Bristol Bay crew member lost overboard from F/V Sandman; search suspended

A crew member went overboard and is feared dead in Egegik Bay, and the U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search pending new information. Meanwhile, Alaska Wildlife Troopers cited several commercial fishermen across the Bristol Bay region for violations ranging from fishing during a closed period to gear and licensing infractions, all as part of the Bristol Bay Salmon Enforcement Program operating in the Egegik and Nushagak districts. All charges reported are accusations; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

"U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders on Monday received a report of a man overboard from the F/V Sandman near Egegik Bay," according to the Coast Guard. The report came in at 4:20 p.m. on June 30. The Coast Guard searched the area with Alaska State Troopers for several hours by boat and helicopter before suspending the search at 11:36 p.m. pending the development of new information. Weather on scene included approximately 17 mph winds gusting to 28 mph, with 5-foot seas. The crew member had not been publicly identified or located as of Tuesday afternoon; the Coast Guard said he was reportedly not wearing a life jacket.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game also announced a closure of the Chitina Subdistrict personal use fishery for the week of July 6–12 to provide more sockeye salmon toward the escapement goal. As of June 28, a total of 317,769 salmon were counted past the Miles Lake sonar — the lowest cumulative count on record for that date in 40 years.

The most serious alleged enforcement violations involve commercial fishing during a closed period. A Kodiak man, 53, and a second Kodiak man, 47, were cited June 27, 2026, in the Nushagak District for commercial fishing during a closed period and waste of salmon. Their arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 3, 2026, at Dillingham District Court. Separately, a Naknek man, 27, and an Anchorage man, 38, were cited for commercial fishing during a closed period in the Nushagak District on July 1, 2026, with arraignment set for Aug. 4, 2026, also in Dillingham District Court.

In the Egegik District, a Nikiski woman, 44, was cited June 29, 2026, for a gillnet overlength violation and is scheduled for arraignment in Naknek District Court on Aug. 6, 2026. An Old Harbor man, 33, was cited June 26, 2026, for a crewmember license violation; bail was set at $250 in Naknek District Court.

Two additional citations involved registration and identification requirements. A Homer man, 33, was cited in Egegik Bay on June 28, 2026, for failing to have a government ID while in possession of a permit card; bail was set at $300 in Naknek District Court. A Snohomish, Washington, man, 59, was cited in Egegik for failing to display a vessel number plate and CFEC year tab; bail was set at $100 in Naknek District Court.