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Often, the question asked is: "Why is the Breadline so productive?"

The Breadline begins just outside of Tee Harbor and stretches several miles along the eastern shore of Lynn Canal, past the Shrine of St. Therese. It features a shelf that drops off 400 to 500 feet, and salmon congregate along this shelf.

It's crowded and slippery, with a host of variables that threaten to thwart any angler who snags a big king. But a spirit of camaraderie and a proven track record of fishing success bring people back to the rocky shore year after year.

"The feeling of community is much like a Fourth of July event," Spring King Salmon Derby coordinator Archie Cavanaugh said. "The boat people, the rock people, the little kids, the eagles, the seals - it's a whole ecosystem."

Local professionals recommend fishing deep. Go at least 90 to 100 feet, and fish tide rips using whole herring. Look for clouds or balls of feed on the depth finder and birds feeding on the water. If birds are on top, fish are below.

Don't use less than 40-pound test line with 30-pound test leader - those kings take some line. You might think the reel will explode, but reel in as fast as you can, and when the fish swims toward you keep the slack out of the line. They'll try to swing their head sideways. If you've got any slack, there goes your fish.

So 11-year-old Zack Thomas of Kenai could really only stand and watch as dipnetters scooped ocean-fresh red salmon from below the city's riverside bluffs recently.

Instead of the normal, little bump against the back of the net, Hill was nearly jerked off his feet by the impact.

A. Yes, we can send your license and\or big game tags to you via a courier mail service (FedEx, UPS, Express, etc.). You can either include a prepaid envelope of the service of your choice with your applications or ask that $20.00 gets charged to your credit card.

The first thing you should do is make sure the fish fits all regulations regarding size limits. King salmon, the main derby target, must be larger than 28 inches.

In an effort to combat these alarming statistics, the National Safe Boating Council in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators have launched the 1999 Boat Smart From The Start National Safe Boating Campaign.