Sitka Fishing Report, August 2, 2021
We finished our season with an eventful two weeks in September. This was the busiest our September schedule has been, with nearly all eight boats running until the end of the season. The days became shorter and the fall chill was in the air. We were fortunate to hit a favorable stretch of weather allowing us to fish the open ocean wherever we pleased. The rest of the time we faced larger seas than we wanted to fight and moved to inside waters. Most groups experienced great success, boating big cohos, kings, halibut, and rockfish.
On the days of nice weather, we drifted long sets at the Cape. Every one of our boats got in on the monster coho action. These big fish are the reason we fish in September and our guests who visit during this time of year are falling in love with this underrated fishing.
We also saw a few kings hitting the dock for our late groups. Most kings we saw were around the 28-inch benchmark to keep, but there were also a few bigger fish sprinkled in – an appreciated bonus this time of year.
As for halibut and rockfish, there was no surprise to us that they finished the year strong. From the day we began during Hook It and Cook It, to our final day, those fish were extremely reliable. Weather allowed us to travel offshore to depths of 500-600 feet and find a consistently fast bite of fish ranging from 36-43 inches. Rockfish off the Cape are huge – 2-3 pounds heavier than average and there are a lot of them. We caught them just below the silver zone of 150 feet.
We officially ended our season on September 10, but the silvers are still feeding on the ocean, and in good numbers. The halibut, which are here year around, also showed no signs of slowing down. With our reduced rates in September and airfare at an affordable price, this time of year is perfect for one last fishing adventure before the leaves turn. It’s also an ideal time if you are in search of that trophy-class, 20-pound, hook-nose silver!
2016 was another memorable season. Thank you everyone who fished with us. Stay tuned for Captain Tom’s recap of the season.
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