Captain Tom’s Striper Report
Best King Fishing in Years
From when we got started on June 8 until the end of June, the kings came in numbers we haven’t seen for many years. Big schools, multiple hookups, early limits – all were common throughout much of the month. The second week of June delivered three kings over 30 pounds with many in the 20’s. After that, we had a spurt of “cookie cutter” kings, mostly in the mid-teens. The month ended with another invasion of bigger kings. The regulations changed for the better by mid-month to one per day and a four king annual limit throughout the rest of the season.
Solid for Bigger Halibut
Halibut fishing proved highly dependable throughout June and by mid-month, the minimum size went up from 40 inches to 45 inches. These regulatory changes result from the shutdown of the early season and the lower turnout of anglers to Alaska due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Getting to Sitka
AU guests who have made the journey report very easy travel with uncrowded airports and ample room on the flights. The airlines are doing all they can to make the flights safe.
The State of Alaska mandates for inbound travel have stabilized. Travelers with documentation (electronic on your phone is fine) of a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of boarding their Alaska bound flight step off the plane, claim their luggage and meet our team in the parking lot. If you have documentation of a negative test taken less than 5 days but more than 72 hours prior to boarding, you’ll be asked to retest at the airport. This takes almost no time, it’s a painless self-administered nose swab, and it’s free.
AU worked hard to locate an easy way for our clients to satisfy the testing requirements. Just call and we’ll fill you in. It’s at-home, self-administered, and simple.
Share Your Testing Resource
Testing options are popping up all over the country. In Seattle, you can get tested for free at a drive-thru in the Sodo area and north of the city on Aurora. You make an online appointment, drive-thru and results have come between 24-36 hours later. We’d love to learn about testing options in other locations so please share if you find something good.
Outlook
The outlook for the fishing is excellent, especially for kings. The regulations are the best we’ve seen in a long time, and we’re doing all we can to make your trip a safe one. We understand that each individual needs to weigh his or her health factors and risk tolerance. For those who have made the trip this season, the rewards have been lots of kings, bigger halibut, swarms of rockfish along with some lingcod and blackcod. The beauty of Southeast Alaska, always a treat seems a little less crowded and a bit more populated with wildlife. Sightings of bears, whales, and sea otters doing the backstroke, always a thrill, seemed a little more frequent this June on our saltwater wilderness.
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