Don't risk $1,000 fine by disposing of fish waste improperly

Strong salmon runs across Southcentral have prompted the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to warn anglers and dipnetters that improper disposal of fish waste can lead to fines up to $1,000.

"Fish attract bears," Anchorage area wildlife biologist Dave Battle said in a press release, "and bears area likely to defend those food sources."

Discarding fish waste on public or private property or along roads, pull-offs and trails can endanger other Alaskans.

Nor should fish waste be dumped into local lakes and streams. That's because fish pathogens and parasites can be drainage specific, and newly introduced ones can endanger fish, said Dan Bosch, Anchorage regional management coordinator.

Anglers who clean fish on site are asked to chop waste into small pieces and toss them into a fast-moving current. Anglers who bring their fish home before filleting them should:

— Take the waste directly to a waste-transfer station or the landfill.

— Freeze fish waste to eliminate odors before putting it in the garbage the morning of pickup.

345-pound halibut landed near Ninilchik

Another hefty halibut has been landed by an angler aboard a Ninilchik charter boat.

On July 9, John Collis of Rogers, Arkansas, reeled in a 345-pound flatfish — some four pounds heavier than the fish Florida angler George McMahon caught last month out of Ninilchik.

Collis was fishing aboard the boat Unforgiven with captain Charlie Barberini of Jimmie Jack Fishing.

"It was quite a fight," Collis said of the half-hour tug-of-war. He said he donated the meat to charity

Both fish are significantly heavier than the halibut leading both the Valdez Halibut Derby (253 pounds) and the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby (167 pounds).

Gold mining film screened

A 28-minute film that recounts the history of gold mining in the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve will be screened 6 p.m. Thursday at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in Fairbanks.

"Gravel to Gold: The Coal Creek Story" focuses on sites in the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.

Gold's discovery at the turn of the 20th century in drainages feeding the Yukon River changed the landscape, people and culture of the area forever. Hardy miners worked the land with hand tools, sluice boxes and small steam boilers to thaw the ground in the era before dredges came on the scene.

Caribou hunt scaled back

Hunters targeting Macomb herd caribou will have to act fast next month. State biologists cut the harvest quota from 70 to 40 bulls Tuesday.

Macomb caribou roam the eastern Alaska Range between Delta River and Yerrick Creek south of the Alaska Highway. Since the early 1970s, the herd's numbers have ranged from 350 to around 1,500 animals. Today the Macomb herd is managed for a fall population of 600-800 with a sustainable harvest of 30-70 caribou, according to a Fish and Game press release.

An aerial survey in June showed 700 to 800 caribou in the hunt area.

Scheduled to open Aug. 10, the hunt will close by emergency order once the harvest quota of 40 bull caribou is met. Biologists expect the closure will occur before Aug. 26, when motorized access to the Delta Controlled Use Area is allowed.

"We know many people look forward to two days of motorized hunting in the Delta Controlled Use Area for the Macomb herd, but that's very unlikely this year," said area biologist Bob Schmidt. "We want to get the word out early — before people make the big trip or buy plane or ferry tickets."

Potter Marsh bird walks extended

The popular summer bird walks sponsored by Audubon Alaska at Potter Marsh have been extended through Aug. 16. The walks are 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 8-10 a.m. Saturdays.

Loaner binoculars, spotting scopes and guide books are available. Meet your guide at the boardwalk entrance kiosk at Potter Marsh.

167-pound halibut leads Homer derby

Montana angler Gayle Maggio caught a 167-pound halibut July 8 to seize the lead in the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby, knocking Alisa Sands out of the top spot. Maggio was fishing with captain Travis Blount aboard a Homer Ocean Charters vessel.

So far in July, two tagged fish have also been caught by derby anglers.

Though it's still early in a derby that lasts until September, Maggio's fish is far smaller than any winner of the derby, which dates back to 1986. Last year, Linda Scott won with the smallest winner in derby history, a 224-pound fish. The derby record is Jerry Meinders' 376-pounder in 1996.