Weather and Wardrobe
As the season approaches, we get many questions about the weather and what to pack for comfort on the high seas. Days on the water vary from quite chilly and damp to moderate. In May, the morning temperatures, especially after a clear night, can dip into the low 40s. Most of the time you can count on temperatures in the low 50s in the morning and high 50s to low 60s during the day. Sitka is in the northern temperate rainforest, with rain being the operative term. AU provides rain gear and rain boots. Under that layer of rubber, we suggest multiple insulation layers with a preference for wool over synthetics. We recommend that your outer layer has insulation (down or synthetic) and serves as a windbreaker.
Cold hands are often a big discomfort while fishing. It’s hard to find gloves that provide sufficient dexterity while keeping you warm. The best option is fleece fold-over mittens that provide warmth and finger feel. There are many brands. Simms makes a good one.
Newest AU Member
We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of Bjorn Christopher Baumann, born on April 24, 2025, to Captain James Baumann and his wife, Jessica. Bjorn weighed 9 lbs, 2 oz, and measured 21 inches long.
A heartfelt message from Captain James: “This child completes our lives, and we are forever grateful for the friends, family, doctors, and hospital staff who supported us and helped make this dream a reality.”
Congrats, James and Jessica!
Blackcod: The Lucky Deepwater Catch
As we revealed in a recent trivia quiz, blackcod aren’t really cod at all. They and the rare skilfish are the only members of their taxonomic family – Anoplomatidae. Their official name is sablefish, and they are a deep-water species – mostly found on the edge of the continental shelf down 1000 feet or more. We do have times when they come up to the 700-foot depths where we target halibut, but that’s hit or miss. For a few seasons, we enjoyed a couple of big year classes of blackcod that we caught in good numbers in as little as 500 feet. As those fish grew larger, they moved into the deep.
For these reasons, we’ve considered blackcod a lucky addition to halibut fishing in the deep. Some days many, some days none. For 2025, we’re adding electric reels to each boat and, weather permitting, you can explore the deep for these most delicious and nutritious fish.
Check out Jenny’s go-to recipe for blackcod below…
Maple-Soy Glazed Blackcod
Serving Size: 4 | From Seagan Eating
Ingredients
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 4 black cod steaks, about 4 ounces each
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475°.
- In a zip-top bag, mix the maple syrup and soy sauce.
- Add the cod steaks and toss to distribute the sauce to cover the fish. Let marinate in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours if you have time, or cook immediately.
- Transfer the fish to a baking dish or broiling pan and bake for 10 minutes, or until fish is cooked through.
- I like to serve this with steamed bok choy and brown rice.
Volcano Watch
The buzz began recently about Mount Spurr, a volcano near Anchorage that erupted in 1953 and 1992. The latter eruption caused some issues with flights in and out of Anchorage. The likelihood of an eruption is hard to peg. Recently, scientists have measured increased seismic activity on Mt. Spurr, which could signal an eruption or simply fade away. The takeaway for AU: Unless you’re flying through Anchorage, eruption or not, this will have no impact on travel to Sitka.
Where’s Tom?
Last week, Tom was in the mid-Pacific with wife Linda Mae, daughter Hanne, and son-in-law Zack. Three days were spent on Molokai, including fly fishing for bonefish with guide Joe Kalima, who is former AU processor Ehu’s godfather. They have big bonefish there, and he’s a wonderful guide. Learn more here.
Next, the entourage took a puddle jumper to Maui to enjoy beach time and plenty of visiting with AU’s former office manager, Aleta McGrath.
Post Maui, Captain Tom links up with long-time AU guest Jim Smith and a gang of friends to fish Christmas Island. This is fly fishing for bonefish, giant trevally, other types of trevally, and triggerfish.
