Preparations for the 2022 Season
Welcome to the Fleet Aurora!
AU’s new 2022 North River has a name – Aurora. We’re building this one slightly bigger – 31 length with a 10-foot beam. She’s due for delivery to Sitka in early to mid-May at which time Captain Sarah takes the helm. Aurora will spend this week in the paint booth. Next, she moves to outfitting including a Volvo D6 diesel. The North River team continues working diligently to achieve our delivery date, and we continue to improve and refine our fleet to enhance your experience.
Season’s Anticipation
Spring comes a wee bit late to Sitka temperature-wise but arrives right on time with longer days, spawning herring, and a steady influx of kings. In the next 6 weeks, we’ll ready the fleet, dust off all the gear, and prepare the docks for another season. Our lodging will be made spic and span. No matter how long we do this, and it’s 30 years now, the anticipation of a new season gets our blood pumping just a little bit faster. We look forward to kicking it off with Hook It and Cook It beginning May 15. We’ll post regular fishing reports from then on. Stay tuned.
An Update on Surcharges
Who isn’t aware that prices for nearly everything have taken a jump – especially fuel. We’re facing at least a $2 per gallon increase in diesel fuel price at the dock compared to 2021. Additionally, everything that comes to Sitka arrives via air or barge – both fuel-intensive means of transport that pass costs on via a surcharge. Historically AU has resisted adding a fuel charge to already paid invoices. We hope to stay that course. That said, we’ll need to keep an eye on how high the prices go as the season get closer before we make a final call.
AU Recipe of the Month
This month’s recipe is from Sue Baumann. Sadly, we lost Sue to cancer two years ago. Grace McNamee has been busy working this winter on an update of the AU cookbook that Sue put together many years ago. There are several new recipes and lots of the old favorites, over 120 recipes in all. The AU Cookbook has been completed and will be available in the AU store this summer. Thank you Grace for all your hard work on this…Grandma Sue would be very proud of you!
News In and Around Sitka
Tug with Barge runs aground in Neva Strait
Our morning run north goes past the scene of the grounding, but before you ask – this will not impact our fishing or contaminate the fish we catch. Here are the details.
Herring Spawn
A massive number of herring have hit Sitka Sound for their annual spawn. On the first hour and 15-minute opening, 45 tons were harvested at Inner Point. This is one of the few living wonders that can be seen from space, and it attracts all kinds of life to Sitka. Read more here.
Cross Trail Extension
If you like walking in the woods after fishing, the Cross Trail will soon be even more accessible in the areas nearby. Here are the details.
Related posts
We will not be able to make it up to fish with you this year but please keep me on your e-mail list and really love your recipes. We hope to make it back up next year. Have a great year Bill