August 1, 2023 — The numbers are in for the first opening in the summer troll fishery for king salmon in Southeast Alaska.
The 12-day season saw more chinook landed than expected, despite fewer boats being on the water.
Southeast trollers brought in about 85,000 king salmon from July 1 to July 12, around 8,000 fish over the target for the first opener of the season.
At first, it might look like enthusiasm played a role, as it was only on June 21 that the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay that allowed the fishery to occur at all.