Traveled all the way out to the outer coast from Juneau, 70 degree and suny weather, but no king salmon. About 25 boats out here, all wondering where the fish are like me. To top it off, a large pod of killer whales is circuiting the area, which should continue to keep the king salmon in hiding.

Another glorious day nonetheless, with the Brady Glacier in the distance, rising up to the mountains behind.

Fished 4:15 am to 2 pm for no salmon and 15 rockfish, so a long 12 hour trip from home for not much. That’s why they call it fishin’ I guess.
Mark Stopha
F/V Dutch Master
Alaska Wild Salmon Co
4455 N Douglas Hwy
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907-463-3115

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No fish in the early morning, so left for Hoonah to get more ice and some groceries, and then head west towards the open ocean to try there. Three brown bears feeding along the beach between Eagle Pt and Pt Adolphus. Also passed a cow and calf humback whales, both with a neat white patch on their dorsal fins, presumably passed from mom to junior. Also caught a hawg – about 30 lb – king along there to top it off!

I installed what’s known as a black box, from Cabelas. It’s supposed to regulate the micro-voltage given off by a moving boat. It seems that the fish do act calmer when they near the boat with the unit set at 5, but this could also just be my imagination, too.

Anchored for the night in the 7 fathom bight on the north end of Shaw Island. Lots of sea otter lounging at the surface out here near the outer coast in the sunny weather and flat calm seas.

Turned off the boat stove yesterday and looks like more 70 degree weather this week.
Fishing in one my favorite kind of location – out of cell phone range…

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

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Fished 0430 to 1700 for just a few fish yesterday. Flat calm, sunny, and about 70 degrees. Funny listening to the ball games back east and it’s much colder than here.

Few fish but plenty of scenery. Saw two blackbears within sight of where just the day before, a boat of bear hunters were moored. A pair of scooters swam by the boat with their brood of 2 chicks. Right at sunset, a young humpback whale joined us on the drag. Most boats have left here for greener pastures.

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

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Watching a big black bear digging for food on the sunny beach along which I’m fishing. Their jet-black color sure sticks out. You can even pick them out from the air when flying in the small aircraft we use to get from town to town 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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Another beautiful day on hand. Clear and in the 60’s during the day. Caught 2 kings at dusk last night, which really made the day. Hard for me to catch fish on these sunny days as the fish go deeper and it’s harder to find them.

Reading “This Raw Land” by Wayne Short. It’s about the life of a family fishing, hunting, trapping, and operating Baranof Warm Springs to scratch out a living in the land they love. it takes place in the 50’s and 60’s I think. Life here has changed alot since then in some aspects – statehood, computers, cell phones, GPS and the demise of the fur market, but at the same time, has not changed – you can die out here in a hurrye, people still chasing the dream of commercial fishing, and most of the wilderness remains in tact. Hard to make a living off the land like that anymore as prices have not kept up with inflation, and so many more wants than at time – cable TV, computer, internet, and now, satellite radio.

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

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This is the first entry from the fishing grounds for 2005. We’ve caught just a few large kings this week. Arose to a pink sky behind Mt. Fairweather under partly cloudy skies, a west breeze, and the temp in the 40’s. Herring is showing here and there, a few sealions around, but few humpbackwhales in the area just yet.

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