Sitka , Alaska

[verysweepy]

Looks like I will be moving to sitka this summer for the next three years , anyone have any info on the fishing around there? Are there many streams to fish or is it mostly ocean and bays?

[Hooker]

What a tough move...

Good luck with all the great fishing!

[bucketmouth]

If you're going to the Sportsmans show, stop and talk to Hobart Manns at the outdoor cooking booth. He hosts the Outback angler radio program on Saturday mornings on AM 1080. His guest speaker last Sat was a guide from Sitka. Lots of interesting info about the area. Both salt and Fresh water fishing to be had.

Starrigavan Creek (just north of the ferry terminal)and the creek at the old pulp mill site have fish and are road accessible. I can't remember if the road to Blue Lake is open but the fishing there is good too. Most of the fishing in the Sitka area is either ocean or boat access. I would suggest looking into getting a 22'-26' ocean boat.

[dawhunt]

ITS OUTRAGEOUS !!! Fantastic fishing.My wife and I have been their several times and I'm going back this June with a bud from the fire dept who's never been there can't wait to see his face
.I wish my wife would move there I'd move in a heartbeat.
Bob
Oh Yea!! lots and lots of bears too.

[ 02-04-2004, 08:42 AM: Message edited by: dawhunt ]

And all of them Brown Bears!

[daveg]

I want to clarify my "its not what is used to be" comment to describe Sitka Sound fishing. The fishing will probably be better than you have had in Oregon or Washington.

[David Johnson]

I've spent three summers up there, one guiding and the other two working for a fish hatchery about 90 miles away. It's awsome. Best ocean king fishing in the state, no rivers though, just smallish streams.

Getting a ocean boat would be a very good idea, then you can get out and explore.

[floatin' fool]

I worked on a project for Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka for about three years (1989-1991). My client was the college president and was an avid fisherman. All of our project meetings needed to be done by an hour before high slack tide. That allowed us enough time to boat over from the marina to the Eckholms, due south of the marina, across Sitka Sound.

My first time there, I hooked a halibut that I had to fight for over 2-1/2 hours. We got it to the boat three times, but failed to gaff it. By the dimensions, my client estimated the fish at 275 pounds. We caught many other fish to make up for the lost big one.

Salmon fishing in June is sensational, both inside Sitka Sound and over toward Mount Edgecombe.

As others have said, this is basically a salt water fishery, with only smaller streams near Sitka. The place only has 17 miles of paved road, so access is limited.

If you want to use a pistol for protection from Brown Bear make sure the front sight is filed off and smooth. Big rifles (338 or 375) are the ONLY thing to use.

[grog3]

I know what you mean about the front sights being filed on a pistol !!!!! I guided up their for 5 summers and the first year I carried a 44 mag and after seeing the size of the bears I switched to sawed off shotgun with slugs !!!!

[Sensei]

If anyone is up there this summer stop by and say hello to me on the sensei located at old thomson harbor. Just say IFISH and I will have a cold one for you.
I have worked up in Sitka for 5 years now and the ocean fishing is great. Just make sure you stay away for the early July months. This is when the commercial guys do their thing and sometime it can be hard to find the fish off the point.
As for the bears. If you have a small pistal make sure you save one round for yourself before the bear gets you. If you know what I mean!

[verysweepy]

We are planning on moving there this july so I'll have to look you up sensei, the fishing was definatly one of the selling points for me :grin: . Buying a boat is definatly one of my goals while I am up there so we will see what happens. And as far as getting a gun, is there any good hunting in sitka? I want to get something for hunting and something that will suffice for protection to. I have gotten stories galore from my buddies that have been up there before and it just makes me want to go there even more. It would definatly be cool to get up there and hook up with some ifish people. Thanks for the replies.

[SPAZZ]

I dont think you will like all the fishing and hunting, so I'll go for ya :grin:

[David Johnson]

It's good hunting for Sitka blacktail deer but be prepaired to hike. They are small but when I was there the limit for a res was six per year. Mt Goat hunting too.

Deer are high at the start of the season but you can take a float plane in and set up camp on a high lake. Late season you can get deer on the beach. No black bears on the island but once you have residency (it takes 1 year) you are allowed 1 brown bear every 4 years.

[daveg]

I have fished there several times, only in the ocean. There is a contractor in town, Mike Reif. He does charter his great 28 foot boat in the summer, the Lucky Lure. He keeps his gear and boat in the absolute best condition, and handles the catch the best I have seen. The fish packing people in town said they could tell his catch in the wheel buggys they carry them up from the boats from by the way they are field dressed. Mike does a limited number of charters.

It is mainly an ocean fishery. There is ok fishing in Sitka sound but it is not what it used to be.

Point Mary is a good place to start. Also check into the Alaska forest service cabins up north say Piper Island. They rent for $25 or so dollars a day and at least put a log wall between you and the bears. Check the claw holes through the outhouse walls, PS you might bring a fairly large caliber pistol, 357's just get you mauled.

I can get you phone numbers if interested.

[Bounty Hunter]

My sister just got a job up there at a fishing lodge and being the good brother that I am I'm going to have to visit her this summer.

Problem is I can't afford the packages that the lodge sells. Does anyone know if anyone rents any kicker boats up there? I'd like to get out into the sound and do some halibut and salmon fishing, but I can't afford to take a guide or charter for 3 or 4 days either.