All of us at Angling Unlimited want to wish all of you a very happy holiday season. It’s a safe bet that a number of you are enjoying a holiday meal with your catch from last summer’s trip to Sitka. Perhaps there’s some homemade smoked salmon on a plate for your family and guests. And, you’ve…
DetailsTrivia Tuesday: What is the name for a female salmon? Get it right, win an AU calendar and sticker.
DetailsYears ago, an astrologer did my chart. After plugging in when (July 10, 1952, 9:43 PM) and where (Orange, NJ) I was born, he came back with a personality profile. In astrological terms, it turns out I’m all water and air – which might explain why I drink so much seltzer. I’m also born under…
DetailsAleta VanZinderan could be the poster child for the old adage, “Hire what you can’t teach.” Captain Chuck, whose gift for picking great employees is seemingly endless, brought Aleta to Angling Unlimited in 2005 after she completed her freshman year in college. What she knew about the nuts and bolts of the job hardly mattered – she…
DetailsLet’s begin by gathering our ingredients for Cream Cheese Filled Smoked Salmon Muffins: 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1.5 cups grated cheddar cheese 6-8 oz. smoked salmon 1/3 cup chopped fresh dill 1 egg 1 cup buttermilk 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup cream cheese cupcake liners Heat the oven to 350º…
DetailsTrivia Tuesday: How old is the town of Sitka? Get it right and win an AU prize!
DetailsAfter five years of blogging and 530 posts, we’ve created a healthy archive of information about our fishery, our business, and our customers. Thanks for reading! We’ve kept you busy with our professional guide advice, fishing reports, recipes, and much more. For this post, we dug into the archive and cherry-picked ten old posts that are…
DetailsLet’s begin by gathering our ingredients for Cheesy Rockfish Casserole: Ingredients: 1 pound shrimp 1 rockfish fillet 2 cups mozzarella 2 cups parmesan 1 cup half & half 3 tbsp butter 6 tbsp parsley Mostaccioli noodles 1 tsp pepper 1 jar Alfredo Cook pasta according to directions, drain, and set aside. Pan fry rockfish with…
DetailsTrivia Tuesday: What are the two species of salmon in this photo? Get it right and win an AU prize!
DetailsLet’s begin by gathering our ingredients for Sweet & Spicy Peach Glazed Salmon: Ingredients: 1 wild Alaskan salmon fillet 2 tablespoons cajun seasoning 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 heaping tablespoons peach jam 1/2 lime, juiced Combine 2 tablespoons cajun seasoning and 2 tablespoons brown sugar in a small bowl. Skin salmon…
DetailsLast week, we teased a new series about where your favorite fish go in the winter. We promised to answer that question for king salmon first. First, the clue from last time: The reason you’ll see the flash of your herring much deeper into the water column during the winter is because of a lack…
DetailsBeginning May 2015, Delta Airlines will run flights to Sitka. Competition is good news for Sitka, which has been a one airline town for decades. Visitors to Sitka finally have a choice of carriers for the first time since AU went into business. We believe competition will be good for prices, services, and schedules. Delta’s schedule promises…
DetailsTrivia Tuesday: Wild salmon are born in freshwater, migrate to saltwater for the majority of their life, then return to freshwater to spawn. What is the term for fish with this life cycle? Get it right, win an AU prize!
DetailsEach summer seemingly endless schools of salmon swim past Sitka. The season begins with king salmon in May, which stay until mid to late August. From late June or early July until mid-September we see silvers. Pinks, chums and even an occasional sockeye are the fish of summer – mainly July through mid-August. I’m often asked what…
DetailsLet’s begin by gathering our ingredients for Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes: Ingredients: 1½ to 2 pounds salmon 4 large russet potatoes 3 large sweet potatoes ½ bulb roasted garlic 1 beaten egg 6 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon Salt and pepper to taste Panko Coconut oil Wrap all the potatoes in aluminum foil and bake for…
DetailsTrivia Tuesday: in this photo, Captain Bo is handling an average-size giant Pacific octopus. What is the largest one ever recorded? Get it right, win an Angling Unlimited prize!
DetailsKim, our amazing office manager in Minnesota, always shares your feedback and the great memories you’ve created during your time with us! To help others in their search for the trip of a lifetime, we like to share some of those stories. The majority of our business is generated from client endorsements, so your opinion…
DetailsLet’s begin by gathering our ingredients for Rockfish Bisque: Ingredients: 6 cups water 2 cups dry white wine 2 cups fish stock 4 rockfish fillets ½ cup melted butter 1 cup onions 1 cup carrots 1 cup celery 1 tsp. garlic, minced ½ cup flour ¼ cup brandy 1½ cups tomatoes, seeded and diced 2…
DetailsI read in the Seattle Times that Americans ate more salmon than tuna for the first time in 2013. The salmon devoured came from all five species of Pacific salmon plus farm raised domesticated Atlantic salmon imported from all over the globe. One of the big drivers of the increased consumption came from the record wild…
DetailsTrivia Tuesday: Most of our anglers pass through Seattle’s airport as the jumping off point from the lower 48 on their way to Sitka. Then it’s only a short flight with Alaska Airlines before they’re greeted with a smiling face in Sitka. What is the distance from Seattle to Sitka? Please answer in miles or time. Get it right and win an AU prize!
DetailsSpencer Chute is no stranger to Sitka. He brings five years of North Pacific experience fishing for salmon and halibut to Angling Unlimited. After years of mooching and part of one summer deckhanding for Captain Tom, Spencer will feel right at home behind the wheel of our North River boats. Raised in Hawaii, Spencer has been near the ocean…
DetailsLet’s begin by gathering our ingredients for Seared Halibut with Chorizo Salsa: Ingredients: olive oil halibut fillet salt & pepper 8 ounces chorizo sausage 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper 2 minced garlic cloves 1/3 cup water 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar For the salsa, add 1 teaspoon oil and the chorizo, breaking…
DetailsTrivia Tuesday: What is this species of rockfish? Get it right, win an AU prize?
DetailsThe humpback whale population in the North Pacific is growing at a rate of 6 to 7% a year and has gone from about 1500 animals in the 1960’s to over 22,000 now. So, you can take the “Save the Whales” bumper sticker off your car – if you haven’t already. At least as it pertains…
DetailsLet’s begin by gathering our ingredients for Asian Halibut and Peanut Sauce Noodles: Ingredients: 1/4 cup fish sauce 1/3 cup brown sugar 2 tbsp rice vinegar 1 tsp red pepper flakes 1/4 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup coconut milk 1 tbsp red curry paste fettuccine noodles 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tbsp lime juice 2…
DetailsForecasting salmon runs is a very inexact science. The farther out from the forecast season, the more we drift into educated guess territory. For predicting the 2015 king salmon run, we have some data, but not enough. We have some trends, but as the fine print on investments reads: “past performance is no assurance of future…
DetailsIf you’ve ever seen Dall’s Porpoises swimming, you know they zip through the water and the only time you get a glimpse is during the split second they come up for air. Even more fortunate witnesses have seen them for more than a few minutes during a slow ride in the wake of the boat!
Trivia Tuesday: How fast can they swim?
Plan your fishing adventure early and save money. Fall specials at Alaska Air and Delta make fall the time of year to book and reserve your flights. We’ve heard rates as low as $540 round trip from Minneapolis to Sitka and $400 from Seattle to Sitka. We’re tracking airfares for you. We’re here to help…
DetailsLet’s begin by gathering our ingredients for Citrus-Soy Glazed Black Cod: Ingredients: black cod fillet Coarse salt & black pepper 2 tbsp brown sugar 3 tbsp lime juice 2 tbsp rice vinegar 1 tbsp soy sauce Sliced mint leaves, for garnish Sliced scallions, for garnish Add 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 3 Tbsp lime juice, 2…
DetailsFeeding whales are generally a very good sign for catching salmon during the summer and early fall. In the spring, it can be a different story. It appears that humpbacks quickly figure out the release timing of juvenile salmon from hatcheries in Southeast Alaska. As the magic release date arrives, the whales show up. This is forcing hatchery managers to rethink their timing and how many wee salmon they release at one time. If a humpback is hanging out front of the hatchery when the entire brood year is released, it could very easily eat almost all of them in a few mouthfuls.
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