Reel Times Newsletter
June 2019
Issue 18
From field, to fillet, to freezer – Caring for your Catch.
It’s June and the fishing season is in full swing.
June is the month when many anglers take to the water to begin the process of filling their freezers with fresh salmon fillets.
In this edition of Reel Times we’d like to take some time to go over how to properly care for your catch – from field to fillet to freezer. There’s nothing better than a fresh salmon fillet on the grill or baked in the oven, and with proper field care techniques you can get the most out of your prized catch.
Fishing is time well spent with family and friends. As such, we want to remind anglers of a few angler recognition programs we offer.
We are highlighting some regional fishing opportunities in Interior, Southcentral and Southeast Alaska and are including a new “How-To” video on tying an articulated lamprey fly.
Don’t forget, you’ll need a 2019 fishing license before heading out this year. Getting your sport fishing license is easy – check out our online store.
If you have a comment or story ideas for Reel Times, we encourage you to send them our way. You can send comments to ryan.ragan@alaska.gov.
We encourage you to share your fishing story on social media using #wefishak.
Tight lines!
Division of Sport Fish
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Caring for your Catch - Basic steps to preserving Pacific salmon
Pre-Trip Preparation
In preparation for a fishing trip, knives, cutting boards, stringers, or coolers should be cleaned with a sanitizing agent and allowed to fully dry. Starting with clean equipment while processing your fish will help minimize bacteria growth which can accelerate decomposition and subsequently create a bad taste. Taking time to plan what equipment you will need to transport harvested fish helps eliminate unforeseen situations where people transport more fish than they were prepared for. For example, the number or size of coolers needed will be different depending if you are going King salmon fishing at Ship Creek versus dip netting for sockeye salmon on the Kenai River. Along with your coolers, don’t forget to bring plenty of ice or ice packs (enough to last your whole trip) especially if your outing involves remote travel to the Alaskan bush.
Landing the Fish
After landing your salmon on the bank, beach, or boat, it’s important to bleed the fish and keep it cool. A quick “bonk” on top of the fish’s head, just behind the eyes, should stun or kill the fish. Then with your finger or knife sever one or more of the gill arches, located behind the gill cover. Bleeding the fish in water will greatly improve the efficiency of bleeding your catch. This can be accomplished by placing the fish in a container with water or on a stringer. It takes just a few minutes for the fish to finish bleeding out, at which point measures should be taken to keep the fish cool for the remainder of the fishing trip or until you are ready to process the fish. Ideally you want to have the fish in a near freezing environment to obtain optimum quality. The easiest method is with a slush mixture of ice and water. Add just enough ice to the water so that the fish will be able to submerge. By cooling the fish quickly, bacteria growth will be slowed, giving enough time to prepare for processing the fish.
Processing your catch
The most common method for preserving fish is to fillet and freeze the flesh. Filleting is the process where the flesh from each side of the fish is cut or sliced away from the backbone, rendering two slabs of meat with the skin attached. Whichever method is used to cut the fish, you will want to rinse the slime and blood from the fish prior to filleting the fish. This will help keep the cutting area clean. Fish slime is a great protective layer for a living fish swimming through the water, but it can contribute to the “fishy” taste if it gets on your salmon fillets. Once both fillets have been cut, rinse them thoroughly to remove any residual slime or blood before packaging.
There are many methods for preserving salmon including freezing, smoking, canning, and drying. Each of these methods requires a specific process and will produce a unique product. For the basic method of freezing a fillet it is recommended to vacuum seal the fillet whole or in meal sized portions. This method of preserving salmon can allow the fish to be consumed for up to a year without losing much quality or flavor. If you do not own a vacuum sealer, the units can be rented, or there are many different fish and game processors who can process your catch for a fee. If vacuum sealing is not an option for an angler, the fillets can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap followed by freezer paper or placed in a resealable plastic bag. Fish frozen using this method should be consumed sooner than fish that are vacuumed sealed. After vacuum sealing or wrapping the fish, place the fish immediately into a freezer. The colder the better for preserving quality over the following months.
The extra care taken during processing makes all the difference in the quality of the fillet when it is cooked for friends and family during the winter months. Keep in mind the basics: be prepared and keep your harvest clean and cold.
Up for a challenge?
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game encourages anglers to get out and fish. Our angler recognition programs offer you an opportunity to be recognized for specific angling accomplishments.
The Five Salmon Family Challenge
The Five Salmon Family certificate program provides recognition to angling families who catch and document the five species of Pacific salmon commonly found in Alaska. Certification in the program requires all salmon must be:
- Legally caught in Alaskan waters (fresh or salt water) open to the public
- In compliance with current ADF&G sport fishing regulations
The Stocked Waters Challenge
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game “Stocked Waters Challenges” awards a certificate of recognition to individual or groups who successfully complete one or more angling challenges.
The Trophy Fish Program
Anglers have been participating since the 1960s in the ADF&G Trophy Fish Program, which gives special recognition to anglers taking fish that meet minimum weight (trophy certificates) or length standards (catch-and-release certificates) within a species. Trophy fish for both certificates must be legally caught from waters open to the public, in compliance with current ADF&G sport fishing regulations.
Western Native Trout Challenge
The Western Native Trout Challenge is sponsored by the Western Native Trout Initiative. Alaska is one of 12 western states where anglers can participate in the challenge.
Lamprey fly pattern
In Alaska, lampreys are found from the Kenai Peninsula north along Bering Sea drainages and east along the Arctic coast to the Anderson River.
Lampreys are anadromous, which means they spend part of their life in the ocean and part of their life in fresh water. Lampreys return to fresh water in the fall and overwinter until spring when they spawn. Lampreys tend to migrate upstream in large groups and once upstream migration commences lampreys do not feed. In freshwater streams and rivers, rainbow trout and other species of fish feed on lamprey.
This pattern mimics a lamprey and can be swung in the current or cast out and stripped in. Check out our “How to Tie an Articulated Lamprey Fly” video.
Check Out Regional Updates!
Southeast Alaska – Dungeness crab fishing
One of the great benefits of living in Southeast Alaska is the opportunity to go out and harvest your own dinner. Dungeness crab are desired around the world for their rich tender meat and we are fortunate to have access to them right here in our local Southeast Alaska waters. The best part is, fishing for Dungeness crab is easy and can be done in addition to any other adventure out on the water.
Most anglers use a crab pot which is baited with fresh fish guts, squid, or even cat food. Dungeness are excellent foragers and using fresh bait with a strong scent will have them crawling over themselves to get to your pot. While there are many different shapes and styles of crab pots, nearly all have a one-way entry where it’s easy for Dungeness to climb in but difficult for them to get out. Escape rings in the top half of the pot allow smaller crabs to exit, reducing the stress of handling on nonlegal sized crab. All crab pots in Alaska must be equipped with a biodegradable escape mechanism (most often cotton twine) which will break down and allow critters to escape the pot if it were to be lost. A video is available to help anglers ensure their shellfish pots meet the legal requirements. If you are uncertain about your pot’s legality, feel free to bring it to your local ADF&G office or Alaska state troopers for some advice.
When out on your next Alaskan adventure, try throwing out your Dungeness pot and let it do the work while you go about enjoying the day. Look for sandy or muddy bottoms and set your pots between the low tide line down to roughly 100 feet, although Dungeness can be found much deeper in places. Remember to keep only the legal-sized male crab and return the others back to the water, ensuring generations of crab to come. Male crab can be easily distinguished by looking at the underside of the shell and helpful photos are available in the “Southeast Alaska Sport Fishing Regulation Summary”. Some other helpful tips are to be aware of the tidal current in the area. In areas of strong current you may need to add extra weight to your pot to ensure it stays where you left it. Also, ensure your buoy line is long enough to reach the surface even at the highest tides. There is no better way to end your day than by pulling your crab pot to find your dinner.
Southcentral Alaska – Early-run Sockeye Salmon Fishing on the Russian River
There are many freshwater fishing opportunities in June across Southcentral Alaska. One of the most popular and productive fisheries is at the Russian River for early-run sockeye salmon. The Russian River is located approximately 2 hours south of Anchorage and 1 hour east of Soldotna. The Russian River is accessible via U.S. Forest Service Russian River Campground on the northeast side of the Russian River and at the Russian River Ferry located on the south side of the Sterling Highway at the confluence of the Russian and Kenai rivers.
The sport fishery opens on June 11 and has a daily bag limit of 3 sockeye salmon greater than 16 inches and a total of 6 sockeye salmon in possession. Anglers are allowed to use one unweighted, single hook, unbaited fly with the gap between point and shank of 3/8” or less. The fly must weigh less than ¼ oz. A commonly used fly is called a “Russian River Coho” fly and is available at most retail vendors around Anchorage and Soldotna. Other fly patterns to use include Comets and Krystal Shrimp. Check out a video on how to tie a Krystal Shrimp fly.
Complete regulations for the Russian River and Upper Kenai River and Russian River confluence area can be found on pages 60 and 61 of the 2019 Southcentral Alaska Sport Fishing Regulations Summary booklet.
The most common fishing technique on the Russian River consists of attaching lead weight approximately 18 inches above the fly, then spooling out around 20 feet of line which is casted upstream into the current at a 45-degree angle and then allowed to dead drift with the current until reaching its furthest downstream point. While drifting the hook, the anglers off hand is drawing slack line out and upon finishing the drift, recasting the line upstream with a flip of the rod.
Due to the popularity of this fishery, anglers often fish in close proximity to one another. Please be courteous of fellow anglers by landing fish quickly and try not to allow your line to cross another angler’s. When possible, try and cast in unison with those around you and don’t walk immediately behind those who are trying to cast. Also, pack out what you’ve packed in, including fishing line and don’t leave a messy fishing site.
People are not the only anglers seeking sockeye salmon on the Russian River. There are brown and black bears that frequent the river and anglers should be bear aware and take steps to reduce risk of chance encounters. To reduce the chance of attracting bears, please clean your fish at home, or cut your fish carcasses into small pieces, and be sure the pieces are deposited into deep, fast-moving water, away from the shoreline.
Interior Alaska – Cushman Lake and Family Fishing Day
Stocking season has begun and if you are looking for a nearby lake for some quick after work fishing, give Cushman Lake a try. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout and has naturally occurring northern pike. Non-motorized boating is permitted. The recreation area has a picnic area and swim beach with a sandy shore (no fishing at the swim beach).
Try using shrimp or small spinners or spoons for the rainbow trout. If you want to fish for northern pike, don’t forget to use a steel leader and a larger spoon or spinner. You can also use bait, such as herring, smelt, or whitefish.
Join ADF&G staff at the small boat launch at Cushman Lake on Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Family Fishing Day. Come do some fishing and enter a drawing for prizes. Bring your fishing gear and try to catch some of the beautiful trout that were stocked last month. If you don’t have fishing gear, ADF&G will have a limited number of loaner rods for you to borrow for the day (first come – first served). We will also have bait for those who need it.
Cushman Lake is located in the Tanana Lakes Recreation Area. Just go to South Cushman and take a right at the Recreation Area sign. Follow the road. Cushman Lake is on your left.
Need more information? Call 907-459-7228
Reel Times Tip of the Month
Rigging up for Surf Casting Kenai Peninsula beaches
Surf casting from Kenai Peninsula beaches is a fun fishing activity during spring and summer months. Surf casting is a fishing trip the whole family can enjoy. Surf casting requires a stout rod (the longer the better), with a spinning or bait casting style reel and line of at least 30 pound test. Setting up your hook and bait can be done several ways, but a simple set-up would consist of a 4/0 circle or J-hook (larger hook sizes such as an 7/0 or 8/0 should be used when targeting species such as halibut), a 20 inch leader of heavy line, a three-way heavy gauge swivel, bait, and a 1 to 8 ounce weight (depending on how the fast the current is).
Start by tying the three-way swivel to the end of your line. Then, tie on your 20-inch leader and hook. Next, either attach the weight directly to the three-way swivel with another snap swivel or use a 6-inch shot of heavy line to attach the weight to the swivel. Lastly, affix the bait on the hook by the thickest section and secure it using bait thread. Herring is the most common bait when fishing for halibut or other groundfish. It is a good idea to use bait thread so that your bait stays attached to the hook while casting. Now just go down to the water’s edge and let it fly.
Field to Plate – Recipe of the Month
Got fresh salmon? Why not cook it in your Instant Pot? Here’s an amazing wild salmon recipe from our friends at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. Enjoy!
https://www.wildalaskaseafood.com/recipesdb/?recipeId=Njkw
If you have any questions about the Reel Times newsletter, please contact Ryan Ragan at ryan.ragan@alaska.gov