About Sitka

Beautiful Southeast Alaska
Is there a more spectacular place on the planet to fish? The blue-green water. Deep fjords. Jagged peaks that plummet to the water's edge. Pristine islands. And the wildlife: Bald eagles, seals and sea lions, whales, sea otters, and the countless sea birds. You'll be surrounded by so much beauty and spectacular scenery that you may have trouble keeping your mind on the fishing. But that's OK. There's so much more to Alaska fishing and Sitka Halibut Fishing.

Nestled against the rugged peaks on the west side of Baranof Island in Southeast Alaska is Sitka, a jewel in the North Pacific. Rich in history, blessed with abundant marine life and home to some of the best sport fishing in the North Pacific, it's no wonder that anglers, boaters, cruise ships, and naturalists flock to this small town each summer.

The town of Sitka is both beautiful and historic, providing many sites of historic interest in picturesque beauty for those without their "sea legs." The Tlingit (pronounced klink-et) Native Americans were the original settlers of this region. Travelers to Sitka can still enjoy learning about that culture at the Sheldon Jackson Museum, and a few local shops feature Tlingit hand-woven baskets, carvings, and art. A visit to the totems, some as high as 80 feet, in Sitka National Historical Park is a must.

The Russians were the first Europeans to settle on Baranof Island. After encounters with the Tlingit indians, they established Sitka as the Russian capitol of territorial Alaska and the town became a center of trade in the fur business. When Russia sold Alaska to the U.S. in 1867 for $7.2 million, the transfer was signed in Sitka.

Reminders of Russian settlement are abundant in this town of 8,500 people. A walk around town, including stops at local museums, gives visitors a deep look into local history.

The Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center should be on your must see list in Sitka. Injured birds of prey, primarily eagles, are brought to the center from far and wide. The birds are tended to by veterinarians and rehabilitated for life in the wild. All birds except those permanently damaged eventually return to their natural habitat. It's a great project and a great chance for people to get up close and personal with our national symbol.

Sitka has good hotels, an abundance of charming bed and breakfasts, a range of restaurants, marinas, and marine supplies. There's a growing charter fleet to serve the traveling angler and two large grocery stores in which boaters cruising Southeast Alaska can provision. It's a charming town that still has the sense of community most people in the lower 48 long for.

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