Pybus Bay, June 22

After two days at Warm Spring Bay we headed out shortly after Ken and Val in Dream Merchant. We chose to follow the coast south to a waterfall we wanted to check out, then cross Chatham Strait bearing due east. When we turned into Chatham Strait the wind and wave was south east.

By going south along the coast in the lumpy seas we were able to quarter the swell, smoothing out the ride. Once at the waterfall we raised a reefed main sail and headed east to pass infamous Point Gardner on the south end of Admiralty Island, and into Frederick Sound under sunny skies.
It all worked really slick.

We were now quartering the weather on our starboard bow on a close reach, and making great speed. By the time we changed course to head north east along the east side of Admiralty Island, the seas had laid down, and with a breeze still in our sail, we were enjoying a great beam reach.

Once we reached Pybus Bay we turned in and fished our way, without success to Cannery Cove.










We went to the head of the cove and found suitable anchorage along the south shore. 57° 18.265’ N / 134° 09.409’ W
I rowed the crab trap out to a likely spot, and we settled in for the rest of the day and night.



The scenery was spectacular, and Pybus Bay also had resident whales.







The next morning we found nine crabs resting in our trap, three females, and one undersized male were immediately released, leaving five keepers. We kept three of the largest and released the other two.





We found a likely spot on the chart for the prawn trap, and when we motored out to the spot we found several strings of prawn pots already set there. We set our trap as close to our predetermined spot as we could, and went off fishing for halibut. We fished several spots during the rest of the day, catching only smaller bottom fish.

When we reached the entrance to Henry's Arm I put up the rod, and we went in to check out the anchorage at the head end.







After checking out Henry's Arm, we fished our way over to Donkey Bay, catching more small bottom fish. We also investigated Sheldon Cove.





Not finding suitable anchorage in Sheldon Cove, we went back to Henry's Arm and anchored near the head of the inlet.
57° 20.759’N/ 134°06.336’ W.






We settled in for the night and enjoyed a splendid crab dinner in spite of having our hearts set for halibut. Tomorrow we will head for Petersburg.

More to come, stay tuned.

George and JoAnne