Back in Civilized Spaces

So I got a little busy out on the boat trying to scrap a season out of the last couple of weeks. Sorry about the lack of postings. I am sitting at a cafe in portland eating a bagel with Wild alaskan salmon lox and cream cheese and supping some coffee. The weather has followed me back, but it is warmer. Foggy in the morning warmer in the evening. What has been happening? So much for one post but here is the highlights:
Worked hard, caught a few pounds and got a low price from the processors. it was so cold and brutal up in alaska this summer, but then that was what was expected wasn't it? Our catch was much lower than even conservative estimates. we did however catch fish and it wasn't a complete disaster or tragedy, just a disappointment. We did our jobs and fished until there was nothing left. No slackers here. Throughout the bay fishermen returned with low catches. Our hopes for a price that reflected the low return in the nushagak and huge demand of salmon on the west coast were lost as peter pan set the initial price per pound at .68 cents a lb. a day before I got on the plane (last friday.) As a fisherman I suppose I will always be ever hopeful for a better predicament and constantly gripe about the current one. Bottom of the food chain yet top of the food supply chain. Well more rosy reflections later and brighter perspectives for the future in the future.

Things I am happy for: Inside spaces, Showers, Fresh Salads/Veggies, Watching movies I missed, Seeing old Friends, Walking barefoot on the Grass.

See I have a Balanced Perspective

Labor and the fruits of it

Frustrations

It has been a long week. The fish have started to come in. On wednesday we went out at 8 in the morning and set the net. Suddenly we saw splashes on the cork line a fish hit the net. not just the usual one or two but fire works. The fish were here. We picked 2500 lbs off the first set. finally something. It slowed as the tide changed but there was a steady amount of fish. We set the net in a shallow part of our site and pulled out another 1500lbs. Had Lunch around 2pm and went out again immediately so our net wouldn't go dry on the change to low tide a 22 ft difference in 6hrs. Fished through the low tide switch at 8pm and were told to listen to the VHF radio at 10pm for a buying announcement from Peter Pan, the cannery that we sell our fish to. It was the worst possible news for a fisherman anticipating the salmon run, they announced that they were putting us on limits of 3500lbs because they were at capacity. They also asked us to pull our nets at 5am and listen at 12 noon for a buying period. We fished until 5am. Good old 8-5 job. Tired we passed out and fished the next day, the school had passed and left us nervous and hoping for more without limits. today is saturday. The second school hasn't appeared yet and we are still on limits. Came in to town and talked to peter pan and we are still anxious for our season. I believe they are coming and have faith for many solid reasons. The rivers have only half of the escapement so that is a good indication of more fish. It has also been one of the coldest seasons yet but is beginning to warm up. The next post will hopefully be one of satisfaction in our catch.

This is what salmon is supposed to look like.

Farmed salmon doesn't ever look this good. Even when they dye them. This is why they call sockeye salmon Reds. These were cut for drying on a tender boat.

The season begins

We took a break today to come in to town. Last night crossed the bay with twelve of the crew. Made it in 45 min pretty good time but today the wind is blowing and it looks like a long ride home. Maybe An hour if we are fortunate. Fish and game gave us a ten hour opening on thursday. We waited all week for a chance to catch fish. It was a mess. We were listening to the radio and didn't hear the announcement at the regular times. I was woken up at 6:30 with getup it open we got to fish get up from my dad. Got suited out to the boat and had the net in the water by 7am. It is a terrible thing to miss the first opening of the season. But we got out there. Not a huge amount of fish. Winds of 50 mph. Got blown all over the place. Eric's steering cable broke and we had to take care of his net as his boat was out of commission. Picked up right as the fish started hitting. The fishing period was closing and it was frustrating. Still picked 700lbs of sockeye salmon. A slow and rough day. Practice day. The next morning we were opened at 7am and we were early. Set out our net and erics as well picked about 12 fish until 3:30pm when they started hitting at the bottom of the tide. Delivered about 1200lbs after going through the net several times. Pulled the net out of the water at 7pm and went to town. Showers, Phone calls home and the internet. A much better day.

Front Porch Tunes

This is Matt and Luke my crew Matt with the guitar and Luke singing. Killing time before an opening for fishing.

MMMMMMMMM........FISH

Tyler and Derek caught some early salmon in the slough on the trip to the cabin and Eric cooked it.
Grilled Sockeye Salmon with Teryaki Glaze

The Recreational Plan and a Sweet Jump

Everybody's ready to catch fish. Today is saturday another day of nothing yesterday towards the end of the day you could tell that the only thing left to do was to set a net. The boats are prepped and ready to be put in the water. Jack, Eric, the Heisler-Cornelison, Tom on the Brown Dog and a lot more of the fleet are putting in on the Sunday morning tide. Dad talked to Tim at fish and game and it looks like tuesday is going to be the first possible opening. I'll probably leave sunday afternoon for the cabin. Right now we are in the containers at the PAF Boatyard. The sooner we get out there the sooner we'll have camp ready and be set for the fish. Last night there were roving bands of fisherman playing cork golf, large fire circles with people from all over the country represented, and even a badminton game going on, we of course we made a jump to take our sweet bike off of.

An explanation of Bristol Bay Westside Salmon announcements sidebar

I added a feed to the announcements from Tim at fish and game. We are setnet gear type fishermen in the Nushagak district. If there is an opening we are fishing unless we are exhausted then we are sleeping in the bottom of the boat at the place marked on the map as my site. THis gives you an idea of what we are doing and how the baywide catch is going.

Rainy day in town

Today was officially a day without work. Well, dad went to the cabin on this mornings tide with four of the crew and the impetus went with him. To justify myself all the work on the boats is finished and we just need to go through totes and pack for our move. I plan on leaving to the cabin on sunday and possibly fishing on monday. It remains to be seen whether there will be an opening for fishing or not. Tim Sands the Fish and Game biologist said that run is looking late because of the colder weather this year. It was the first year I saw snow on the ground outside of dillingham from the plane as we landed. It has been colder and wetter this year. I still hope for a few sunny days.

Sitting in the Boat on the Land

The flights up were quick and relatively painless a welcome change from last year. The weather has gone from nice and sunny in the mid 70s to overcast and drizzly. yesterday it was about 50F midday but warmed up considerably in the evening.

The crews are mostly here, my dad has two of his three guys. Eric my brother has tyler an old friend of ours and derek his roommate. I just picked up Matt today from the Airport my five time crew member and good friend and Luke on his first year and soon to be good friend. They both know me well enough to talk a load, should be entertaining.

Set up the boat electronics, changed the oil, started the engine. It purrs. To me its amazing how much these machines go through during the summers with fishing, then sitting through the frozen winter thawing in the spring and fire right up when I get here ready for more punishment. I like my kicker like a redneck loves his pickup.

more later