Alaska News

Angler dies trying to recover snagged lure

KETCHIKAN -- A king salmon fisherman drowned Saturday morning off Ketchikan after trying to retrieve a lure and then apparently becoming exhausted while struggling in the rough surf of Herring Cove, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and a witness.

A Ketchikan Fire Department diver later recovered the body. Thomas Carella of the Coast Guard said the man's identity is not being released until next of kin are notified.

Jim Lavrakas, who was fishing near the man, said the fisherman waded into the water to retrieve his lure, which had become snagged on a buoy about 200 feet offshore. The man reached the buoy but then began struggling to get back to shore.

Lavrakas said he tried to wade out to help the man but was himself quickly into deep water. He said the man kept appearing and disappearing from view among the waves and troughs of the surf.

Lavrakas said he saw the man trying to swim, but instead of heading toward shore he was moving parallel to shore. Then he vanished.

Anchorage Daily News / adn.com

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