ALASKA SPORTFISHING - Magicman Sportfishing Charters, Petersburg, Alaska

2009 WRAP-UP – 2010 OUTLOOK

A great summer weather-wise for us this past season. Warmer than normal, lots of sunny days and not much rain or wind made for very enjoyable days on the water. A huge difference from the rainy cool summer of 2008.

KING SALMON- Both the Blind Slough and the Stikine runs of fish were below normal levels in 2009. We were able to find fish but not in the numbers we would have liked. The Blind Slough run of fish may be less than “normal” for the next couple of years due to the severely cold winters we have been having. The colder than normal winters produce extremely cold water temperatures at the hatchery resulting in slower growth of the smolts which in turn results in lower survival rates and smaller returns in subsequent years. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is working on a plan to overcome this problem in future years.

We will not have a good forecast for the Stikine River run until mid to late December. The parent year for the 2010 return was very strong with good escapement and we are looking forward to a much better return next year. Again, late May or early June is the best time for this run.

COHOS or SILVER SALMON- Silver fishing was good this year with sizes running a little above average. Lots of fish in the 10-12 pound range and I think our largest was about 17 pounds this year. Our drier weather kept the fish around giving us a chance to fish on them more consistently. Silvers started showing up around July 20th and continued through the end of August.

HALIBUT- A very good year. Halibut fishing was very good and our size average was up. Lots of fish again this year between 40 and 100#s. As most of you know, the limit was reduced this year from 2 fish per day (1 fish any size and 1 fish under 32 inches) to just 1 fish of any size per day. I would expect that this 1 fish per day regulation will be in effect for a number of years if not forever. We were able to get limits of nice halibut and also fish for Silvers on the same trip a number of times this year. Our largest halibut came in late July and weighed in at 334#s. Halibut should be excellent again this coming year.

Alaskan Sportfishing Updates

SPORTFISHING REGULATION UPDATES – Due to the ongoing allocation battle between commercial halibut fishermen and the charter industry, the National Marine Fisheries Service may implement a 1 halibut per person per day rule for the 2009 season. Commercial fishermen contend that the charter industry is catching too many fish ( even though the charter harvest is less than 10% while the commercial harvest is over 75% ) and have been successful in lobbying for stricter limits for guided sport-fishermen. The Charter Industry has been and will continue to fight for fair and equitable access to this public resource.

Come to Petersburg, Alaska and experience the fishing trip of a lifetime!

"Captain Magic" Stan Malcom

Stan moved from Southwest Washington in the 70s and fished commercially throughout Southeast Alaska until starting Magic Man Sportfishing Charters in 1988.

Come to Petersburg, Alaska and experience the fishing trip of a lifetime.