Great fishing continues in SE Alaska! 2

We just came off another great week of fishing here in Craig, Alaska with daily coho limits and wide open action on both halibut and ling cod.  King salmon fishing is starting to fizzle, but there are still a few kings around here and there.  Yesterday we got into a completely stupid coho bite on the Polar Bear…one of those scenes you just never forget.  Every pass we made past a particular kelp patty was producing one to three hookups and then a massive school moved in with silver salmon finning all over the surface and crashing bait in every direction. The guys were dropping their baits over the side and watching the silvers zip in and grab them right next to the boat. On the last circus bite one big coho was twisting around in the kicker motor, two more were literally ripping monofilament across the surface as they slashed and jumped wildly around the boat, and the fourth fish (a king) was screaming line off the Tekota until it finally stopped around 200 feet.  As I quickly tried to uncoil a 14 pound coho from the kicker motor propellor Stu exclaims, "Mikes got a king!" Mikes 26 pound king jumped from the water and landed with a Ka-Wooosh!  I quickly gaffed the fish next the prop, cut the line, grabbed the two other 'hos and off we went to get Mikes king.  Three big 'hos on the deck and a king in the bag. That would be the definition of coho chaos!

Halibut action has been absolutely wide open right now for chicken halibut from 15 to 35 pounds right now and there are bigger flatties around if guests want to put in the time. The ling cod fishing has also been very, very good and we've limited the last two groups on keeper ling cod, releasing plenty of bigger ones.  Both the lings and the halibut are stacked in the areas the trollers are working and the action on heavy scampi tail jigs is fast, very fast.

Mike Hammes and his 26 pound king salmon 

Stu Heatons 82 pound halibut, winner of the Ram group halibut jackpot

Stu also took the Ram king salmon jackpot with this 29 pounder.  The jackpot money all went to our fish cutter Tim "Slice and Dice" Koentop, who's wife Nan is fighting cancer right now. Our prayers are with them!

Rod Tople with a big ocean fresh 14 pound silver salmon

Always a good time with the Marshall group. They also were kind enough to donate their group jackpot to Tim's family.  Thank you so much guys and we look forward to seeing you again next summer!

Fishing in SE Alaska is about more than filling up the freezer. The wildlife and scenery our guests enjoy here is second to none and whale shows like this one occur almost daily.  This big humpback was slapping it's tail repeatedly on the surface on the way in a few days ago and we were able to grab some great pics.

This big fella was breaching just around the corner from town yesterday in the early morning mist. 

Look closely and you'll see the bubble ring around this feeding humpback whale. This whale was bubble feeding along the same kelp line we were hammering the coho on yesterday and on several occasions we had to move because the bubbles were getting a little too close for comfort. 

Capt. Rob Endsley

www.princeofwalessportfishing.com