By Sentinel Staff
With schools of herring returning to Sitka Sound to spawn, the herring sac roe commercial fishing fleet will go on two-hour notice at 8 a.m. Thursday, the Department of Fish and Game announced Monday.
No herring or spawn were seen in Monday’s aerial survey, but vessels on the water noted “very large schools of herring” around the mouth of Indian River, in Deep Inlet and at Mountain Point, the department said.
Boats also noted herring around Big Gavanski Island, near Starrigavan.
Herring predators, which have been noted in the sound since surveys began over a week ago, remain prevalent.
“While herring predators were widely dispersed throughout the survey area, concentrations of humpback whales were observed near Inner Point, north of Middle Island, and south of Galankin Island. Concentrations of sea lions were observed near Inner Point, Mountain Point, and Bieli Rock,” Fish and Game said.
Two test sets conducted Monday around Galankin Island and Mountain Point pulled in fish with some mature roe.
