First Catch of Juvenile Cod and Pollock

by Wyatt Fournier from the Northwest Explorer

Juvenile Pacific cod and pollock.

We have finished our first, and northernmost transect of the western Gulf of Alaska grid at a station in Granite Pass. This scenic near-shore station is tucked away between Granite Island and Fire Cove. It is in just 50 meters of water in the head of Harris Bay, about 30 miles southwest from Seward. Besides providing some excellent after hours halibut fishing, this station marks our first catch of juvenile Pacific cod and walleye pollock in 2011. Although we expected to catch juveniles of these species farther offshore, it’s as Captain Ray says “You don’t know, until you tow.”