Egegik Bay facts for kids
Egegik Bay (in the local Yup'ik language: Igyagiim painga) is a large bay located in Alaska. It's about 69 miles from Dillingham and forms the northeastern part of the bigger Bristol Bay. The village of Egegik (called Igyagiiq in Yup'ik) sits on a high area along the southern shore of the Egegik River, right where it meets Egegik Bay. Nearby places include Coffee Point, Goose Point, and the Egegik Airport.
A Glimpse into Egegik Bay's History
The first time people from outside the area made contact here was with Russian fur traders. This happened between the years 1818 and 1867. The Egegik Yupik is one of the five different ways the Central Alaskan Yup'ik language is spoken. The local people are Central Alaskan Yup'ik people. They used to travel every year from Kanatak, an Alutiiq village on the Gulf coast. They would cross a special path to reach Becharof Lake, which is southeast of Egegik. From there, they would either walk or use a kayak to get to the Egegik Bay area. They came here for their summer fish camp, a place where they would catch and prepare fish.
Nature and Wildlife in Egegik Bay
The areas along the coast, especially where the tides go in and out, are very important. They provide homes for many types of birds and also for harbor seals. But the most important natural area is right at the mouth of the Egegik River, inside Egegik Bay.
Other parts of Egegik Bay have large areas of eelgrass. This grass is a key part of the underwater environment. You can also find places where harbor seals rest, called haulouts. Many different kinds of waterfowl, like ducks and geese, use the bay as well. Beluga whales are found in the northern part of this region. However, Egegik Bay is not known as a place where beluga whales give birth to their young.
Fishing: A Major Activity in Egegik Bay
The Egegik community is a very important place for catching Pacific salmon for sale. Different types of salmon are caught here. These include pink, chum, sockeye, coho, and chinook salmon. Fishermen use drift nets to catch them in Egegik Bay and at the mouth of the Egegik River. Besides salmon, fishermen can also find other fish like dolly varden here.
Here are some of the important fish found in Egegik Bay:
| Latin Name | Common Name | Local Name | Yup'ik Name |
| Oncorhynchus tshawytscha | Chinook salmon | King salmon | Taryaqvak |
| Oncorhynchus nerka | Sockeye salmon | Red salmon | Sayak |
| Oncorhynchus keta | Chum salmon | Dog salmon | Kangitneq |
| Oncorhynchus kisutch | Coho salmon | Silver salmon | Qakiiyaq |
| Oncorhynchus gorbuscha | Pink salmon | Humpback salmon | Amaqaayak |
| Salvelinus malma | Dolly Varden | Trout or Char | Yugyaq |
