Doldrums Weatherwise – Full Speed Ahead Fishing Wise
Thanks to shows like “The Deadliest Catch,” the Gulf of Alaska has a reputation for
heavy seas and gale winds. While these conditions exist in the winter, for stretches of
the summer in Sitka it seems the opposite as we enjoy substantial periods of dead calm
weather – the Sitka doldrums. Our guests have been enjoying such a stretch for the
past week or two, with only the occasional bump in the road.
This period of calm has allowed our captains to head offshore for fast halibut and solid
blackcod catches on the edge of the continental shelf. The whales have provided a
bonus to these trips with sightings of fin, sperm, killer (orca), and humpback whales.
The fin whales are the second biggest whale species, reaching nearly 90 feet.
Close to shore the king salmon bite continues to provide exciting action. Most are in the
low to mid-teens with the occasional chinook in the mid-20’s. The black rockfish never
fail to provide light tackle fun. We have seen a scattering of silvers in our catches with
some caught offshore by dangling a hearing during blackcod fishing. This Friday
delivered the highest silver scores so far this year with Petrel coming in with 11. We’re
hoping this is the vanguard of the onshore push of silvers, pinks, and chums. Stay
tuned.
