September 30, 2023
Otis Fishing Report

Otis Fishing Report for September 30, 2023: Following posting of this morning’s Update, we pause cams just as the sun is coming up over Katmai and we head to off-cam adventures. We’ve spent the better part of our day away from our Otis Surveillance Equipment, but diligently check chat periodically and feel pretty confident we’ve missed nothing. No Otis, as far as we can tell.

Still, four and half hours after pausing and about 12:30 p.m. Katmai time, we set out to rewind and review, just to be sure-sure. And before we can scroll back on Brooks Falls cam, Otis magically appears right before our eyes! We check with chatters to confirm this is his first daylight sighting. (Thank you for saving us those Rewinds!)

Onward, we go! He may have come Down the Fish Ladder, but he may also have come from a favorite snoozles spot behind the Platform, so we hit up Riffles, and -GOTCHA- coming Down the Ladder! Finally, we’re one Ladder Count closer to balancing — 9 ups and 6 downs for 2023, as of today. 😉

Otis looks toward his Office and sees the exterminator still hasn’t put out that Big Boar Deterrent he ordered. Noting 32 Chunk is occupying said Office, Otis ambles across the River, Meander Fishing as he goes. He gets to the Far Bank and nudges anything that moves and some things that don’t and checks all the nooks and crannies, as he heads toward the River.

He picks up this one and puts it back on the buffet. Something *clearly* smelled fishy about that one!

Then he heads around the corner into the River. As he shows us his backside and speaking of wiggles and waggles, we get to see his plump rump up close and almost personal — the jiggle in Otis’ wiggle is confirmed. 😉

Just about 3:00 p.m., we spy a spec in the grasses way back on River Watch. It looks like an Otis-Shaped Spec, and weirdly, said spec appeared to just popped up out of those grasses. It could be that he was sleeping back there or it could be that he was eating back there. Regardless, a quick zoom confirms it’s our boy.

A minute later, he begins his Meanderventures, pauses, puts his head down, takes something to the bank, and commences eating. CamOps zoom in a bit, and we *definitely* see him chewing! He’s there quite a while. Hmmm…

Now we do the thing we’ve (admittedly) laughed at other chatters for doing. We go hunt down a magnifying glass. (True story — the laughing and the hunting!) You see now… it’s been an Otisless day which means a fishless day, and we’d really like something positive to report. But *only* if it’s legit. Because Fish Counter Ethics matter. 😀

So now we’ve got that magnifying glass, and we’ve rewound this clip 3 times. And then 4. And then 7. And when we’re either completely delusional or confident (you decide), and we call it — FISH! Also, we’re very sorry for laughing at you, fellow chatters! 😛

He moves behind the tall grasses and again, we see eating body language. The only wiggle is Otis’ plumb rump this time, so we’re calling it a DOA. Then he meanders off cam for some bit of time.

About 4:00 p.m., Brooks Falls cam swerves left, and it looks like Otis used the Bear Portal to land in his Office. It’s like the last few weeks of River Watch(ing) haven’t even happened, and he’s been right here all this time. Except that he’s fatter and his face is rounder!

He stays only 10 minutes and then begins to cross the River.

He loops wide right and checks out the Sandbar Salmon Buffet on his way to the Near Bank. Then he heads behind the trees to a spot a little birdie told us is a favorite for napping, and *that* is where is as we finishing up today’s report.

For all those words and snaps, Otis has been mostly off cams today, and that’s not surprising, given the windy weather. We’re total the fish count for September 30 through just after 4:00 p.m. at 1 Fish + 1 DOA — in about 30 minutes of cam time, which makes it not too shabby. 😀

Sending Wishes for Fishes and Especially Sound Snoozles, given all the excitement in the air: We’re just 4 sleeps away from Fat Bear Week! We hear Congress has given the budget a temporary stay, and so Fat Bears shall dance and sing and eat salmon well into the night! Don’t stay up too late, kiddos, and Cheers! ♥

Bonus Content
Scooch‘s Mister reminded us this morning that it was on this date in 2021 that Snow Globe Otis graced us with his these wonderful images. Thanks so much, and sending special Wishes for Fishes to Scooch!

Bear cam images in this post are copyright National Park Service and/or Explore.org