Charter fishermen in Southeast Alaska face worrisome season

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Charter fishermen in Southeast face worrisome season
CONCERNS: Possible bag limit cuts, fewer tourists and fuel prices.

(AP) May 7th, 2008 12:17 AM

JUNEAU -- Charter fishermen in Juneau are putting their boats in the water for the summer season but they say there's a lot to worry about this year.

They point to the high price of diesel fuel and the downturn in the economy, plus higher airfares. All those factors could mean fewer clients with less money to spend.

Charter fishermen also are keeping a close eye on new or proposed regulations on king salmon and halibut that may further limit the available catch.

The charter fleet did receive some good news. Last week, the state Board of Fisheries revised regulations it made earlier this year on king salmon sport fishing. Charter captains are back to six lines per boat instead of four.

That "saved everybody's bacon," according to Rick Bierman, Whales' Eye Lodge operator on Shelter Island and a spokesman for Juneau charter captains.

"The fuel prices are so high that by taking two people off the boats it was really hurting us," Bierman said.

The compromise was that nonresident anglers can't take fish smaller than 48 inches after July 15. Fish that large are rarely caught in Juneau. But by that time, Bierman said, other salmon will be on their way in.

The limit will affect the charters, Bierman said.

"But it's conservation," he said. "We have to take some cuts."

A remaining unknown is whether the charters will be restricted to a bag limit of one fish per customer, which captains have said will hurt their businesses substantially. The decision from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce is overdue and expected any day.

"They whacked us all at once," Larry McQuarrie, owner of Sportsman's Cove, said. "It's going to be a tough season."