Alaska Sea
Adventures

Crew

Guides

Employment

Press

Newsletters

Contact Us

Site Map

This rare adventure is limited to a select group of six persons only and departs from the lovely seaside port of Sitka on April 21st and returns to the quaint fishing town of Petersburg April 28th, 2008.

Hoonah Sound is located about 30 miles north of Sitka within a scenic, sheltered area of southern Chichagof Island. This is the setting for a truly remarkable springtime event. We’ll find sea otters, humpback whales, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, bald eagles a host of gulls and a myriad of sea birds all waiting for that special moment – the annual arrival of the Pacific herring! The herring have gathered here in astonishing numbers to lay their eggs within the rich protected intertidal areas of the Alaska Inside Passage shoreline in the very locations selected long ago and used over eons of time. With the arrival of the herring, there is an amazing festival of wildlife.

The scenes of sea otters lazily floating in a spectacular setting, humpback whales performing the rare cooperative ‘bubble-net’ feeding lunges as they gorge on herring, bald eagles diving with talons outstretched to capture the shallow swimming herring, seals and sea lions rushing through great schools of herring gathered along the shoreline and a host of other birds all present to take part in a bountiful annual feast, are thrilling indeed.

Hoonah Sound is also the location of a unique commercial fishery. The herring spawn-on-kelp fishery produces a beautiful appearing delicacy extremely prized in Japan known as Kazunoko Konbu. The fishery is a rare sight to behold as tons of herring are held by the fishermen in net compounds until the egg laden herring delicately apply their ripe eggs to the kelp leaves suspended in the enclosure. The long kelp fronds covered in thick golden herring eggs create the specialty seafood Kazunoko Konbu, a very succulent expensive treat.

Spring but comes just once a year. Be one of the very few to witness this event. Book now for this thrilling trip, Spring Extravaganza 2008!

Imagine observing a developing scenario of huge schools of Pacific herring by the thousands of tons gathering along a spectacular Alaska shoreline waiting for their eggs to ripen and climatic conditions to become just right for them to spawn their eggs.

Pacific herring are the center of attention as this drama unfolds attracting a host of amazing wildlife that creates an incredible show of nature as predator pursues prey along a beautiful isolated Alaska shoreline. The high caloric, oilrich herring are a critical part of the diet for humpback whales, orca, harbor seals, bald eagles plus a myriad of gulls and sea birds that require highly nutritious fish to replenish body reserves severely exhausted through winter survival.

While the eagles soar and circle overhead, Steller sea lions and humpback whales cruise near the shoreline before rushing and lunging through the huge schools of herring gathering there…

You can witness all of the action just off the bow and capture images close up of this magnificent annual spring time festival of nature!

People search the world over for unique locations and amazing events. Alaska Sea Adventures is proud to offer these exciting, exclusive spring cruises. Secure your place aboard the Alaska Adventurer for this amazing Alaska spring festival of nature - a SPRING EXTRAVAGANZA!

This exclusive adventure is limited to a select group of six persons.