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.