kalitan97828
2011-11-12 06:58:25
The NSRAA board just completed their fall meeting and one positive direction given the staff is to pursue a release site at McGraw's dock on Halibut Point Road. This effects trollers in the Sitka area where kings have been returning to the hatchery located at Bear Cove in Silver Bay. The bay is choaked with jelly fish in the spring to the point where trolling is impractical. Initially 250,000 fish are antisipated to be released there resulting in 5-6,000 returning kings. I don't believe there will be any cost recovery on these kings so both the commercial and sport fisheries should benefit.
John Murray
2011-11-12 22:29:06
That is better then releasing all the fish on the east side of town.The predetors have really figured the release thing out.For example last spring just as the near shore area's were showing a lot of smolt passing through.What shows up at Cresant harbor?A non stop 10 yard wide don't know how deep school of pile perch,that lasted 25 minutes.There must have been 10'000 of those things.Then the harbor came alive with splashes They had the smolts cornered.They aren't the only predators working the area.
Trnaround
2011-12-04 16:51:07
That sounds like a great idea hopefully it won't result in another THA boundary and schedule for the different gear groups. Does anyone know the status of the Sawmill Cove Coho expansion project? Originally I thought the idea was to have an early run of Coho that could be harvested in June or so. Is that the intent or is it to bring more fall Coho into Sitka Sound?
Salty
2011-12-04 22:25:43
Here is the latest from the NSRAA Board meeting from my memory.
1. The early coho project at Sawmill cove, which I and others, including ATA did not support, has failed and been abandoned.
2. The reason was that the early stock, from Whale Bay, had a high rate of BKD, (Bacterial Kidney Disease) and did not survive well.
3. The hatchery has been built at Sawmill Cove and permits obtained.
4. New Brood stock permits were obtained for coho from Salmon Lake at the head of Silver Bay and brood coho have been collected for at least a couple of years.
5. This stock appears to be responding well and next year should see enough returns to furnish adequate brood stock for full production.
6. These are fall coho which should give trollers a chance to target them throughout the summer.
Trnaround
2011-12-05 01:30:53
Salty ,thanks for the update, I am glad to hear wisdom in terms of safety prevailed although I was looking forward to Coho landings in June. I am thankful for the work and thought put into our fisheries by NSRAA. Bringing more Coho into the Sound in the fall seems like a winner as well. Maybe we can look forward to a Coho clatter in East Channel when it's blowing 30 at the Cape. Or maybe a Chum/Coho clatter. :lol: