Fishing in Alaska

The mountain range across Cook Inlet is beautiful, especially when the sun is setting.

Quick Tips:

You probably won't be able to get up in the action, but there is a good (tiny bit unsafe) viewing area and it's a good place to take a few pictures and see what many Alaskans do for work in the summer. When you are standing at the bluff be sure not to get too close. There is an overhang and the bluff is about 90 feet tall. Falling off and breaking your neck might ruin the fun. Just keep your distance and you'll be fine. You can still take pictures.

Best Way To Get Around:

There are many nets (apx. 210 ft long) close to shore, and more farther out in the water all along Salamatof Beach. On a normal day (Monday and Thursday in mid-July early-August) the nets are set at 7 am. It is fun to watch the process that has been happening for many generations. The nets are picked in aluminum skiffs before the tides. You can stand at the top of the bluff with a good view. Bring binoculars. Take all the pictures you want.

Set net fishing in Cook Inlet has been happening since the 1800s. When set netting started, fishermen used fish traps. These were made out of poles staked into the ground and hung with wire between them. When the tide changed, the fish would get caught in the traps and be picked up by large boats called tenders. In 1959, fish traps became illegal because too many fish were being caught, and there weren't enough to go up the river to spawn.

To replace the traps, commercial fishermen now use set nets and drift nets. Set nets are held by pulleys and anchors in the inlet. Drift nets are dragged behind boats and then pulled into the boats and picked.

Today, with the use of tractors, trucks, running water, and electricity, the fishing process has become much easier. The smoothness of the operation is actually quite fantastic to watch.