took on a major project this week: replacing the old, well used lodge carpeting with a fresh, new layer of carpet. Theresa had been talking to a local carpet contractor, evaluating styles, colors and designs for the new carpeting she wanted to install. She also coordinated the perfect time for the contractor to do…
Fish Processing and Eagle Feeding Habits
Good news on the fishing front here in Sitka. Our boats have been bringing in a lot of very nice fish the past few days. There have been some full coolers hauled onto the dock and up to the processing room full of ocean bright king salmon (which have been showing good numbers this spring),…
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