By Jessica Edwards
Residents and visitors are still heading out in hopes of catching a
king salmon. But owners of local sporting goods stores and RV parks say they have felt the
impact of king fishing limits, area closures and the cancellation of the annual king
salmon derby.
How much the king sport fishery is worth to Haines has never been
scientifically measured, but a 1988 study contracted by the Alaska Department of Fish and
Game found king salmon the costliest fish to land in Southeast, at about $923 each.
About 285 kings were taken in the local sport fishery last year, and
harvest reached 400 in 2003. Factoring in inflation and the increased price of supplies
such as gas and licenses since 1988, the town’s loss from the closure may be
considerable.
Sport shop owner Doug Olerud said he saw a decline in resident anglers
who would gear up for king fishing at his store, especially over Memorial Day weekend.
Olerud’s business usually saw a good bump the two weekends of the
king derby, cancelled this year because of the closure of Chilkat Inlet. This year’s
good weather left him wondering how much business was down.
Many Canadian regulars weren’t making their annual spring trip to
Haines, Olerud said. "A lot of people have called for the report, but not many showed
up."
Sporting goods store manager Eric Ferrin said sales of licenses were
down 15 or 20 percent, and saltwater tackle sales were down 50 percent. "We usually
have a lot of sales over the derby," said Ferrin, who said products like herring
weren’t moving. "It was a big weekend and we geared up for it."
Ferrin said good weather had still brought Yukoners down to enjoy the
spring, and calm seas meant even small boats had been fishing at Seduction Point.
Many Canadian regulars at Joyce Town’s Oceanside RV Park
haven’t showed up this year, or have been disappointed their favorite fishing spots
were closed in Chilkat Inlet.
"It kind of hurts. I had six or eight people leave when they found
out," Town said. "Usually they spend a week and a half. They only stayed for
four days."
For charter vessels fishing Lynn Canal out of the small boat harbor,
the salmon fishing gets tougher June 16, when the size limit for non-resident anglers goes
up to 48 inches.
"We’re basically shut down July 16," said Haines-based
charter captain Carl Taylor, one of three charter operators working out of the harbor.
"Ninety-nine percent of our clients that time of year are non-residents."
Taylor can fish for halibut and crab after that date – and hope
for big kings – but the salmon that are his bread and butter will likely be off
limits mid-summer.
Taylor said that despite the closure, fishing has been good in Portage
Cove and Taiya Inlet. "We’ve had the most successful start since we began five
years ago," Taylor said.
Avid sport fisherman Ken Seright said it’s been frustrating to be
shut out of his favorite areas in Chilkat Inlet while fishing in Juneau and Sitka remained
open.
"Last year, we went fishing a lot and it was just great fun. I
can’t tell you how many hours it was to catch a fish. But it was more like therapy
than fishing." Seright said he and guests landed 24 fish last year.
"But this year, it’s different." He said he’d
burned 96 gallons of fuel – about $400 worth – without a single fish.
Local Fish and Game biologists have said last year’s strong
sportfish harvest was at odds with escapement, which didn’t reach target goals, and a
late spring may have contributed to a concentrated run.
Cancellation of the king salmon derby meant a loss of nearly $6,000 to
the Haines Sportsman’s Association, according to president Kim Larson. Derby income
funded local youth scholarships. The group is looking into alternative fundraisers, such
as a fall coho derby.
Smokery owner Scott Doddridge, whose company bids each year on the
derby kings, said he has come to rely on the event for the season’s first fresh
salmon. He bought 40 last year.
Derby-caught kings were popular with many mail-order customers, he
said. "In order to meet that demand, we have to get fish from Sitka or Juneau.
That’s money that’s leaving town."
Doddridge said outside the derby, people often brought their king
salmon to the shop for smoking or processing in spring and early summer, but said
he’d only seen two so far this year.
"There are still people fishing and catching in front of
town," said sporting goods store manager Ferrin. "It’s not what it used to
be. I hope it returns."
