Jessie Sheldon
Fisheries ReportJessie Sheldon is a fisheries reporter for KDLG, which brings daily news reports throughout the summer to thousands of commercial fishermen in Bristol Bay. Previously, she worked as a Wilderness Research Fellow for the Society for Wilderness Stewardship in California’s Sierra Nevada, and has spent several summers working in Alaska, both on the water and in the recording studio. Jessie graduated from Colorado College with a degree in Environmental Science. She’s passionate about marine ecosystems, connection through storytelling, and all things fishy.
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Crews are getting off the water from fishing across the bay to break down their operations for the season and catch up on sleep. KDLG's Jessie Sheldon went down to the Dillingham harbor to check in with crews to see how they’re feeling about the 2026 sockeye season, and has this audio postcard. -
This year’s Bristol Bay sockeye run is coming to a close, and it just surpassed the Alaska Department of Fish & Game’s pre-season forecast of 44 million fish. But a few things stood out this year, including an unusually early run. KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon spoke with biologists around the bay to get a better picture of the season. -
It’s our final show of the season, but the run isn’t done quite yet. Though counting crews are starting to wrap up, the baywide escapement was 50,000 sockeye yesterday. Fewer fish are being hauled in, leaving the total catch about 2.8 million below the preseason forecast. The Eastside districts all surpassed their forecasts, while the Nushagak and Togiak fell a bit behind.
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Today, diesel-powered boats fish Bristol Bay’s waters by the hundreds. But it wasn’t always that way. Motorized fishing vessels were once banned in Bristol Bay. And in their place, sailboats dominated the commercial fishery. This year marks 75 years since the ban on powerboat fishing was lifted. -
Alaska Wildlife Troopers say a body recovered from a beach near Egegik on July 11 has been confirmed to be Seth Whiteman of Eagle River. Whiteman, a 22-year-old crewmember on the Bristol Bay fishing vessel Sandman, was reported overboard on June 29. The Coast Guard searched the area with Alaska State Troopers for several hours by boat and helicopter, but suspended the search later that same night. -
The season is winding down with a baywide run of 150,000 fish yesterday. Egegik held the largest catch, while the Nushagak district recorded the biggest escapement. Many crews are starting to head towards the boatyard to break down their operations from the season, and enjoy a good night’s sleep.
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Bristol Bay’s sockeye are returning by the millions to their natal streams. But not all salmon find their way back home — some find new areas to spawn. -
In all Alaskan fisheries, good data is a critical part of management. But the collection of that data doesn't have to be left to just scientists. Within Bristol Bay’s sport fishery, there’s a new way for guides to report their catches and observations, helping build a robust record of Bristol Bay catches. KDLG’s Jessie Sheldon reports. -
The bay-wide run has surpassed the Bristol Bay inshore run forecast, reaching over 44.1 million, and is still climbing. That said, catch and escapement dropped off over the weekend, with the largest haul coming in from the Naknek-Kvichak district at just under 40,000 sockeye.
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A Manokotak man faces murder charges after allegedly hitting another man in the head with a boat anchor, according to Alaska State Troopers.
