An Alaska Fisherman's Guide to Tragedy and Redemption | INDIE ALASKA

Alaska Public Media | By Valerie Lake

Published October 14, 2020 at 6:11 PM AKDT

Boat Captain looks off in the distance. Boat moves on water. Man holds halibut. — In this Indie Alaska episode, Jody Mason, a halibut fishing charter guide, tells the story of his boat accident from 2019 in Whittier, Alaska.

Jody Mason has been a halibut fishing guide out of Whittier, Alaska for over 20 years with his company, Alaskan 4 Star Charters. After a traumatic boating accident in 2019, Jody was overwhelmed by the community response that helped him get a new boat in time for the 2020 fishing season.

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Story by Valerie Kern
Video by Valerie Kern and Hannah Lies
Drone footage by Jake Sloan
Cell Phone video by Whittier Harbor Master Employees
Photos by Dennis C. Jones
Music by FirstCom Music

Indie Alaska

Valerie Lake

Valerie Lake worked at Alaska Public Media from 2017 to 2025. She was the managing producer for Indie Alaska, director for Alaska Insight, and led the video production team. Valerie Lake has previously gone by the names, Valerie Lloyd and Valerie Kern.

See stories by Valerie Lake