Captain Ross and I caught a few herring a week or so ago. It seemed like they were here for only about 2 days and I didn't catch nearly as many as I need. On my first charter of 2015, last Sunday, all the bait we used was fresh awesome bait that I caught. I have always bought bait locally and paid as much as $5 a dozen. It always seemed like I was being stingy with the bait also because it did cost money. Store bought bait never looks nearly as good as fresh. I have had captains from the Florida Keys come to fish Ketchikan, and we always argued about bait. My time in the Keys was always live bait. Though we don't have time for that or the ability to get live ones every day. Catching them now taking good care of them and using my own bait this summer will be awesome. King salmon are very picky and good bait is very important. Any salmon other than kings are often caught on artificial bait and as many of you know that produces a lot of fish. Bottomfish don't care how it looks typically just as long as it smells good. Bottom line the herring are back at mountain point and I will be there bright and early in the morning filling a cooler.
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Took me a couple days to post but I fished my first charter last Sunday. Three guys that work at Vigor Shipyard, here in Ketchikan, were dying to go fishing. After explaining to them this definitely wasn't peak season, we chose to set crab pots and do some bottomfishing. They caught 2 Yelloweye (Red Snapper), 2 Pacific Cod, 2 quillback, and about 15 Dungeness crab. not bad for the end of March. Winter Fishing in Ketchikan is typically pretty slow, but that wasn't bad for 4 hours on a Sunday afternoon. The guys had so much fun and asked when can we go again. We are planning on going again this Sunday. Thank you to Butch for booking 3 days in July, and Yvonne for 3 days in June. Looking forward to Ketchikan's busy summer charterfishing season. Here are a couple pictures of the shipyard boys, and Captain Ross after we went out again yesterday for some crab of our own.
Yesterday I did some bartering and trading, the Alaska way. Since I sold my commercial Dungeness crab permit, I no longer had a use for the commercial crab pots I had. When I sold the pots to another fisherman he started eyeing all my good junk at my boat yard. Didn't take long for him to realize he wanted a nice Canadian built anchor winch I had. He mentioned all the good junk he had and soon this deep drop hydraulic reel was mine. I have been wanting one of these for quite awhile, but never wanted to pay for one. Those days of subsistence halibut and yelloweye fishing is going to be lots of fun. I will not be coming home nearly as tired as I used to after a day of fishing. Better go buy that commercial rockfish permit now. Maybe Ketchikan locals who don't fish, but love red snapper, will be able to buy them off the dock now that Captain Tony will be catching lots.
The days are getting longer and the season will be here soon. Though Captain Tony is working on his plane every day, the idea of catching king salmon, and red snapper is definitely on his mind. If you are thinking of fishing in Ketchikan this summer now is the time to prepare for your trip. The busy summer season has every charter boat fishing booked solid and same goes for vacancies in our local hotels and B&B's. Don't wait until June to book!! Here are a few fun days of 2014 fishing with Aurora Sportfishing.
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CAPT TONY
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December 2016
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