Bristol Bay heats up

As of this moment, the commercial catch in Bristol Bay, scene of the state's flagship salmon fishery, exceeds 12 million sockeye.

The last two days each saw a catch of about 2.4 million fish. The bay's Nushagak District, over by Dillingham, is the hot spot with a catch of nearly 7 million thus far.

The fishery typically peaks around the Fourth of July.

The state has forecast a potential season catch of nearly 35 million sockeye.

You can track the fishery's progress here.

Bristol Bay sinking, death reported

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Nushagak Bay
Type: Fishing vessel sinking, rescue

On July 1, 2021, at approximately 0554 hours, Alaska Wildlife Troopers heard a call that a commercial fishing vessel was taking on water on the south end of Nushagak Bay. Two Alaska wildlife troopers patrolling commercial fishing activities in the area immediately responded to the area aboard a patrol skiff. Prior to arriving on the scene, it was reported that all three individuals aboard the fishing vessel were in the water. The two troopers pulled one of the individuals to safety aboard their skiff, and the other two individuals were pulled aboard other fishing vessels that aided in the rescue. After extensive life-saving efforts, one of the individuals was declared deceased by U.S. Coast Guard personnel at approximately 0938 hours. The other two individuals declined further medical care. The Alaska Wildlife Troopers would like to thank the F/V Fortress and F/V Last Frontier for their assistance during the rescue operation. The identity of the deceased individual will be made once next of kin notifications are complete.

Big day for the Nush

The nearly 1.8 million sockeye taken yesterday was the largest single-day harvest ever in the Nushagak District, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports.

Missing man found dead in Nushagak River

Here's an update from the Alaska State Troopers on the search for a man who went overboard on the Nushagak River at Bristol Bay:

Location: Dillingham
Type: Death investigation
On 9/12/10 at approximately 0230 hours, the U.S. Coast Guard was notified that Jerome "Ernie" Beltran, 26, of Dillingham, fell overboard off a fishing vessel that was anchored in the Nushagak River approximately a half-mile upstream from Portage Creek. Alaska State Troopers were notified and a search and rescue effort was launched involving the USCG, AST, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, the Dillingham Search and Rescue Team, Choggiung Ltd. and multiple volunteers from the Dillingham area. On 9/14/10 at approximately 1700 hours, a volunteer search party recovered Beltran's body from the Nushagak River near Portage Creek. He was deceased. The AST investigation is continuing, but at this time there is no indication of foul play. AST would like to thank all those who contributed to this search effort, especially the volunteers who contributed so much.

Searchers look for man overboard on Nushagak

The Alaska State Troopers issued the following press release around 6:50 p.m. Unfortunately, it doesn't say whether the vessel involved was a commercial fishing boat.

Location: Dillingham
Type: Search and rescue
On 9/12/10 at approximately 0245 hours, Alaska State Troopers were notified by the U.S. Coast Guard of a report of a man suspected of falling overboard from a vessel anchored on the Nushagak River near Portage Creek. The USCG, AST, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and private search parties joined in the effort to locate the individual. The individual has not yet been located, but search efforts are continuing.

Dude fishing rules!

The Alaska Board of Fisheries has voted to continue "dude fishing" in Bristol Bay's Nushagak District.

The dude fishery gives tourists a chance to ride aboard a commercial fishing boat and net a few salmon. A boat operating in the dude fishery may take up to 90 salmon per day.

The special fishery is seen as good business in Dillingham, one of the main commercial fishing villages on Bristol Bay.

The Board of Fisheries originally approved dude fishing as a test three years ago. The authorizing regulation was due to expire, or sunset, at the end of this year.

But the board over the weekend adopted a proposal to eliminate the sunset date.

That means dude can keep fishing!

The board also voted to expand the dude fishing season. Now the season will open June 1, instead of July 1, and run through Sept. 30.