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