Wayside Dock Monday afternoon (Juneau Empire)

Wayside Dock Monday afternoon (Juneau Empire)

‘Fishing is fishing:’ Local fishermen take advantage of weather Monday

Area fishermen having successful early season

  • By Gregory Philson Juneau Empire
  • Monday, June 18, 2018 10:23pm
  • NewsLocal News

Payton Grant barely had time to enjoy the beautiful weather before catching two king salmon at Wayside Dock Monday afternoon.

Payton, 13, of Juneau and his father, Ian, already had plans to come out for a day of fishing and the nice weather made their day that much better.

“I came out here and caught both of my fish within the first 10 minutes,” Payton said. “I casted out twice and got one on my third. I got the lure back, casted out again got another one. It feels pretty good.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Payton and Ian estimated that the first fish he caught weighed in between 30-35 pounds and the second at about 15 pounds.

“I was so excited for him,” Ian said. “It was a long year last year and we worried about the reports for this year. So, to have them come on like that within the first couple minutes was awesome.”

June 15 marked the beginning of the king salmon retention season — it was catch and release until that date, but after the 15th, fishermen are allowed to keep them if they catch them. Alaska Department of Fish and Game had enacted a conservation measure prohibiting retention of king salmon until that time, citing record-low returns on the Taku River.

[Kings for keeps: Fishermen can now keep kings, if they can find them]

Fishermen like Priscilla Jordan said she caught and kept her first king salmon of the season on Sunday. With the weather conditions like they were on Monday, Ramirez said she planned on fishing for at least a few hours.

“When I caught it (on Sunday) it was in the pouring rain, and I was in a hoodie,” Jordan, of Juneau said. “I would not leave until I caught one. Until I catch one (Monday), I am not leaving my spot. I will give it at least 20 more throws and I will catch one.”

Gary Richards said he has had a successful season so far, but had not caught anything Monday.

“I have been out five times and I have been doing pretty well,” Richards, who said he caught a female king Sunday, said. “It was quite rainy when I caught one the other day. Today has definitely been an influence on getting me out here.”

Winneth Ramirez said she caught some fish at Amalga Habor this past weekend, but was still waiting on her first king salmon.

“We are hoping today we get (a king),” Ramirez said. “We are planning on staying for two hours.”

Not all fishermen out Monday had been successful early on in the season. Jerry Voss said he has not caught any in his three outings so far, but was going to go as long as possible Monday.

“I haven’t had any luck,” Voss, of Juneau, said. “I got off work and came here to fish. I’ll be here until the tide is through.”

With the ever-changing weather conditions in Juneau, the fishermen out Monday said the weather will not impact how much they go out the rest of the season.

“Once the season is open, fishing is fishing in Alaska,” Richards said.


• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The Tlingit and Haida Elders Group performs the entrance dance at the 89th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Trump rescinds Biden executive order expanding tribal sovereignty and self-governance

Order giving Natives more access to federal funds cited in awarding of major Southeast Alaska projects.

The House Finance Committee listens to public testimony about next year’s proposed budget on Friday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska House budget currently has a ‘full’ PFD of about $3,800. Except it really doesn’t.

Legislators on all sides agree PFD will shrink drastically before floor vote to avoid $2 billion deficit.

Dylan Court and Emily Feliciano-Soto at a rehearsal of “Necessary Nonsense,” a Theater Alaska production debuting Friday. (Photo courtesy of Theatre Alaska)
Middle schoolers bring ‘Necessary Nonsense’ to life in Theater Alaska Kids Company’s debut play

Imagine a world where “Alice in Wonderland” characters mingle with limerick legends… Continue reading

Jonathan Estes, a parent of three students attending the Dzantik’i Heeni campus, testifies for a safe playground at a special Juneau Board of Education meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District submits budget for next school year to Juneau Assembly

The plan assumes $400 BSA hike and no staff vacancies; board also advocates for DH playground.

A totem pole and visitor guide sign on the downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
‘Anecdotal’ signs Juneau’s tourism season may see a dropoff due to Trump’s policies, officials say

Tariffs, talk of recession causing uncertainty and ill will resulting in reports of cancellations.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, March 12, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Gabriel von Eisenstein (David Cangelosi) is pulled in two separate directions by his wife Rosalinda (Sara Radke Brown, right) and Rosalinda’s maid, Adele (Kayla Kohlhase, left) during a dress rehearsal of “Die Fledermaus” on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Lyric Opera celebrates a chorus of community for 50th anniversary

German operetta “Die Fledermaus” that launched JLO gets revival with old and new voices Friday night.

Most Read