JUNE 22, 2022 – ST. JOHN’S BAY HARBOR (ZAREMBO ISLAND)

John got up early this morning for some fishing while I slept in, which is unusual for me. I finally got up around 8:30, and had just made myself a giant mug of coffee, turned on the diesel heater and curled up to read, when I got a text from John “want to catch some fish?” I looked out the window and he was just pulling up to the boat with two nice fish. He said he had just run across a school and couldn’t keep up with the poles as they were both going off at the same time and as soon as he’d put one back down he’d get another strike! We threw the fish on ice and I bundled up to go back out with him to see if we could find more. We cruised the shoreline where he’d caught the two but it seems they’d moved on, and soon we knew why (we think). As we are slowly trolling along we hear the giant whoosh of a whale spout, turn around, and a GIANT humpback is 40’ off the boat. Not sure if salmon are scared by humpbacks since they don’t eat salmon, but possibly just because they are big bodies in the water and a perceived threat? Good question for someone who knows more than me about this subject. J went back out in the afternoon to fish for halibut – I opted out because it was raining and he then called me a “fair weather fisherman” – ummm yes! I don't like being wet or cold. I watched a movie instead and had a nice afternoon myself! I think we are staying here one more night after tonight then heading into Wrangell on the 24^th. I made a delicious ginger, soy, honey, garlic marinade for the freshly caught salmon and served with Asian slaw and rice tonight. It was really good, but in hindsight muted the flavor of the fresh fish. But it’s a recipe I will definitely use in the future on the frozen fish. After dinner we went out for a try at halibut fishing (nothing) and whale watching as the whales continue to transit the Sumner Straits right outside our bay. We were not disappointed as soon after getting outside a whale surfaced near our boat. We shut off the engine and watched and listened for a long time while this enormous creature gracefully grazed around us. This whale was a big boy (or girl) and when he surfaced his blow hole looked to be the size of a basketball!