Good fishing yesterday and okay today, too. Lots of herring at the surface here, and a few humpback whales showing up, feeding on them along with the eagles, salmon, rockfish and halibut. The herring are very large, with a single fish just about filling the stomach of a 17 lb king salmon.
I noticed my first flock of gulls today near a creek mouth. The herring are too big for the gulls – these herring are eagle food. I was surprised that the gulls didn’t follow behind the boat to grab the fish entrails as I cleaned fish. Out on the outer coast, the gulls only need to see a troller come out on deck to flock behind his boat, whether he is cleaning fish or just checking his gear. Not many boats fish here in comparison to the outside area, so I’m guessing it’s a trained response.

Mark Stopha
F/V Dutch Master
Alaska Wild Salmon Co
4455 N Douglas Hwy
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907-463-3115

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A baker’s dozen yesterday. Lots of herring here, with a couple dozen eagles constantly airborne over the schools, trying for a fish. Today, overcast, with 6 fish from 4am to 9am.
Caught my first coho of the season yesterday, and one more today.
Catching many small halibut. I’d always thought of them as strictly bottom dwellers, but I’ve caught many at least 60 feet off the bottom, likely traveling up to feed on the massive schools of herring here.

Mark Stopha
F/V Dutch Master
Alaska Wild Salmon Co
4455 N Douglas Hwy
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907-463-3115

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Replaced the compass on the autopilot and that fixed the problem. Caught one of my largest kings yesterday eve.

Mark Stopha
F/V Dutch Master
Alaska Wild Salmon Co
4455 N Douglas Hwy
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907-463-3115

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Traveled to Chatham yesterday. Caught one king upon arrival. Today, 3 kings and 2 lost at the boat so far. Sunny and warm again. Incredibly, now the autopilot, which I repaired last year, is acting up. Hpoefully just a little air in the system, as after a midday nap, it now appears to be working fine. The rebuilt transmission appears to be running just fine. It appears our waters are becoming more and more of a police state. The Coast Guard appears to be checking every fishing boat in their radar range. Not sure what threat our little fishing boats are to national security so far from any important strategic or economic center, but it makes you wonder hoe much of our freedom and privacy we are willing to give up. We, after all, elect the people who dictate national security policy.

Mark Stopha
F/V Dutch Master
Alaska Wild Salmon Co
4455 N Douglas Hwy
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907-463-3115

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When it rains it pours. New muffler last week. Now have to pull the transmission this week and get it taken care of once and for all, as it still is not maintaining oil pressure properly. I hope my customers can bear with us. So, returning to town after a short trip.

Mark Stopha
F/V Dutch Master
Alaska Wild Salmon Co
4455 N Douglas Hwy
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907-463-3115

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Caught a half dozen large king salmon fishing 4 am to 9 pm. Kelp everywhere, and hard to keep it off the trolling wire. Never seen so much in this area. My old standby spoons – #7 Mother of Pearl Canadian Wonder, have caught no fish lately. I’ve been using a much smaller spoon behind a flasher, and these seem to be catching a good percentage of the fish. Very fish weather today – overcast and flat calm. It rained a little last night as well. No fish this morning, so moving to the other side to try there.

Mark Stopha
F/V Dutch Master
Alaska Wild Salmon Co
4455 N Douglas Hwy
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907-463-3115

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