Visual Description: Stoner pirate fishermen?
NIHYS = SHINY, VEGAL = GAVEL, TRIBET = BITTER, GRETER = REGRET — Giving us: SINGAEBITRRT
Clue/Question: The Alaskan fishing-boat captain was disoriented and needed to get his – – –
Answer: “BERING STRAIT“
(Marvelous geography pun! I loved it! There were no new clue words today, but three of the jumbles appear to be new. We’ve definitely seen “nihys” before. The answer letter layout was a great jumble. I don’t think it gave anything away. You needed to be both, familiar with: the idiom Getting your bearings straight, and the geography of western Alaska and eastern Russia. I’m guessing that Jeff’s cartoon is based on the Discovery Channel show, “Deadliest Catch”. I’ve never seen it, but I hear that it’s pretty exciting. Lots of fun! Be well and do good, friends.) — YUR
PS. To all my Jewish readers, I’d like to wish you Shanah tovah um’tukah! — YUR
Unclerave's Wordy Weblog 
These words seemed almost poetic, UR, like part of a haiku with the expressions “shiny gavel” (= submission to authority) and “bitter regret.” Yes, the mention of Alaska and the index finger on the map surely tipped off most Jumble regulars, but there is probably 50% of “gamer generation” that would totally miss it. Great cartoon and very deep pun.
Yes, all compass needles and thumbs point up for a second great geographical pun this week. I love how both words in this final answer are punny misspellings of the most common forms of the homonyms, and the clue hints at the answer just enough without giving it away. This is one that if you don’t see it quickly, you could be spinning your wheels awhile.
Geniuses at work! Love this jumble. I had “BEARING STRAIGHT” as an answer right away, but too many letters and certainly didn’t work with the quotes. AHA, but “Bering Strait” didn’t come. STRAIT did. But I kept trying to squeeze an A into BERING. Then I figured my spelling was obviously off and googled Bearing Strait…BERING! OY! LL