June 2019

Description

June 2019
Saltwater Expeditions

Departments

Alaska Traveler 6
Creel 10
Gear Bag 12
Online 14
Fishing for a Compliment 16
Fish For the Future 22
Salmon Sense 24
Fly 28
Boats 30
Saltwater 38
Stillwater 42
Recipe 94
Advertiser Index 97
Final Drift 98

Features

So, You Want to Catch Yelloweye Rockfish, Unguided?
by George Dennis 44

Yelloweye rockfish are one of the largest, most colorful species of rockfish in Alaska. They are also very slow to mature (20 years) and can live for well over 100 years. They are in trouble due to overharvest along most of the west coast, and though numbers are better in Alaska, it takes a long time to grow another one if you harvest one. In some Southeast ports, unguided anglers can rent skiffs and fish on their own for a variety of salmon and bottomfish, including yelloweyes. George Dennis explains how to find and catch yelloweyes, unguided.

Good Things, Small Packages
by E. Donnall Thomas Jr. 54

Anadromous Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are common in many parts of Alaska. Most target these fish when they are in rivers, but they can be caught on saltwater beaches and estuaries from the Panhandle to Southcentral, Kodiak, and even north of the Aleutians. Don Thomas has flung flies at these two species for many years and shares experiences certain to improve your chances for success.

Gulping Saltwater Strange
by Terry Sheely 64

Terry Sheely shares some unconventional wisdom regarding what’s good to eat in Alaska’s saltwater. Conger eel, wolf eel, spiny dogfish, skates, kelp, sea cucumbers, herring, and sea urchins are all on the menu. Or at least, they could be.

Ocean Pinks
by Andrew Cremata 74

Humpies are often disdained by anglers seeking out silvers or kings, but it’s a fact that saltwater-caught pinks are great table fare, extremely numerous in places, and fine sportfish when caught with appropriate tackle. Mayor Andrew Cremata shares his knowledge on fishing for saltwater pinks in the saltchuck near his Skagway home.

Kayak Fishing Locations in Southcentral Alaska
by Rudy Tsukada 82

Today’s angling kayaks are extremely versatile craft, enabling anglers to fish lakes, rivers, as well as saltwater. What’s more, kayaks are way more affordable than many boats, are easier to launch, provide a more intimate experience on the water, and can be just as effective as outboard-driven boats. Kayak anglers can easily score great catches from the access points Rudy Tsukada describes in this article. If you’ve ever wondered where to go kayak fishing, Rudy provides some great options.

COVER / Rudy Tsukada with a 127-pound halibut caught from his pedal-drive kayak in Resurrection Bay after taking a water taxi out to Fox Island. © Rudy Tsukada