Outdoors & Recreation Archives - Juneau Empire

Brief tuna bounty in Southeast Alaska spurs excitement about new fishing opportunity

Wire Service — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 06:30:00 +0000

Waters off Sitka were warm enough to lure fish from the south, and local anglers took advantage of conditions to harvest species that make rare appearances in Alaska

Another bust year for Yukon River king salmon returns, sonar counters show

Wire Service — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 06:30:00 +0000

Fish counters show 2025 returns have again failed to meet that target after missing in 2024 as well.

Hoonah’s rich fishing history remembered through totem pole

Jasz Garrett — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:30:00 +0000

The story of fishermen carved — “all of us in the past, all of us in the future, and all of us now.”

Coastal Alaskans see commercial fishing limits as a ‘crisis.’ Lawmakers don’t.

Wire Service — Thu, 29 May 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Legislature adjourned without addressing expanding access to commercial fishing careers.

Murkowski and other US lawmakers seek guest worker visa exception for seafood industry

Wire Service — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Legislation would exempt seafood companies from a cap on the number of H-2B visa workers.

Internal memo outlines stark impacts of federal downsizing on Alaska regional fishery agency

Wire Service — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 05:30:00 +0000

Understaffed federal offices supporting fishing regulators cut even further, as NOAA Fisheries works ‘to keep the lights on’

Southeast fisherman sentenced to six months in prison for falsifying records and attempting to kill sperm whale

Jasz Garrett — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:30:00 +0000

The case is a “first of its kind” and sends a message to the larger fishing community.

I Went to the Woods: Tie one on

Wire Service — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 06:30:00 +0000

As a kid I threw spinners and spoons, and didn’t bother to learn the impact of bugs in a salmon or trout’s life.

I Went to the Woods: Angling for goals to appreciate in 2025

Wire Service — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 06:30:00 +0000

This is somewhat devastating because saying you might not do something at 23-years old is just youth speaking. Saying it at 43-year old means not only has it not happened, but that it might never happen. I should have gone when it wasn’t as expensive, but at the time it was expensive.

Legislative task force offers possible actions to rescue troubled Alaska seafood industry

Wire Service — Sat, 11 Jan 2025 06:30:00 +0000

Boosting international marketing, developing new products, more support for workers, other steps.

Alaska’s seafood industry lost $1.8 billion last year, NOAA report says

Wire Service — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 05:30:00 +0000

A variety of market forces combined with fishery collapses occurring in a rapidly changing environment caused Alaska’s seafood industry to lose $1.8 billion from 2022 to 2023, a new federal report said.

I Went to the Woods: A tribute to The Trout Bum

Wire Service — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 05:30:00 +0000

I never met John Gierach, but I feel like I know him as well as you can know anyone from their books and he had many. In 2020 I wrote a column in this publication about how I wanted to savor his most recent book, at the time, “Dumb Luck and the Kindness of Strangers,” because you never know when it will be the last either because of desire, business or even the business of passing on. At some point a book would be his last. For whatever reason.

For generations of Alaskans, a livelihood is under threat

Wire Service — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 05:30:00 +0000

Something is broken in the economics of state’s fishing industry. Can Washington come to the rescue?

Sportfishers can’t keep king salmon caught in Southeast waters under emergency order starting Monday

Mark Sabbatini — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 05:30:00 +0000

Ban in effect until Oct. 1 unlikely to affect fishing tours since few kings being caught, operators say.

Lawsuit claims fishery managers have failed to adequately protect Alaska’s coral gardens

Wire Service — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 05:30:00 +0000

Environmental group seeks stronger limits to bottom trawling in the Gulf of Alaska.

78th Golden North Salmon Derby starts slow due to flood cleanup, fishing conditions

Mark Sabbatini — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 05:30:00 +0000

23.3-pound king leads after first day; weekend weather forecast is for a chance of rain.

78th annual Golden North Salmon Derby offers a nibble of normalcy in wake of record flood

Mark Sabbatini — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 05:30:00 +0000

Occasional rain, a few stray trees in the waters near Juneau expected as three-day event begins.

Biden administration rejects top Inslee choice for Alaska fish commission, reappoints trawl ally

Wire Service — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 05:30:00 +0000

The Biden administration has rejected a nominee for a key Alaska fisheries management post who could have tipped decisions toward the interests of tribes and conservation groups and away from the priorities of the large-boat, Seattle-based trawl industry.

I Went to the Woods: Silvers on the fly

Wire Service — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:30:00 +0000

A school of a few dozen fish moved slowly through the teal water in front of the skiff. They maintained their trajectory and tolerated my false casting. This was not one of those moments in which everything depended on one perfect cast. There would be others, but as the tide continued to drop and the inlet drained, the fish would stop their pushing and circling. I couldn’t waste opportunities, but this moment wasn’t one of make or break.

Federal grants to state agency aim to expand markets for Alaska seafood

Wire Service — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 05:30:00 +0000

More than $5M to help ASMI comes after Gov. Dunleavy vetoed $10M for agency.