50 Years of Serving

                                          50 Years of Serving Alaska

As we start the summer season, the Alaska Marine Highway starts it's 50th year of service. The first commissioned ship in the fleet was the M/V Malaspina, which come out of the yard with a special paint job for the celebration. The Alaska Marine Highway now has a fleet of 11 ships that play a vital role in southeast Alaska, as it is one of the most efficient ways to transport freight, passengers and vehicles in and out of the smaller communities that make up the Inside Passage.

The Alaska Marine Highway(AMH) has a route of 3,500 miles (5,600 km) and runs from Bellingham,Wash. up the Inside Passage to Skagway, Ak. and west out to the  Aleutian Chain. You can also catch the Alaska Marine Highway at its terminal in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada. The ferries serves communities in Southeast Alaska that have no road access, and the vessels transport people, freight, and vehicles. The AMH carries around 350,000 passengers and 100,000 vehicles every year.

The Alaska Marine Highway is a great way to take in all the beauty that the Inside Passage has to offer. All the main vessels have accommodations, but some like to camp out in the solarium and the fresh air. One of the great benefits of traveling on the AMH system is that you are able to get off at any port and explore it for a day or two or until the next vessel calls and takes you on your way to the next stop on your trip.

With the celebration of  the Alaska Marine Highway they are offering some special rates for travel. You can get all the information you will need to plan you trip to Alaska on their web site,  http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/ . So, if you have been wishing and wanting to visit Alaska, this the year to do it. Hope to see you in Ketchikan!

Till Then,

K-townKing

   

3 Tips On Kayak Fishing

Let me start out by saying you'll never find me doing this, fishing from a kayak. I first heard about kayak fishing in the newspaper and I've seen it in action. I was out for a leisurely boat ride one day last summer when we spotted this guy in a kayak just cruising through the water, as we come closer he yelled "It most be a monster!" He told us he had it under control and off we went to enjoy our day.

It takes a long time to learn the art of kayak fishing. An apprenticeship must be served in order to transform a novice kayak angler into a veteran kayak angler, which can be discouraging and take years to prefect.

The nearest thing to a short cut is to find an old-timer and have him take you under his wing and then accompany him on his kayak fishing trips.

Generally, kayak fishing increasing in popularity and steadily creating sustainable gratifications aside from the fact that kayaks have been used for fishing for a long time.

History has it that even in early times; kayak fishing has been the primary source of fish supply ranging from "big flat halibut" to other types of big fish. These activities, which took place from the mid 18th century until the late part of it, were all noted by the Russian Orthodox priests. These turn of events are know as "The Native History"

From then on kayak fishing continued to grow and dominate the fishing industry, when once, people were doubtful if it could aid the anglers to catch fish. The steady feature brought about by its "sit-on" type has long been the primary characteristics of kayaks that made it an ideal fishing boat.

However, with kayak fishing, you have to be able to multitask, keep the kayak steady as you paddle through the water keeping the fish on the line, which is part of the whole process.

Therefore, for folks who wish to know the tips about kayak fishing, here's 3 tips that might help you enjoy this tricky activity.

1)  Safety First
Like any activity, it's necessary the before you plunge into action, you must first and fore most observe some safety measures, be sure you can protect yourself from any imminent danger.
The kayak angler must check the weather, tide conditions and any elements concerning kayaking.

2) Hatches Should Be Closed At All Times
The kayak angler should always try to keep the hatches closed while fishing. Water can never seep into you kayak when you keep the hatches closed.

3) Steady Fish
It will make things a lot easier for the angler that when out on the water to drop an anchor to help keep the boat steady while your on the verge of catching a fish.
Best of all, before you head out on your kayak, it would be a great idea to inform family or friends of your whereabouts. In this way, someone can keep track of your activity.

As we say in Alaska, safety should be first!!!

Remember that fellow at the first of this post, we passed him as we were coming into K-town. He showed us the salmon that was towing him, a nice bright King salmon about 40lbs.

Go Have Some Fun!!

K-townking

Preparing Fresh Caught Fish

This is the time of year the waters around Ketchikan are brimming with fish, be it freshwater or saltwater, you'll wait to maintain the delicate flavor, and avoid spoilage by properly handling your catch. Not to mention preserving the fish with pleasing odor. You'll want to properly prepare and maintain the quality just after the catch to the fish into a delicious fish meal. Here are some tips to help:

1) As soon as you've land your fish try to avoid contact with hard surfaces, so not to bruise the fish. It should be immediately washed by hosing or bucket rinse to remove slim and possible bacteria that can cause spoilage. Try to avoid water in close proximity marinas,municipal or industrial discharges. Be sure to use potable water instead.

2) Your fish should be chilled to prevent deterioration in less than an hour. By planning ahead this can be accomplished by properly icing with some relatively inexpensive equipment. Fish should be stored in coolers and should be well chilled. It should be 3" deep, thus, covering a pound of fish with with a pound of ice. Use some chlorinated water for the final rinse.

3) Your fish needs to be cleaned as soon as possible. Their tissues are sterile but not their scales, which can contain numerous types of bacteria. When cleaning fish, avoid rough treatment because wounds to the flesh can allow the spread of the bacteria. Gutting the fish does not have to be a long process. It's wise to cut the belly,as it leaves no blood or viscera in the body. Be sure that you don't soak the fish in freshwater for a prolonged time as this will reduce the meats texture and flavor.

4)When properly cleaned the quality and nutritional value of your fish can be maintained for up to 5 days. To insure this be sure to wash your hands before touching your fish. No matter what fish and the technique used, always follow this golden rule. Whether your cooking the whole fish or not, cook exactly 10 minutes for each inch. If you've wrapped the fish in foil you'll want to add 5 minutes and double the time if the fish is frozen. If your baking your fish and pack it in aluminum foil remember to allow extra time for the heat to penetrate. You should allow an additional 5 minutes for fresh and 10 for frozen. Frozen fish needs to be thawed slowly by placing it in the fridge for at least 24 hours or run cold water, not room temperature, over the wrapped fish. Don't thaw a frozen fish before cooking as it can make the fish mushy and dry.

Now go out and put these tips to good use. You'll enjoy your fish a lot more.


See Ya on the Water,

K-townking

Fishing Trip Tips

Fishing in SE.Alaska can be an exciting and relaxing way to spend your visit to Ketchikan, Alaska. Fishing in the Ketchikan area has been proven to be a treasured experience for thousands of visitors every year. However, any sport has it's dangerous side and fishing is no exemption.
Most fishing equipment have sharp tools such as metal hooks which may lead to accidents when the fishing environment unexpectedly changes for the worst. Storms, high winds, wild current, and other mishaps, could spoil your SE. Alaska fishing trip.
If you are planning to go on a SE. Alaska fishing trip with your family or friends here is a list of some situations and what preparations are needed to face these scenarios.

1)Weather- When packing your bag and before you travel your SE. Alaska fishing spot, consult or be aware of the weather conditions for the day and the following days. Whether your fishing from the shore or out in a boat, you should be cautious of the conditions high winds, flash floods, storm movements and darkening skies.
Having a sun-drenched day is not really an "appropriate fishing day." You should be aware that spending many hours with exposure to the sun could damage your skin. Be prepared by bringing sun block to aviod sunburns. You should be aware of heat sickness symptoms such as nausea, breathing difficulty, lightheadedness, and unable to concentrate on tasks. Be prepared by bringing a supply of water and other liquid beverages to keep hydrated.


2)Sharp fishing equipments- Since fishing includes many sharp tools, you should always be prepared to treat injuries by packing some type of disinfectant such a medicated lotion or spray. You should always have a full first aid kit in case you might need a bandaid.


3)Bait- When you run out of bait, it could spoil your whole SE. Alaska fishing trip. To avoid this try splitting up the rest of your bait into halves,quarters or thirds. This has saved more than one SE. Alaska trip.


Be prepared to face any scenario to keep your SE. Alaska fishing adventure as FUN and RELAXED as possible.With this in mind, you could enjoy your SE.Alaska fishing trip safely and successfully.


Hope to see ya on the water in SE. Alaska, K-townking