Tag: Salmon

Watch: Famous ‘Shower Bear’ in top salmon-catching form again

The brown bears of Alaska’s Katmai National Park are fresh out of hibernation and resuming their creative fishing techniques at Brooks Falls.

The famous brown bears of Alaska’s Katmai National Park are fresh out of hibernation and resuming their creative salmon-catching techniques at Brooks Falls.

The accompanying footage shows Bear No. 164, a.k.a. Bucky Dent, fishing successfully at one of his favorite spots, known as the Shower.

“Sometimes your best ideas happen in the shower,” Explore.org joked Sunday via X.

Explore.org and the National Park Service maintain live cameras on the Brooks River throughout the summer salmon run on the Brooks River. The bears typically begin to appear in late June and stay well into fall.

Each season culminates in Fat Bear Week, a fan-driven competition held as a celebration of the bears’ success in fattening up sufficiently for the winter hibernation season.

Bucky Dent, named because of a vertical indentation in his muzzle, has not claimed a Fat Bear Week title, but he remains among the more popular bears featured on the cameras.

Brooks River brown bears break out all the moves to catch salmon

With the fishing season underway for brown bears on Alaska’s Brooks River, the National Park Service has provided a humorous description of the catching techniques.

An Alaskan brown bear named Grazer was caught on a live-cam feed recently catching a salmon that had attempted to leap over the lip of Brooks Falls.

“The crowd goes wild! Grazer lands the very first Brooks Falls lip catch of the season,” Explore.org stated via Twitter.

To be sure, bears on the Brooks River in Katmai National Park are masters at fishing, and each seems to favor certain areas and techniques.

With the season getting underway – fans can watch the bears on Explore’s live feeds – the National Park Service has described the techniques via Facebook under the heading:

“How do you catch a fish without a fishing pole? With your bear hands.”

Viewers can click on the post or view the humorous explanations below:

–The Stand and Wait: Bears stand on top the falls and wait for salmon to jump close enough to catch. Bears sometimes slip on the falls (usually when someone is looking) so they rarely shift position.⁣ Sometimes they misjudge and the fish hits the bear in the face. (Insert own metaphor for life).

–The Sit and Wait: Similar to the first one but sitting. Bears sit underneath Brooks Falls in the plunge pool or “jacuzzi,” and wait for salmon to swim to them.”

RELATED: ‘Dominant’ brown bears brawl over fishing rights at Brooks Falls

–The Dash and Grab: Bears chase the fish and attempt to pin them to the river bottom with their paws. ⁣⁣Fast-food on the go!
⁣⁣⁣
–The Snorkeler: Bears look for fish under the water while seeing who can make the most bubbles. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
–The Diver: Some bears avoid getting their ears wet, so diving is not for every bear. However there are some that will submerge themselves completely underwater to obtain food resources. You do what you got to do. ⁣
⁣⁣⁣
–The Pirate: Arrgggg! It’s Cap’n Bruin Brownbeard the Hungry! Pirating bears plunder already caught fish from other bears. ⁣Keep an eye on the horizon. Avast ye scurvy bear! I’ve come for the fishes!
⁣⁣⁣
–The Sharer: Bears do not usually share food with others (bearing is NOT sharing), but some will share the spoils. (Not the Cap’n) This interaction occurs between bears that are highly tolerant of each other. ⁣BFFs (bear fish friends!)

– The Belly Flop: A big splash requires big bear air, as the bear springs up out of the water or launches off the side to take a fish by surprise. This can be extremely successful or, well, a flop.”

The top image, highlighting the belly flop, was captured by M. Bradburn for the National Park Service.

Giant chinook salmon caught in Argentina a pending world record

The recent catch of a monstrous Chinook salmon in Argentina’s Caterina River is being considered as a world record.

The recent catch of a monstrous chinook salmon in Argentina’s Caterina River is being considered as a world record.

The International Game Fish Assn. on Sunday announced that the salmon caught last month by James Schmid measured 113 centimeters (44.5 inches) before it was set free.

“After recording proper measurements, he released the fish safely,” the IGFA stated via Twitter. “This record is currently pending + under review.”

Schmid is the current record holder in the same All-Tackle Length category for a catch in January of a 105-centimeter (41-inch) Chinook salmon, also at the Caterina River.

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The All-Tackle Length category is for conservation-minded anglers who practice catch-and-release fishing.

It’s likely that Schmid’s latest catch will be approved because the angler, who has set 25 world records since 2011, clearly understands IGFA rules.

His records were set in five countries and involve 14 species.

Watch bear cub’s ‘brilliant recovery’ after waterfall tumble

A brown bear cub fishing next to mom atop a waterfall in Alaska was caught on video slipping into the turbulence below and briefly disappearing.

A brown bear cub fishing next to mom atop a waterfall in Alaska was caught on video slipping into the turbulence below and disappearing underwater.

“Who else held their breath watching this?” Explore.org, which operates live bear cameras on the Brooks River,” asked followers via Twitter. Explore describe the cub’s recovery as “brilliant.”

The footage posted below shows the cub vanishing into swirling whitewater after losing its footing atop the falls. Mom looks concerned as her cub struggles and is approached by another large bear.

But as the cub frantically swims toward shallow water near the bank, mom arrives to greet and check on her offspring.

It was a valuable lesson for the cub, who is learning how to catch sockeye salmon migrating up the Brooks River. The mom, Bear 910, is among the many brown bears that appear frequently on Explore’s popular live camera feeds.

Things go from bad to worse for man caught poaching salmon

It might have seemed as though things couldn’t get worse for a man who was cited by different wardens for catching salmon in different closed areas on the same day recently.

It might have seemed as though things couldn’t get worse for a man who was cited by different officers for catching salmon in different closed areas on the same day recently.

But as announced Friday by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police, after receiving his second citation the man wrecked his automobile on a nearby highway.

“After such a bad-luck day, the subject may reconsider poaching in Pierce and Mason County streams,” the WDFWP stated in a news release.

The man was one of three anglers “blatantly violating” regulations by fishing in a closed Minter Creek hatchery zone established to protect vulnerable salmon as they migrate toward spawning grounds and through narrow hatchery intake areas.

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The man tried to flee but was caught by “Officer Summit” and cited along with the other individuals. Nine salmon were seized as evidence.

When Officer Summit submitted his report later that morning he discovered that the man had been cited for a similar violation near Hoodsport about 90 minutes after receiving his first citation.

Officer Jewitt, who issued the second citation, noticed that the man had marked his salmon catch record card with fish he caught from Minter Creek. These cards must be filled out by anglers to help biologists monitor fish populations.

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According to the WDFWP, the man told Officer Jewitt that he had given those salmon away when, in fact, they had been seized by Officer Summit because they were caught illegally in a closed area.

The WDFWP stated: “After being contacted and cited by two fish and wildlife officers on two different closed waterbodies, the individual wrecked his vehicle on Hwy 101 near Potlatch.”

The agency did not mention whether the man had been injured in the crash.

–Image courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police

Poacher fishing in rowboat caught in the act by undercover officer

The man received several citations, but several online commenters said it wasn’t enough, suggesting what should’ve happened to the boat.

A man in a rowboat in Discovery Bay was caught fishing illegally and was cited for numerous violations by an undercover officer with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police.

This certainly pleased commenters on the WDFWP Facebook page where the news about the incident was reported—with the man’s actions drawing the public’s wrath—but several people made it known that the citations weren’t enough, saying his boat should have been confiscated.

Sgt. Kit Rosenberger was patrolling Discovery Bay within Marine Area 6 (connected to the Strait of Juan de Fuca on the Olympic Peninsula) when he observed the man fishing in a rowboat near the mouth of Snow Creek.

The surrounding streams only have wild runs of Coho salmon, so Rosenberger surmised that any salmon the man retained were likely wild Coho and thus illegal.

Rosenberger observed the man catch and keep four salmon in an area where the limit was two hatchery Coho.

Wearing a cover coat and carrying a fishing rod, Rosenberger hiked a distance to the beach near where the man was rowing toward some waterfront houses. When he was within earshot of the man, Rosenberger removed his coat, identified himself and ordered the man to shore. He asked him how fishing was. The man replied, “I got a couple.”

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“The man was found to have unlawfully retained five wild Coho, none of which were recorded on his catch card,” the WDFWP stated. “The man was using illegal fishing gear (barbed treble hook), and did not have any safety equipment in the vessel.

“The man will have charges referred against him in court for seven gross misdemeanors (over limit of salmon, salmon caught with illegal gear, retention of five wild salmon closed area), in addition he will be cited with five infractions for failing to record his salmon, and not having a lifejacket. Sgt. Rosenberger contemplated seizing the man’s boat even knowing he would have had to carry it a considerable distance back to his patrol truck.”

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Most commenters on Facebook praised Rosenberger for catching the poacher and voiced their disgust with the poacher, and several made it known that Rosenberger should have done more than issue citations.

“Nice job. But you should have taken his boat too,” one wrote.

“Nice job Kit! I would have helped you carry the rowboat,” another wrote.

“Should have taken the boat because I betcha he will be back at it this weekend,” another stated.

Other reactions were similar:

“Complete disregard for the law…should have seized everything.”

“Good job. Take their boat next time…and gear.”

“He could have called any of us for help carrying that rowboat! Great work.”

“This guy will more likely than not again be out in that boat to get more fish illegally–should have taken the boat and made the guy help carry it to your vehicle–no sympathy or empathy for the guy fishing at all–he was stealing fish–aka poaching–good job by the officer.”

Many also called for the justice system to level hefty fines and not just give a slap on the wrist.

Photo courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police.

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Watch: Bear cub tumbles down waterfall while salmon fishing

A bear-cam at Alaska’s Katmai National Park has captured footage of a brown bear cub tumbling over a waterfall.

Brown bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park are terrific salmon catchers. But for cubs, wading in a swift river is a precarious task.

The accompanying footage, captured by the Explore.org Brown Bear Cam, shows a bear cub lose its footing, get swept up by the current, and tumble six feet down Brooks Falls.

Viewers can hear the muted voices of observers in awe of the spectacle, and cheering as the cub surfaces in apparent good health.

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According to Travel Guide Book, the bear is a first-year cub named Little Bean, whose mom, 909, was nearby. “All’s well that ends well, 909 retrieved her by the island,” Travel Guide Book wrote on Facebook.

Brooks Falls, on the Brooks River, is a famous fishing area for brown bears trying to fatten up before the onset of winter. Bears often hunt at the top of the waterfall and catch salmon as they attempt to leap over the falls to reach their spawning grounds upriver.

–Image and video are courtesy of Explore.org

Watch: Dolphins attack massive salmon school; ‘Munch time!’

A drone operator in Australia has captured footage showing dolphins “on the charge” as they spot and ultimately penetrate a massive school of salmon just beyond the shore.

A drone operator on Friday captured footage showing dolphins “on the charge” as they spot and penetrate a massive school of salmon just beyond the shore.

As viewers will note, the salmon are grouped into a tight sphere as a defensive tactic off Tamarama Beach near Sydney, Australia.

The unidentified Drone Shark App operator begins his play-by-play commentary when dolphins first spot the school. “Watch out salmon, they’re coming for you,” he warns.

The salmon hold position as the dolphins approach, but that’s about to change. “Run salmon, run,” the operator advises.

At 45 seconds the assault begins and the sphere moves rapidly toward shore as it’s parted by one of the dolphins.

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“This is what we live for,” the narrator says. “They’re going to push them into shore there and single them out. It’s munch town!”

With the salmon school wedged against the reef, several dolphins feed even as a wave breaks on the school.

When the dolphins emerge, the drone operator points out a newborn dolphin swimming closely to and learning from mom. “Look at that little Tucker, what a cutie,” the narrator says.

At 3:05 another dolphin pod speeds past surfers to participate in the salmon feast, but the fish are pushed so closely against the reef that the dolphins lose interest and ride waves instead.

Schooling salmon are common off Sydney at certain times of year, attracting dolphins and sharks. Drone Shark App, in fact, acts as a shark spotter and some follow its social media pages to keep tabs on shark activity.

Sigh of relief as beloved brown bear Otis is alive and well

A Tuesday night sighting of Bear 480 Otis, one of the oldest (and fattest) brown bears residing in Alaska’s Katmai National Park & Preserve, was a moment worthy of celebration.

A Tuesday night sighting of Bear 480 Otis, one of the oldest and most popular brown bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park & Preserve, was a moment worthy of celebration.

“Otis is indeed in the house,” the park announced Wednesday on Facebook. “480 Otis is one of our oldest and probably most beloved bear. He has been missing in action. Last year he arrived at the Brooks River on June 23rd. The latest he has ever arrived is July 17th. We were concerned.”

The male brown bear, first identified in 2001 as a subadult or young adult, is believed to be 25 or 26 years old.

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Bear 480 Otis is a fixture at Brooks Falls and an occasional star on the park’s live bear cam. He was the inspiration for the 2008 Katmai National Park booster pin. Footage of Otis appears in the 2014 Disneynature Movie, “Bears.”

Otis is a past winner of the park’s annual Fat Bear Week competition, which celebrates “all the hard work that these bears do to survive and thrive and get through six months of starvation,” Naomi Boak, a park media ranger, told the Washington Post.

But as Bear 480 Otis ages, park employees and the bruin’s many fans become worried when he does not arrive at the river in the same timely manner as younger bears.

On Wednesday a bear-cam viewer who had not heard the good news commented, “Otis is a master fisher bear! The younger bears should watch and learn. Come back soon Otis, miss you already.”

The park concluded its Facebook announcement by stating, “Brown bears lead challenging lives and 26 is quite an achievement, especially for a male bear. So celebrate the return of Bear 480 Otis with us!”

–Image courtesy of NPS Photo/N. Boak

Giant salmon school lures sharks, swimmers into close quarters

Swimmers explored an immense school of salmon Friday off Australia’s Bondi Beach, unaware that they were dangerously close to sharks.

Swimmers explored an immense school of salmon Friday off Australia’s Bondi Beach, unaware that they were dangerously close to sharks.

The accompanying footage, shared by Drone Shark App, opens with two swimmers several yards from the salmon, and what’s described as a grey nurse shark at the school’s edge.

Another scene shows a nurse shark and swimmer parting the salmon as they swim, each creating a green circle, blocked from each other’s view by the tightly grouped salmon.

“Co-existing with sharks and salmon schools. Not a good idea,” says the Drone Shark App commentator, who provides amusing commentary throughout the 3:39 clip. (The commentator declined to reveal his identity.)

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At 1:56, several distance swimmers enter the picture and begin to pass near or over one of the sharks. “Norman, there’s a huge school of humans coming,” the commentator says, apparently having named the shark Norman. “Look out!”

Two swimmers pass directly over the shark but do not seem to spot the predator.

The nurse sharks are not fazed by the presence of people, seemingly interested only in the salmon. But schooling salmon might also attract great white sharks, as Drone Shark App implies in its video description:

“Guys, I recommend do not swim in the salmon schools and swim on the beach side if you can as I’ve seen the more dangerous sharks approach from the outside on many occasions.”

On this morning, Drone Shark App did not spot any larger sharks. But the group did capture footage of stingrays, dolphins and seals foraging within and around the salmon.

–Images courtesy of Drone Shark App