It's looking more and more like Bristol Bay sockeye fishermen will have a much easier time this season compared to last year. And that's not just because of the waning COVID-19 pandemic or because the market is opening up again.

The data coming out of the Port Moller test fishery, which experts say typically is a good indicator of run strength, so far matches the University of Washington's preseason forecast of a Bristol Bay sockeye run of 50.9