I have been fishing SE Alaska most of the summer and it seems that our coho have not been coming onshore at all in any great numbers. They forcasted averaged runs for this year. We have had a very warm summer and the water temp. is pushing 60-61 degrees is this to warm for coho?

Thanks
JoJo

I'm not an expert but I though Coho didn't start to get thick in SE Alaska until now through September. I could be wrong though.

I think its temp. related, I've seen the same thing in past warm water years (even worse during El Nino years) I don't know about Sitka but the area I'm fishing is just now starting to take off (easy silver limits) which is 2 to 3 weeks later then normal.

FJ15, Ocean silver fishing generally starts earlier then the inside (such as Ketchikan) areas, early to mid July is normally very good silver fishing here where as things don't really get going inside till early to mid August on the inside waters, silver fishing also ends earlier on the outside with most silver fishing done by early Sept. while its prime time inside.

AKkings good to hear things have picked up for you down there. We have had some days with limits but lately it's been a 12-18 coho a day show. I think we can say that we are having more kings than coho in sitka. But sure seem to be marking a lot of coho out oin the deep water halibut fishing. Jigged up a couple the other day and figured sooner or later they would come onshore but not so far.

JoJo

JoJo-
Water temperatures in the low 60s would be a little warmer than what coho would prefer. We are seeing something similar off the Washington Coast with the fishing at Westport well below that of the recent years and here as well temperatures are warmer than normal.

While the temperatures may explain the tough coho fishing it could be any number of factors. They are notorious for being finicky. They could be holding off shore due to feeding conditions, waiting for weather changes, etc. As you likely remember locally the ocean coho show up in Puget Sound over quite a time range with fishable numbers available some years by mid-late August and other years a month later.

Hope that is the case with SE coho and not a case of survivals being lower than expected. Hope fishing improves soon.


Tight lines
S malma

JoJo, WaaaaaaaaZuuuuuup?!?!?

Was an unusually warm water year for us on the Nush this season as well. (even warmer than when you were there with me) Water temp warmed up to 70 degrees and the Kings went off the bite big time (well, went from boatin' close to 100 a day to 20-30 :rolleyes: ) The fish were there just didn't wanna' bite. Big wind one day and water cooled to 68 the next and bite was a lot better; rain the next and water went down to 64 and bite was back on.

Maybe yer seing the same conditions we had. Whats the avg. water temp where yer at now?

Hi John! Yeah, I was there fishing when the water warmed up I took the water temp at Jeff and Bretts camp and it was 69 degrees! And one day the air temp was 91! Who would have thought! Still though had the time of my life, cant wait to get back there. Dave said he saw you one day down at the funnel hole.. He was running one of Jeffs boats. I kept looking for you but never saw you.

John and Bryan how's it going. Still seeing one of the best king years here in SE. More Kings than coho. The water has been anywhere from 59-61 but it hasn't seemed to affect the kings. We had a 54 and a 42 on back to back days. Been averaging 15-20 kings a day. Along the lines of warm water Tons of jelly fish this year what a pain.

JoJo

Sounds like fun Joe , I am going to SE next year then back to the Nushagak the next year! See you when you get back!

Just got the local paper in sitka and someone found a skipjack Tuna washed up on the beach. Very rare for up here.