Fishing in AK: the Hooligan
Caught Off Guard
In spring of 2021, when I decided I would be more proactive with my fishing knowledge and become more of an active fisherman, I came across several Facebook pages about fishing in Alaska. This was roughly late March 2021. Similar posts continued all the way into late May.
I was caught off guard. Several people were posting about how the Hooligan were running and showing very large ice chests and coolers full of these little silver fish. I didn't understand, and I did a little research then, but the "runs" were over by the time I got any planning. I had many questions about Hooligan, what they were used for, etc. The biggest question is how do I participate in this event?
What is a Hooligan?
A Hooligan is a small silver fish, also known as an "eulachon" or "candlefish" and are a species of smelt. They are usually average 8-10" in length. They are like Salmon in that they spawn in freshwater and live in the ocean, however unlike Salmon, they aren't picky on the exact particular river but stick to the general region. From a Nature point of view, they are a forage fish for birds, bears, and the like.
From a human point of view, they can be canned, jarred, smoked, dried, pickled, etc - similar to a sardine or anchovy in that regard. Most commonly though, they are used as bait for other bigger fish.
Preparing for 2022 and Beyond
This year I am going to try my hand at Hooligan fishing. It's more scooping and catching really. From my research, I'll need the following:
* waders of some kind, which i've acquired last year and are still in good condition
* warm clothes to wear under the waders, which I also have
* a large cooler, which i've also acquired over the last year
* The biggest thing I need is time off and scheduling, which I talk about below
* a "Hooligan Net" - similar to a fish tank fish net, just scaled to 10,000%. Also comparatively to a standard landing net, but with a tighter weave in the netting. These can be purchased locally, or Amazon, Sportsmans, Cabela's, etc. There are pics online of people using a standard landing net also as an alternative.
Plusino Net from Amazon
Scheduling and Locations
The "Hooligan Runs" are typically from late March to mid-to-late June. The most common locations are surrounding the Kenai Peninsula, so roughly 10-12 hour drive from Interior Alaska (a little over 1/3 the entire length of the state to give a size comparison.
According to ADFG (link: Regulations - Cook Inlet Personal Use Herring and Hooligan Fisheries, Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
* You can fish Hooligan starting April 1st. For Saltwater areas, the cutoff is May 31st. You can extend that to June 15th for Freshwater.
* There is no bag limit and no subsistence reports due to ADFG. This explains the pictures of large ice chests filled with these things.
* Dipnets and Drift Gill Nets only.
* Only your standard annual fishing license is needed; no additional permits required.
Locations is the Cook Inlet per ADFG. Below is a picture from Google Maps that spans much of the Cook Inlet, the Knik Arm, Anchorage, Kenai, Soldotna and similar areas. The second snip below that zooms in on the Kenai region itself showing the rivers in the region.
A snip from Google Maps from the Knik Arm (top) to just south of Kenai (bottom)
All the hearts are places that have been recommended to me over the last year of gathering information about fishing the region. I only get referred to the rivers for Hooligan (and Salmon) fishing
What Would I Do With a Bucket of Hooligan?
That is a very good question that I keep asking myself, and my only doubt for going in the first place. They are a small silver fish, so:
* Freezing them would be high on the list. My mind initially drifts to 5-10 per 1qt vacuum sealed bag, frozen flat, kept in the freezer. Take one or two bags out at a time for either frying, attempting a different food preservation method or as bait. With so many fish, there is plenty of ways to experiment.
* Use them as bait would be my second on the list. A silver lure that imitates a baitfish is my go-to for fishing larger trout, lake salmon, and pike, so having a good amount of actual fish on-hand would be beneficial. I'm not sure the texture of the fish post-freezing - many other blogs report the fish becoming super soft and falling off the hook. I guess I will have to see, won't I...
* I would make an honest attempt at drying some, canning some, pickling some, and smoking some. Find the best way to preserve them. My family enjoys fish of many varieties and flavors, and dried fish is a healthy snack for both my dogs and my ferrets. Wins all around.
* Lastly, if the fish go bad for whatever reason, they can be mushed up into a paste easier than most other fish due to their size and mixed with soil for a natural fertilizer. I learned from my parents and grandparents that fish make an excellent fertilizer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I'm still on the fence about going down for a "Hooligan Run" this year, but I have more information about it this year than I did last year, and I am more than happy to share it with you in this blog.
And remember: Fishing is Life, and for everything else there is coffee
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Thank you for reading and I look forward to having you back for another blog in the future. I am building out my blogging schedule, with Tuesdays and Thursdays being days I blog, make videos, social media posts involving Fishing in AK.
Check out my YouTube Channel. AKDragonFish3D
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