Exploring Alaska 7 Day Adventure

9/7/2017

Days 5 & 6: The Fish Hatchery & Bear Sightings

Wednesday morning, just before breakfast, Capt. Tom and I took a few minutes in the skiff in search of spotting a bear or other wildlife. We quickly spotted a couple Blue Herons working to capture their breakfast in the lagoon. Soon after we set out heading towards the fish hatchery at Hidden Falls. This very large hatchery works to provide millions of salmon every year. During this time of year though, hatcheries are inundated with millions of returning salmon eager to spawn. This area is also a very popular spot filled with lots of Brown Bears feeding on those salmon. Mama bears with up to three cubs will work hard to fatten up for their long Alaska winter hibernation.

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In many areas around the world with bears, on average there may be approximately 1 bear for every 50 square miles. In SE Alaska, there is 1 bear for every square mile. The food source is extremely plentiful and the bears thrive. During our 90-minute visit, we enjoyed viewing at least 18 bears during our 90-minute visit, and many were only 20 to 30 yards away, with no fences or barriers.

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The next morning, Thursday, we set out for Morris Reef to do some salmon fishing of our own. Like so many areas, King salmon are in serious decline. Alaska is not immune to this problem. We had hopes of finding and expectations of catching the large, fatty, delicious Chinooks. Unfortunately, the day we were leaving Juneau, Alaska Fish and Game closed the Chinook season for 2017. Their numbers are down drastically. Fortunately, the Silver Salmon, or Coho runs are still healthy. We would enjoy 2 afternoons of great fishing. I do not recall the actual numbers, but with six of us working two fishing poles, we were catching 8 to 12 pound silvers with ease.

That evening before we dropped anchor, we bated and dropped our crab pots at Kadashan, near Tenakee Springs.