Fishing in the salt with Kodiak Island Charters

by Rick Birch

We boarded U Rascal and set out for a 75-minute run across the bay. Most of the saltwater fishing from the city of Kodiak can be done within a single hour from launching. We were headed for the waters off Cape Chiniak. Our target for the day would be to find kings and halibut, with the possibility of finding some silver salmon high as well. Our game plan was to troll until we found a good concentration of fish and then switch to jigging.

Chris Fiala is the owner and operator of Kodiak Island Charters and would be our host for the day. As we cruised to our fishing destination at about 12 knots (the boat was a 1977 Old Delta with a pair of 671 Detroit engines), I found myself gaining an appreciation about saltwater fishing in the Kodiak waters. Aside from the abundance of sightseeing opportunities, the western gulf is famous for its large biomass. The abundance of feed is why so many whales frequent these waters. There are also year-round fishing opportunities for king salmon.

Kodiak Island Charters operates From May through October. In the fall they provide services for 6 to 7-day live-aboard hunting and fishing trips. Our salmon gear for the day was an Ugly Stick Tiger Series rod with Ande line. We would jig with Luhr-Jensen Striker lures. Our trolling gear would consist of downriggers and Chegegon spoons.

After multiple stints of trolling and jigging for salmon, we were finding the salmon to be scattered. Less than a one foot difference from high to low tide could allow both the baitfish and salmon to scatter throughout the bay. For whatever reason, we were just not finding the schools of salmon, as was the case of all the other operators we talked to that day. We did pick up a few hits and landed a nice silver salmon, but we eventually moved to grounds that would be more favorable for halibut fishing.

For the halibut, Chris has custom-made rods with Garcia Ambassadeur 7000 reels. We used a #300 pound leader with circle hooks, 12 to 16-ounce weights, and octopus for bait. Chris was determined to get us onto some good fishing. And true to form, our last two hours of the day provided a frenzy of hauling up a variety of bottomfish. We landed 20 halibut, 15 rockfish, and one very large lingcod in this last-burst effort.

In the end it was a successful day of fishing thanks to the extra effort put in by our skipper and deckhand. It had been an incredibly calm day on the Pacific Ocean and the abundance of whales and droves of birds kept us entertained throughout the day.

I was also quite impressed with the way that Kodiak Island Charters had teamed up with Island Seafoods. Island Seafoods had provided a tote of ice onboard. Immediately after landing and deciding to keep each fish, it was bled by cutting the gills and packed in ice. Just before heading back to the dock, saltwater was added to the tote to create an ice slurry that would drop the temperature to 27 degrees. Back at the dock, Island Seafoods hoisted the tote to the dock and presented each of us with a variety of options for processing, packaging, freezing, and/or shipping. The quality and superior taste of properly cared-for fish would be obvious at the dinner table for months to come, only adding to the memories of a unique experience.
 

Read more about our Kodiak Adventures

Switching Gears with Grif

by Melissa Norris

On Monday morning at 7 a.m., Mike Lenorman, Wayne, and I arrive at the parking lot of the American River to meet up with Grif, our guide for the day and the owner of Salty Fly Safaris. We are taking Honda and Suzuki ATVs over a mountain to a couple of creeks that offer prolific fishing opportunities. Grif’s dog, Sheila, rides on the four-wheeler with him.

The trip is 16 miles of varying terrain each way, offering incredible views of this small part of Alaska. Along the way we see a couple of deer and plenty of scenery. The ride is both exhilarating and challenging, and it is important that we follow instructions from Grif. We make it there safely and with a feeling of achievement as I keep thinking, “This is why I live in Alaska.”

We arrive at Saltery Creek to fish sockeye, pinks, and some Dollies. The sockeye range from fresh specimens to some much closer to spawning, and there is an abundance of pinks. The creek is small, so an easy roll cast with Grif’s 9-foot Fly-Logic rods is all we need to get to the fish. The challenge was trying to land our flies within the reach of the sockeye—without catching pinks. Sight fishing for sockeye is a blast, and we spend the morning feeding the fish a special fly tied by Grif.

In the early afternoon we ride out to Rough Creek to try our luck on some ferocious chum salmon. As we get closer I see some animals in the distance. I squint for a minute and say, “Are those wild horses?” It was breathtaking. Moments later I see a herd of buffalo beyond the horses. I think I’m dreaming.

After a quick bite for lunch sitting on the four-wheelers, we walk down to the creek and start fishing for chum. These dogs are as strong as a pit bull and prove to be a great time for all. My husband landed a chum on nearly every cast, and Mike became a true dog-lover in a matter of minutes. We’re not sure why these fish get a bum rap, but they sure are fun to catch, as they’ll fight as long as you want and they pull like a half-ton pickup.

All in all it is a great day. I see a dog (the four-legged variety) riding a four-wheeler, wild horses, deer, and buffalo behind a mountain in Alaska, and we get into plenty of fish with quick-witted Grif, who kept us laughing all day—this is a day everyone should experience.