It's difficult not to be taken by the sheer magnitude of the mountains surrounding Seward. Often veiled behind a thin mantle of low-lying clouds, these primordial, windswept peaks form an almost mind-boggling backdrop for what may be some of Alaska's best saltwater fishing.
Along with its rugged, natural charm, this city along Resurrection Bay hosts the world-renowned Seward Silver Salmon Derby. With prize money totaling more than $100,000, and $50,000 offered for one tagged fish, this event -- which runs Aug. 8-16 -- attracts a lot of interest. Fortunately this exceptionally large run of salmon usually peaks just after the derby and continues strong well into September.
The first silver salmon usually begin to appear in July and, early in the season, are most easily caught from a boat. Trolling is the method most commonly used by those targeting silvers. The majority of charter boats and large private vessels are equipped with downriggers, a definite advantage early on, when the salmon are running deep. Later in the year, when the runs hit in earnest, those in small boats have just as much chance of landing large numbers of fish. The basic setup for trolling includes a trolling or "banana" sinker and a salmon leader, preferably with a sliding top hook. Herring, either cut into plugs or whole, are attached to the hooks and trailed behind. Anglers also have the option of purchasing various types of plastic harnesses that attach to the herring and spin it.
Another popular method of salmon fishing from a boat is "mooching," which uses the same basic setup as the trolling rig. In this case, the bait sinks and is simply allowed to drift, the boat operator occasionally putting the motor into gear or the fishers lifting their rod tips to give the rigs some action. This method also allows those in boats without downriggers to sink their bait deeper, a big advantage early in the run when the fish tend to be deep.
While silvers are the major draw in Seward they're only the beginning of the fishing opportunities available in Resurrection Bay. Options abound as early as April, when sea-run Dolly Varden hit area beaches. King salmon are also available in Seward and are the first salmon to arrive, usually in mid-May. Their feeding habits are similar to silvers.
Halibut fishing out of Seward is also extremely popular. Boats will often venture as far as 50 miles outside of the bay for these flatfish, coveted for their white, flaky meat. They average between 40 and 80 pounds, but it's not uncommon to return with fish that tip the scales at 200, even 300, pounds. There are several charter companies that operate out of Seward to take anglers out.
Not for the faint of heart, a few of these companies have also begun shark hunts. These are often multiday excursions in which intrepid anglers set out after salmon sharks, which can reach up to 15 feet long and weigh up to 800 pounds.
