Seward Take 2.

She had such great luck catching 2 silvers last weekend, my wife decided my birthday present this year is a second trip out of Seward next weekend, Aug 2nd. I'd never argue with that gift decision.... (otherwise, I'd not be a "good" husband). So we'll camp Friday night, fish all day Saturday, and fish until we're picked up on Sunday.

We want to get a direct water taxi from Seward to....somewhere (rather than be tied to the Miller Landing taxi schedule). We were thinking of taxi-ing out and camping at Caines Head--despite how close it is--so we don't have that 4-ish mile pedal/paddle out and back. But pricewise, it may not be much more to go out another few miles.

So, I turn again for advice: what's the best "low-price"/good destination combo you'd suggest from Seward?

As before, while I have nothing much to offer up now...I'll write a good report of what happens wherever we are...including a report of the Un-hungry fish which my fish finder marks.

Jeff

Try Louis Garding at Seward Water Taxi -- really good service from him on your schedule. 362-4101. The RT to Sunny Cove Marine Park is $79 -- less to Humpy Cove or Thumb Cove. That includes the $4 surcharge to land at one of the state marine parks. He'll pick you up at Lowell if you want to park at the lot there. Or you can leave directly from the small boat harbor.

Happy Birthday! What a great present. I'll keep an eye out for you two on Saturday. I'll be fishing the Callisto Head to Caines Head area.

Oops, wrong date -- i won't see you out there this weekend. I'll post a report after my trip Saturday though. It's more a sailing trip than a fishing trip, but the boat-owning friend promises me at least a few hours of kayak fishing. Marine forecast still looks brilliant.


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Yeah--we're going next weekend. Thanks for the taxi reference. I'll definitely give him a call.

We are thinking Sunny Cove as our camping/fishing destination. I haven't camped out there. My only worry around it is that it could be a bit more crowded w/people mooring off shore, the Whale watchers/salmon bake folks, etc. And a fair amount of water traffic....

But on the other hand, if the Silvers run between the island and the east shore of the Bay...we could fish that "channel" or we could shoot out if the water is calm into the open water and drop for some halibut on the tides.

I'm the least decisive person around...b/c we also felt the West side was pretty good and this time we'd have a chance to get out past Caines head.

On Saturday evening we sailed past Sunny Cove on the return. I counted four boats using the anchorage there -- didn't seem too crowded. Definitely more boats fishing the west side yesterday, though. I fished between Callisto Head and Bulldog Cove for an hour (one pink and one trooper)

LOTS of Orcas, clearly gorging themselves for quite a while. From the safety of the big boat, we watched them for about 40 minutes. That's twice in as many weeks as I've seen a pod (5-6) in that area just south of Callisto

While I was fishing, I had a visit from the wildlife trooper who checked for my license and catch. Never had that happen before out there. He also tried to tell me that I was out of compliance for not having a boat registration since my boat was >10 ft in navigable waters. He wasn't going to give me a ticket, just a warning... I asked him if he could point me to the regs -- that I'd obviously missed some applicable source of regs when provisioning my kayak.  He disappeared back into the cabin for about ten minutes, then came out and told me that they must have changed the regs and I was OK without a motor. 

Great report. Hate to see law enforcement not even knowing the regs.  Especially since there are only a thousand unregistered sea kayaks in Seward. The rega are numerous and complicated but still.  I always wondered what I'd do if checked on the water and it was in my drysuit.


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It's all about the taxes! I was kinda wondering about kayaks. I honestly didn't  research. I mean its a kayak. Leave me alone. I was almost thinking we needed flares and such for being in The ocean too.

I would have a serious hard time fishing my license out for a on the water check. Again I figured they would leave you alone. Guess ill keep it handier.

How close did you get to the orcas in your kayak? Or did you. I'm still conflicted. A part of me wants to experience it but I wouldn't mind if they cleared out either!

I about went down there yesterday but decided to go to the zoo with the kids and try and figure out a downrigger system on the adventure for when the silvers really show up

Thanks for the report. I can't believe they'd pull up on a kayak to check things out, but good to know. I've not really read up on the regs either. I have pretty much the same attitude as rimfirematt...Leave me alone!

We saw porpoises last weekend, at a distance. Not sure I what to think about orcas!

I'm going to call tomorrow and set up our trip. May wind up heading out to bulldog cove...I'll talk to the guy you recommended in the morning.

I keep my license and ID in a 5L dry bag in the front hatch with a bunch of safety gear -- so it was easy to get to. When I was scooting forward to reach the hatch, the trooper called down that if it was hard to get to, I didn't have to show it. At that point, I was more bemused than anything, and so pulled it out -- but he never took it, just looked at my folded license that came out of a plastic case. I think he'd have told me to skip it if I'd told him my license was inside my dry suit.

I was back on board a 40' sailboat by the time we spied the orcas at 100 yards -- no danger there. I heard them blow before we saw them and the spray.  I like the idea of all the marine mammals out there, no conflict for me at all on that. Doesn't mean that my heart rate doesn't increase. It's exciting and I'm on high alert. But I would prefer to have them there than not.

Jeff -- if you get out to Bulldog Cove, I'd check out the offshore rocks just south of the cove.  Rocky bottom along in there, and gets deep fast.  Remember, no ling retention in Resurrection Bay and there's restrictions on rockfish to review.  Chart 16682. 

Here's a shot of Saturday's conditions. What a summer!

By not knowing the regs I meant Boating regulations, not the fishing regulations just ds we are clear on that!I pretty much have both the fishing and hunting regs memorized.

I highly recommend you study those at least for where your fishing as well as checking emergency orders before you head out.

Other than that I have a kiss my ass sort of attitude when it comes to all these registrations and safety requirements. I haven't even registered  my kayak trailer and I don't intend to.

I played the game with my power boats but I'm drawing the line at kayak!

I followed you on the regs,  matt--that was my sense as well.  Not knowing the fishing regs wherever you're fishing seems irresponsible. And with other boats with passengers and power motors,  it seems understandable; but with a kayak...just seems...annoying.  That said,  this conversation has me planning to look them over before next weekend.  I always check and double check the fishing regs for where I'm heading,  but maybe I oughta look at the boats as well...

Not to high jack the thread, going out with that seward taxi with the wife and I with  our tandem ocean kayak at 6pm friday night. Might see you out there, prolly going to sunny cove, Good luck and be safe!

Are you going out with Seward Water Taxi? We are on a 6pm taxi out, too. Headed to Bulldog Cove.

AKFishergal, thanks for the suggestions & advice. We're hooked up for Friday, returning Sunday evening. 2 good days on the water. Definitely will check out the rocky area south. The water taxi guy, Louis, says it's too rocky to get up to shore--so we're going to be dropped in the water off shore. Should be a good weekend. Hope our weather looks like your picture!

Dudemandude-- We are not going to go this weekend after all. Too windy and rainy. If you go, be safe! When I called Seward Water Taxi, Louis said he didn't blame us for canceling--it could be kind of gnarly. He said something about small craft advisory, but I'm not seeing that currently online--unless you were to get out by Gore Point.

Anyway, if you are out paddling, have fun!

Jeff