April 2022
Issue 52
Get to Know Your Rockfish
Rockfish are some of Alaska’s most long-lived fish. If you have ever fished from a boat in the saltwater in Alaska, you’ve likely hooked and landed one or more of the over 40 different species of rockfish found in Alaska. Some rockfish are quite colorful. Take the yelloweye rockfish for example. The yelloweye rockfish is recognized by its brilliantly colored orange body and large, yelloweye of the eye. What makes this species particularly interesting is that some individuals can live to be over 100 years old.
Rockfish are distributed throughout most of Alaska’s saltwater. Rockfish are long-lived, slow growing, and slow to reach maturity. This makes them susceptible to overharvest.
In this edition of Reel Times, we look at what’s being done to ensure sustainable rockfish populations exist now and into the future. Additionally, we get a glimpse of what fishing on the Holitna River is a like and find out how much fun it can be to go bowfishing for northern pike.
Have you purchased your 2022 sport fishing license yet? If not, be sure to do so before you head out on your next fishing adventure. Visit our online store to get started.
Are you following us on social media? If not, be sure to check us out on Instagram @wefishak. You can also follow us on Facebook at ADF&G - wefishak . Also, visit our YouTube channel for a growing selection of “how-to” videos and much more.
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’ll see you on the water.
Ryan Ragan
What is the Statewide Rockfish Initiative?
In 2017, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game began a statewide effort to develop management strategies for black and yelloweye rockfish in the Gulf of Alaska. The Statewide Rockfish Initiative (SRI) is made up of staff from both commercial and sport fish divisions, and from regions across the Gulf.
Staff efforts from 2017 to present are focused on two things: the creation of statewide management standards for black and yelloweye rockfish, and development of strategies that will support long-term adaptive management. SRI participants share data across regions and divisions and support research, which adds to our knowledge of rockfish life history. This information is vital to current and future conservation and management practices of rockfish.
The SRI is working to develop stock assessments for black and yelloweye rockfish in parts of Alaska, conducting research on black rockfish abundance in Kodiak, mapping yelloweye habitat in Southeast Alaska, and analyzing black and yelloweye rockfish genetics. The SRI is also sharing information with the public about rockfish identification and life history. This is to educate the public about the importance of taking action now to sustain rockfish populations in the future. Rockfish conservation is a collective effort, and what we do now matters.
Learn more about rockfish conservation and life history.
New Online Resource to Help ID Rockfish
With over 40 different species of rockfish found in Alaska, identifying each species can be challenging. We’ve added a rockfish identification section to our website to help you in your rockfish ID efforts.
You’ll find pictures and descriptions of rockfish species on our website.
Yelloweye Rockfish Habitat
What do NASA Earth Observations and artificial intelligence have to do with rockfish? Did you know that you can use these to map habitat? ADF&G Division of Sport Fish and Division of Commercial Fisheries in Southeast Alaska are collaborating to use machine learning methods, a type of artificial intelligence in which map-generating models learn from data, to improve upon habitat maps and support management decisions.
Imagine how expensive and time consuming it would be to journey throughout every nautical mile of the Inside Passage and outside waters to identify rockfish habitat and then map all those observations and measurements over the entire inside and outside marine area! Instead of conducting a massive, cost-prohibitive undertaking, machine learning methods make this possible in a fraction of the time and cost. These types of mapping approaches have become increasingly popular in the world of habitat detection thanks to their high accuracy, adaptability, and low cost.
For this effort, ADF&G is using georeferenced rockfish observations collected through commercial fishery data, seafloor maps, and marine conditions data such as chlorophyll-a concentration and sea surface salinity collected by other agencies including NOAA and NASA. This information is combined to answer the question, what type of conditions exist where we have observed groups of yelloweye rockfish, and where else do those conditions exist throughout Southeast Alaska waters? The same framework will be applied to rockfish habitat across the Gulf of Alaska and to map black rockfish habitat in similar areas in the future.
With the preliminary maps, this summer’s field season will include test surveys to help validate model results and maps so far. Using that ground-truthed information, the Divisions will work to identify areas where the maps are accurate, and areas that may be less accurate and need to be revised by accounting for other possibly important factors for rockfish habitat. That’s the magic of machine learning: the more data we have, the more habitat information the model learns! The final maps will inform areas of high conservation priority and areas where we can potentially increase opportunity.
What is barotrauma?
Rockfish caught in deep water often sustain injuries — referred to as barotrauma — caused by rapid decompression and expansion of gases in the swim bladder. Outward signs of barotrauma include the stomach protruding from the mouth of the fish, everted eyes and a taught abdomen.
Alaska anglers can best prevent wasteful rockfish mortality by avoiding waters where unwanted catches of rockfish are likely. When rockfish are caught incidentally despite avoidance efforts, proper deepwater release techniques can reduce discard mortality. An ADF&G study found that survival of yelloweye released at depth was far higher (98 percent) than survival of fish released at the surface (22 percent).
There are various ways to return a rockfish to depth of capture or 100 feet using a deepwater release mechanism. Deepwater release mechanisms are sold commercially or can be manufactured by anglers using a few simple items.
ADF&G has posted a few videos showing how to use a deepwater release.
How to use a deepwater release device to release a silvergray rockfish
How to use a deepwater release device - release of a yelloweye rockfish
Bowfishing For Northern Pike
By Daryl Lescanec, Fishery Biologist for ADF&G Sport Fish Division in Palmer
Spring has arrived and all the ice on the lakes is melting and will soon be gone. This is the time of year when northern pike spawn. Bowfishing this time of year presents anglers with a unique opportunity to harvest pike during the spawning period when fish are less likely to hit a lure or take bait and larger fish are in the shallows where they can be easily seen and targeted.
Another Tool in the Pike Fisherman’s Toolbox
Northern pike are invasive to Southcentral Alaska, and there is no limit to the number of fish you can harvest. All pike caught must be killed and may not be released live back into the water. There are several methods used to harvest northern pike, like angling and spearing. Bowfishing represents another method anglers can use. As there are times when these fish will not hit or take bait as they are either actively spawning or spooked by the presence of a boat. Bowfishing allows anglers to still harvest fish throughout the open water season when other methods and means are less effective.
Gear
Bowfishing is done either with a compound or traditional bow, and a reel mounted on the front of the bow with a line attached to an arrow. Per regulation, the arrow must be attached to the bow with a line and the arrow must have a barded tip. Many different combinations and setups exist. There are several manufacturers that make bowfishing products and these are available online and in some local sporting goods stores. AMS Bowfishing, Muzzy, and Cajun Bowfishing are some of the most popular. The easiest way to bowfish is from a boat; however, hiking around shorelines can also produce fish.
Polarized sunglasses are a must for locating fish and taking shots. Strong Dacron braided line is recommended on your bowfishing reel. Solid fiberglass arrows are normally used in bowfishing as they have the weight necessary to penetrate into the water and hit fish. I would recommend using a bow in the 40 to 60lb range, when you start getting into the higher poundage it is difficult to retrieve arrows that get shot into vegetation. A fish point on the end of the arrow that unscrews to allow the barbs to fold back is ideal for removing arrows from vegetation and removing fish from your arrow.
Hunting Fish
When targeting pike, pick a lake or a river system with sloughs and slowly move into the shallows with your boat, standing on the bow of the boat with your bow in hand. Try to stay low and minimize your shadow until you locate a fish and are ready to shoot. If you can use a push pole or a paddle to move around this is sometimes a less intrusive method than running the motor at low speed or idling.
Ideal conditions for hunting fish are flat calm days with plenty of sunlight. Wind is the enemy when it comes to bowfishing. Wind makes disturbances and waves on the surface of the water making it much harder to locate fish. Wind can increase the drifting speed of your boat and cause you to move faster, spooking fish before a shot opportunity presents itself.
Shooting Tips
When shooting fish, due to the light refraction of the water, you must aim below the fish. Depending on how deep the fish is below the surface will determine how low you must aim. For example, a fish six inches below the surface would require a point of aim around 12 inches below the fish. A fish three feet below the surface would require a point of aim four to five feet below the fish. You have a higher percentage of hitting your target when pike are facing towards you or away from you as pike are skinny. You have a lower percentage of success shooting fish facing perpendicular to your bow. If you can wait for the fish to turn, you can increase your chances.
Safety Tips
Safety should be a priority when considering bowfishing. This is a dangerous sport that requires paying attention to detail and being aware of your surroundings. Never tie your line directly to the head or tip of the arrow or shoot an arrow that has the line directly attached to the head or tip of the arrow. Use an approved arrow safety slide on the shaft of the arrow and tie your line directly to the safety slide. A slide stop on the end of the arrow shaft before the nock is also a necessary safety component as it allows the slide to stop, and the end of your line to be at the back of the arrow shaft during slight. Tying a loop to this safety slide allows the line to travel in a straight path that is level with the shaft of the arrow during flight. There are plenty of videos online available showing you how to properly rig and tie your bowfishing line to your arrow, and arrow setup. Be aware of your surroundings and make sure no one, or nothing is near you or entangled in your bowfishing line before taking a shot.
Cleaning your Catch
There are several methods for filleting and deboning northern pike. I found a recent method presented by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department that is an easy process. You can view the video on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department YouTube channel.
Finally, do not forget what Wayne Gretzky always said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Have a safe and successful bowfishing season. Aim low!
The Holitna River: A Hidden Gem of the Middle Kuskokwim River Valley
Description
Go fishing on a little-traveled river in the middle Kuskokwim – the Holitna River! You won’t be disappointed. Guided anglers and floaters are surprised by the diversity of fishing opportunities to be had on this hidden gem. Species of note that are particularly impressive there are some very large and active northern pike, and sheefish in the lower river.
The Holitna River is a large clearwater river that flows north from the Kuskokwim Mountains to the Kuskokwim River at the village of Sleetmute. All summer there’s excellent fishing for Dolly Varden and Arctic grayling, and large northern pike in the lower river and sloughs. King and chum salmon are available late-June and July, and coho salmon during late August and September. Anglers normally float about 85 miles of the river from locations near the headwaters (as determined by float plane or wheel plane pilot) and are picked up by floatplane upstream of the confluence with the Kuskokwim, or float to Sleetmute and take scheduled air service. The Holitna River is also navigable by prop boat for much of the lower 40 river miles, and by jet boat all the way to the Kogrukluk. The river is all Class I, but there are sweepers and log jams, which require some boating skill to avoid. There is also a very sizable tributary drainage that drains into the Holitna River that is called the Hoholitna River. The lower portion of this river offers excellent northern pike fishing.
Tackle
All the species present are attracted to egg patterns, especially during salmon spawning. Silver and flashy streamers work well below water, and dry flies can be productive during the right conditions. Silver/pink or orange spoons and silver or gold spinners work well for spinning gear, as well as white, pink, and silver jigs. Pike will hit surface lures such as mouse or frog patterns, and are attracted to large rubber fish lures as well; always use steel leaders for pike fishing. Sheefish are often not too picky, but when they are, a large light-colored spoon or a duck-billed diving lure can be just the ticket.
Getting There
Access to the Holitna is normally by float plane charter, either through McGrath, Aniak, Bethel, or by charter from Anchorage. There is also scheduled air service to Sleetmute. The river is normally floated, where there are providers of both guided and unguided trips. Outfitted trips are available that include raft or other equipment rental and aircraft charter. There are also some small but comfortable lodges on the river. The float normally takes about 10 days. Bears are common along the river, and floaters should take appropriate cautions.
Species
Dates
Begins May 15 and ends September 15
Regulations
Before you go fishing, please check the regulations.
Field to Plate - Recipe of the month
Recipe of the Month – Alaska Seacuterie Board and Buffalo Halibut Dip.
Try this great recipe from Alaska Seacuterie Board from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute.
Or, try this great recipe for Buffalo Halibut Dip from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Enjoy!
If you have any questions about the Reel Times newsletter, please contact Ryan Ragan at ryan.ragan@alaska.gov
**Photos of yelloweye and tiger rockfish by Vicki Okimura (WDFW).