A slow two weeks, but we saw lots of bears!

Well, its been an another few weeks, and we're back in port for a small closure. There are still a few spots open to fishing (Inner and Outer Karluk, Spiridon Bay, Duck Bay), but the weather is horrible, and the fish aren't strong enough to justify getting thrown around out there. We leave today at 2pm, back to the Mainland. In the last few weeks, fishing has been very slow, as this period of time usually is. We're starting to target Cook Inlet run reds, which are about a 7.5 pound average! Kodiak reds are about 4.5. Fisherman refer to the big reds at "Cookies." We intercept the Cook Inlet fish at a few places around the Island, and on the Mainland. Dakavak, Raspberry Cape, Northbound sets on the Westside, etc. Anyway, we started this 2nd outing in Marmot Bay, fishing for Chum Salmon, which is something we usually don't do. After a few days, we grew VERY tired of it, and went to the Westside to try and catch some middle-of-the-runs Karluk reds. After a few days of slow fishing there, we went into Larsen Bay for the 4th of July to see Cambria, Caleb, and the others. We were there for a full day and it was so great. Cambria, Caleb, and I had a long jam session in Cambria's bedroom, playing old and new Port O'Brien songs, and old school Modest Mouse jams. More people came in from the cannery and we had a few mass sing-alongs. "Gotta go to work, gotta go to work, gotta have a job." After Larsen Bay, we went to the Mainland for the first "Cookie" opener. The day before it opened, we went into Geographic Harbor, which is probably the most beautiful place I have ever seen. The pictures below don't do it justice. Its like Yosemite, but better, because there is NOBODY there, EVER. Just tons of bears, roaming the beaches like they have for thousands of year. My cousin Billy sums it up the best, its "prehistoric." Its absolutely phenomenal. After a few days of fishing outside Geographic on the capes, we headed back to the Island, and did some more searching to various spots, but came back into port with very little fish. The next opening is Thursday at noon. We are headed back to Dakavak, which is 10 hours away. I don't know when we'll be back in port.. wish us luck and I hope you all are having a good summer!
Here are some new pictures of the adventure:








One of my favorite pictures so far.. Ouzinkie Narrows.


Larsen Bay, arriving for the 4th. I took my guitar and bag to Cambria's room and waited for her to get off work. It was beautiful day, but FULL of bugs.


Larsen Bay, abandoned building.


Larsen Bay, Fisherman's showers.




The crews of the Sheryl Ann and the Ocean Pearl, looking at bears from their skiff, the day before the Noon opener. Geographic Harbor.


BEARS!!! These bears are very close geographically to where the film "Grizzly Man" was filmed. Someone told us that these actually might be some of the same bears.








The AMAZING Geographic Harbor, on the Mainland.












Pitching fish from our fish-hold. Anthony and I are both holding Sockeye (red) Salmon.


Working on songs, Pineapple Cove, anchored up.


Lots of exciting Port O'Brien news to come soon, as well!