Irene and Rick Kratz of California and Jeff and Kitty Holten of Minnesota recently fished with Captain Tom and experienced the phenomenal coho quality that’s been consistent the entire month of August. The coho stock this year is much larger in average size compared to years past. Most fish are in the 13-15 pound range with many fish approaching the prized 20-pound benchmark. Captain Tom said that last year was the record breaking year for coho numbers, but this year has been one of the best for sheer size and strength of the fish. If anyone has an interest in catching big silvers, late-August and early September is when to visit Sitka.

The Kratz and Holtens continued the theme of daily trips to The Cape. The only change now is that fish aren’t concentrated to the gravel flat. Drifts are random and fish are everywhere. Most boats begin a drift, drift of a few miles, catch beautiful silvers and monster rockfish, then repeat. There is an abundance of bait at The Cape, which has beefed up not only the cohos, but the rockfish as well. Some of the rockfish are nearly 8 pounds! Kings are even mixed in. The halibut bite is still very dependable near the gravel and offshore. Each day, the group caught near limits of cohos and rockfish and their limit of halibut.

A amazing sight from the trip was Jeff Holten battling a silver that chased him to the bow, then out of no where, it made a u-turn, charged to the stern, leaped out of the water and into the boat! Captain Tom said in 27 years of fishing, he’s never had a coho leap into the boat!

Weather during their trip was windy with seas of 3-5 feet, which was very manageable to drift at The Cape. The weather for the next week is forecasted for rain, with similar ocean conditions the next week to finish up the 2014 season. Stay tuned for our last report to conclude another great season.