Sitka Alaska

Sitka was the only port on our Inside Passage cruise that faces the open Pacific. The small ship Spirit of Yorktown had to navigate the very narrow Peril, Olga, and Neva Straits connecting the Chatham Strait with the Pacific Ocean before reaching Sitka.

Sitka is celebrated as the site of Alaska's discovery in 1741. The town of Sitka was settled in 1799 and was the site of Alaska's transfer to the U.S. in 1867. Sitka remained Alaska's capital until 1912 when it was moved to Juneau. Sitka retains much of its Russian heritage, and the onion dome of St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church is reminiscent of the town's past.

Sitka is an interesting port for walking, but we opted to go salmon fishing with a local guide. This was an excellent decision because our small boat with four passengers and a captain landed 10 coho (silver) salmon in just a couple of hours. We had several others hooked. It was an exciting afternoon, and our captain, Foy Nevers, entertained us with local stories.

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Sitka Alaska Harbor	Sitka Pioneer Home in Sitka, Alaska	O'Connell Bridge in Sitka, AK	Mount Edgecombe (also spelled Edgecumbe) near Sitka, Alaska
Linda Garrison and Coho (Silver) Salmon Caught Near Sitka, Alaska	Salmon Fishing Guide Foy Nevers in Sitka, Alaska	Ronnie Garrison, About Guide to Freshwater Fishing, and a Coho (Silver) Salmon	Ling Cod Fish in Sitka, Alaska
Silver Salmon (Coho Salmon) Catch in Sitka, Alaska	Stellar Sea Lion at Sitka, Alaska	Stellar Sea Lion and Lighthouse in Sitka, Alaska	Sitka Stellar Sea Lion Feeding on Fish Cleaning Leftovers