Nordic Quest

2012 Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Published

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Fred Cooper

The 2012 Alaska fishing regulations have been published and are available on-line through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. I have summarized the new regulations for SE Alaska for king salmon catch with this post. On March 29th, ADFG released new saltwater, sportfishing regulations regarding the daily bag and possession (unpreserved) limits for king salmon for the 2012 season . For other Alaska salt waters and for freshwaters, read the regulations summary published by ADFG.

Alaskan Resident:

Bag and possession limit is three king salmon 28 inches or greater in length

Nonresident:

Bag and possession limit is one king salmon 28 inches or greater in length; except during May 2012 when the bag and possession limit is two king salmon 28 inches or greater in length
Annual limit is four king salmon 28 inches or greater in length

For Coho, Chum, Pink and Sockeye salmon, over 16 inches, the catch limits for 2012 will be six of each species daily and 12 of each species in possession.

New regulations for the management of non-pelagic rockfish for the 2012 season were also released on March 15th. The non-pelagic species are bottom dwelling and are extremely long-lived (15-75 years). They include the Yelloweye, Copper, Silvergray, Tiger, China and Quillback Rockfish. Pelagic rockfish (species found in Alaska waters are the Black, Yellowtail and Dusky Rockfish) are usually found at mid-water depths, near rocky structures in schools. For Southeast Alaska inside and outside waters all non-pelagic rockfish caught must be retained until the daily bag limit is reached. The new regulations include a map (page 11) of the non-pelagic rockfish management areas. For example, in Icy Strait, waters west of a line between Point Carolus and Point Adolphus are defined as outside waters. There are also different regulations on catch for residents and nonresidents:

Alaskan Resident, Outside Waters:

Daily bag limit is two non-pelagic rockfish only one of which may be a yelloweye rockfish
Possession limit of four fish, two of which may be yelloweye

Nonresident, Outside Waters:

Daily bag limit is two non-pelagic rockfish only one of which may be a yelloweye
Possession limit of four fish, one of which may be yelloweye
Annual limit of one yelloweye rockfish
Nonresident anglers must immediately record all yelloweye rockfish harvested, in ink, either on the back of their sport fishing license, or on a nontransferable harvest record

Resident, Inside Waters:

Daily bag limit is three non-pelagic rockfish only one of which may be a yelloweye
Possession limit of six fish, two of which may be yelloweye

Nonresident, Inside Waters:

Daily bag limit is two non-pelagic rockfish only one of which may be a yelloweye
Possession limit of four fish, two of which may be yelloweye
Annual limit of two yelloweye rockfish
Nonresident anglers must immediately record all yelloweye rockfish harvested, in ink, either on the back of their sport fishing license, or on a nontransferable harvest record

Posted in Alaska, Fishing, News | Tagged Alaska Fishing Regulations, Alaska Salmon Fishing | Leave a comment

Photo of the Week – Ivory Island Lighthouse, Seaforth Passage

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Fred Cooper

Ivory Island Lighthouse, Seaforth Passage; photo by Larry Westerman

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Idaho Inlet

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Andrew Cooper

Idaho Inlet is a large bay off the south side of Icy Strait. This deep bay is about seven miles long, cutting deep into Chichagof Island. The location provides a convenient anchorage for exploring the ocean end of Icy Strait or for anglers working the entrance to Cross Sound and South Inian Pass.

View Larger Map

Idaho Inlet on Google Maps

When the salmon are running there will almost certainly be bears to be seen on the tidal flats and around the small river that empties into the bay. The inlet is also home to dozens of sea otters, you will see these fellows everywhere as you sail the length of the bay.

Excellent anchorage can be found at the south end of the inlet. Here a small river creates a large tidal flat. Any depth required is available with excellent holding on a mud bottom. There is enough room for a large flotilla, but most likely you will have this magnificent anchorage all to yourself.

Idaho Inlet is a quiet place to spend the night listening to the call of the loons, watching grizzlies fish, or simply marveling at the snow covered peaks overhead.

Glassy water and morning fog as we get underway from Idaho Inlet, photo by Andrew Cooper

Posted in Alaska, Harbor Notes | Leave a comment

Full Moon

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Andrew Cooper

Full Moon taken 27Aug2007, 90mm f/12 APO and Canon 20Da

Full Moon will occur today at 11:19ADT.

Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy & Sky Events | Leave a comment

Photo of the Week – Evening at Warm Springs Bay, Baranof Island

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Fred Cooper

Evening at the Warm Springs Bay Float; photo by Fred Cooper

Have a great photo taken somewhere in SE Alaska? Glaciers, icebergs, wildlife, mountains, or rivers? Send it to the webmaster along with your permission to post and we will consider using it for our photo of the week. Must be a minimum of 640 by 440.

Recipe – Baked Mini Salmon Croquettes with Creamy Dill Sauce

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Fred Cooper

While attending the 2012 Seattle Boat Show I discovered a gem of a salmon cookbook. LaDonna Gundersen, of Ketchikan, my hometown, has published a new cookbook titled Salmon, Desserts & Friends. And she has some absolutely great salmon recipes. With her permission I am posting the recipe from page 68 – Baked Mini Salmon Croquettes with Creamy Dill Sauce. I have served this dish as an appetizer twice to friends and they loved it.

Ingredients:

1 can (14 to 15 oz) or 1 pound filet baked Alaska salmon
1 cup milk
1 ½ cups Panko bread crumbs
6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup butter
¼ cup onion, minced
¼ cup red bell pepper, minced
¼ cup celery, minced
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ tablespoon Thai garlic chili pepper sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons green onions, minced
1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced
cooking spray oil

Ingredients for creamy dill sauce

1/3 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon capers
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon fresh dill, minced
pinch of salt

Flake the drained salmon flesh into a bowl and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs with the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion, red bell pepper and the celery until soft. Whisk the flour into the mix until smooth. Add one cup of liquid from the canned salmon mixed with the milk. Stir until thickened. Remove from heat.

Stir in the salmon, chili pepper sauce, lemon juice, green onions, dill and ½ cup of the bread crumb mixture. Refrigerate one hour.

Whisk the sour cream, capers, lemon juice, dill and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Refrigerate until serving time.

Preheat oven to 400 ^oF.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the remaining bread crumb mixture on a shallow plate. Roll the salmon mixture into 1½ inch balls, coat with the crumbs and place 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Spray the tops lightly with the oil. Bake 20-25 minutes until lightly golden brown.

Serve immediately with the creamy dill sauce.

Photo by Ole Gundersen

Posted in Alaska, Recipes | Tagged Alaskan salmon, salmon recipes | Leave a comment

Photo of the Week – Tenakee Springs Harbor, Chichagof Island

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Fred Cooper

Boats in Tenakee Springs Harbor, photo by Darcy Lynn

Posted in Alaska, Photo of the Week, Photography, Travel Hints | Tagged Tenakee, Tenakee Springs | Leave a comment

SE Alaska Halibut Fishing Regulations for 2012 Season

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Fred Cooper

As I promised in late December, there would be a post on what transpired at the January meetings of the International Pacific Halibut Commission in Anchorage. Many of the hearings were packed and the discussion was lively both officially and unofficially as to whether to approve changes in the commercial catch limits and regulations impacting sport fisheries in SE Alaska. The recommendation by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to adopt a U45/O68 size standard was approved for charters. U45/O68 stands for keeping a halibut that is under 45-inches or over 68-inches. There were no changes made to regulations for recreational sports fishing for halibut. The daily bag limit should remain one halibut per day for charter customers and two halibut per day of any size for the recreational fisherman. Watch for the 2012 regulations to be posted on the AF&G website in the next few weeks.

At the January IPHC there was discussion about mortality of released halibut. Noting that there is a lack of good estimates of mortality in the recreational fishing, they recommended collecting such data. Halibut sport fishing guides and recreational fishermen could be reporting such data in the future. Who knows? Taking some care in releasing a halibut brought up to your boat make good sense. If you are releasing that barn door, 200 pounder, cut the leader as close to the hook as you can. Circle hooks are usually pretty easy to remove as they seldom get swallowed. If it is a small fish on a J hook, and the hook is buried deep, again cut the line. If the hook is in the lips, use a gaff to lift the hook and shake the fish.