Herring Runs
You know herring as the spinning bait on the end of your line to entice salmon, but they’re also a cornerstone species in the North Pacific, converting phytoplankton and zooplankton into protein and forming a vital link in the food chain that feeds countless fish, mammals, and birds.
This March, Captain Chuck and his son Jack watched the massive shoals of herring move to the shallow waters along the shores of Sitka Sound to spawn. This mid-month display of whales, sea lions, seals, and birds feeding on the spawning herring is a bucket list-worthy spectacle. The humpback whales really put on a show this year, bubble-feeding in multiple groups, loading up after their breeding migrations to Hawaii and Mexico.
To put this in perspective – the predicted biomass of herring in the 2025 spawn is an astounding 183,599 tons. This amounts to 367,198,000 pounds. The average weight of each is 122 grams or about five per pound, which translates to about 1.4 billion herring. A full-grown humpback can eat a ton a day, or about 10,000 herring, which seems like a lot but doesn’t really put a dent in the 1.4 billion.
When the herring spawn, they do so in unison. The milt from the males turns the water a pale blue color, similar in look to glacial runoff. This colored water spreads out over many square miles and is one of the few animal phenomena visible from space.
A Little Background
Herring lay sticky eggs that adhere to eelgrass, kelp, rocks, and any other nearshore substrates. As the tide goes out, some of the eggs are exposed, creating a feast for masses of gulls. At the peak of this event, you can observe whales bubble-feeding, seals and sea lions gorging, gulls massing, and huge schools of herring, all easily seen from the road system. A true natural wonder.
Herring play a crucial role in the ecosystem, not only as a food source but also in maintaining the balance of the marine environment. Their presence affects the dietary habits of numerous predators and the overall health of the marine habitat. The sheer number of herring involved in this annual event underscores their importance and the abundance of life they support in Sitka Sound.
March Madness in Sitka Style is a celebration of the abundance we enjoy in the North Pacific. The herring’s role in this spectacle highlights their indispensable contribution to the food chain and the vibrant life they support in the North Pacific. If you ever have the chance, don’t miss the opportunity to witness this extraordinary natural event. It’s awe-inspiring.
GAF Halibut for 2025
The guided angler fish (GAF) program, a big hit with AU customers in 2024, returns for 2025. GAF allows our anglers to catch and keep an additional halibut of any size in addition to the standard bag limit, including keeping a halibut on days that are otherwise closed. Based on what AU is charged for the lease, the cost in 2025 is $440 per GAF. If you want to ensure your party has a GAF, contact us to reserve it. Email us (info@anglingunlimited.com), give us a call (907-738-4746), or fill out a contact form.
Hook It and Cook It
AU’s popular season-opener returns again in 2025. We’ve been at this for over two decades and this year there’s a generational shift. Lucas Szmania, who has assisted his dad Ludger in recent years, is taking the reins. He’ll be preparing delicious dinners for four nights of great eating in conjunction with 4 days of excellent May king and halibut fishing. Not only are the dinners gourmet eating, but you’ll get all the recipes so you can repeat them at home for friends and family.
Available Fishing Dates
If you have a yen to fish this season and haven’t booked yet, AU has a selection of prime king, halibut, lingcod, and rockfish dates in late May and early June. The kings are typically abundant and this is one of the best times of the year to catch big GAF halibut.
🎣 May 16–21 (Hook It & Cook It)
Arrive Fri, May 16 | Fish May 17, 18, 19, 20 | Depart Weds, May 21
1 boat available (4–6 spots)
🎣 May 21–25
Arrive Weds, May 21 | Fish May 22, 23, 24 | Depart Sun, May 25
1 boat available (4–6 spots)
🎣 May 24–28
Arrive Sat, May 24 | Fish May 25, 26, 27 | Depart Weds, May 28
1 boat available (4–6 spots)
🎣 May 28 – June 1
Arrive Weds, May 28 | Fish May 29, 30, 31 | Depart Sun, June 1
1 spot available (4–6 spots)
News Beyond Sitka
Captain Tom, wife Linda Mae, daughter Evelyn, and AU office manager Bella went on a wildlife safari this March. Gorillas in Rwanda and endless animals in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. Words can’t describe it. Even photos fall short of conveying the wildlife and the wide open lands.
