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Each spring young anglers head down to the docks in Petersburg, Alaska with fishing poles, buckets and life jackets. This is not a rendition of Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn, but a fun way to spend a few recreational fishing hours.
Dock fishing in Petersburg is better than floating down the Mississippi on a raft with Tom Sawyer. Petersburg’s harbor is a large network of docks that support a large commercial fishing fleet, charter boats, yachts, Alaska ferry, cruise ships, and family boats. Each of the docks has a different character.
The North Harbor is the original dock facility in Petersburg. It is right downtown and easily accessed by a ramp next to the Harbor Masters office. The docks are located between two canneries where scraps of fish fall into the water. This is good for the fish and good for the anglers since there is a lot of food for fish in the water near the canneries. On sunny days, parents bring their youngest anglers here to fish. The Harbormaster’s Office loans life preservers to keep the smaller anglers safe. Usually one parent or older sibling takes the younger anglers fishing while the other members of the family shop downtown. The North Harbor is a fun place to fish because there is so much activity with the canneries, visiting boats, and so many older boats.
Fishing in the North Harbor is the same as from the other docks. The fish most commonly caught from the docks are herring and Dolly Varden Char, known as dollies. The dock-fishing season usually lasts from May to September with a peak around fourth of July. On any sunny day and many rainy days, you can hear squeals of delight when a prized fish is caught.
Each angler will need a fishing pole with 8 to 12 pound test line on the reel. This may seem like heavy line but sometimes a large cod, flounder, or salmon will bite. Generally, a herring jig is the best bait for dock fishing. Some herring jigs seem to work better than others on certain days but the standard jig with red and green colored beads is the most reliable. At the end of line, a weight is needed to hold the jig down in the water.
A block away from the Harbormaster’s Office is Hammer and Wikan Hardware where you can get all of your fishing supplies. They usually know what’s biting and can get you set up in a matter of minutes. They also carry fishing gear that would fit everyone from the smallest angler to a seasoned fisherman. If you’re over 16 they’ll also sell you a fishing license. The younger Tom Sawyer’s and Becky Thatcher’s won’t need one.
And, don’t forget the bucket. A five-gallon bucket is nice to have for dock fishing. When the fish are aggressively feeding, it won’t take long to catch several herring or dollies. A bucket of fresh saltwater will help keep you fish fresh.
If you want to go for something a little bigger, try small balls of salmon eggs or chunks of herring on a size 10 or 12 treble hook. Some weight will be needed above the hook to get the bait down to the fish. Dollies over two pounds are frequently caught using this method. Sometimes anglers are rewarded with a nice sized salmon taking the bait.
The Middle Harbor is next to one cannery behind the Alaska Department of Fish and Game building. It is the smallest of the dock facilities and the home to the smaller fishing vessels of the commercial fleet. Since it is smaller, it is a quieter place to fish. It also is the only harbor with a sandy bottom in places. As you come off the ramp to the dock, walk about 10 feet to the right and look down into the water at low tide. You can usually locate sea stars and sea urchins on the sandy bottom.
The South Harbor is the largest harbor and is the home to the largest fishing boats in the fleet. On sunny summer days you can see flashes of silver in the water. These are schools of herring looking for a meal. This is a great place for herring fishing. If you go to the farthest ends of the dock, you might even catch a large salmon if the tides are right and the salmon are feeding on the herring. Sea anemones and sea stars live all along the docks and move with each passing current. Even if you don’t catch a single fish, you can still have fun watching the sea life and looking at the large fishing boats. Keep your eyes open because sometimes a sea lion follows the herring into the harbor. They often surface close enough to startle an angler.
If none of these docks appeal to you, try casting from the shore. Just to the North of Petersburg Fisheries cannery, is Eagle’s Roost Park. Follow the steps down to the beach at low tide and try casting. Several different lures are effective including the Kast Master and Blue Fox. Only the most experienced anglers don’t lose their lures in this stretch of shoreline, so pick up a few extras if you plan to fish for the larger Dolly Varden.
Any time or tide is a good time to fish from the docks for herring. When they are in the harbor, they bite all the time. High slack tide is usually the best time to catch dollies. Tide books are available free of charge at Hammer and Wikan or check with the Harbormaster’s Office to find out the tides.
Even if you’re older than Tom Sawyer, you’ll have a fun time fishing the docks of Petersburg, Alaska. Petersburg, Alaska offers some of the best Alaskan adventure and vacation packages for you to enjoy. From quality Bed and Breakfasts (B&B) to experience and knowledgeable charter boat operator/yacht expedition cruises, you will find Petersburg the best Alaska vacation destination. For the local information or answers to your questions contact:
petersburg vacations@petersburgalaska.com.
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