Fishermen’s Blog Log
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| June - After some anxious inquiries from our customers for sablefish, we finally landed a trip for their liking- lots of big fish. If we fished earlier, it would have been more 3-5 size fish versus the 5/up size fish we caught on this trip. Customers spanned from the Kenai Peninsula, Anchorage, Canada, Japan and Europe, and I still needed more to fill demands in Singapore and the U.S. market. Its always fun to trade in a sellers market, just need more fish to sell. | |
 Mike Jones holding one of the big ones, and Rockfish flipping in the boat in the background |
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| May - JIm needed a new challenge so in addition to fishing pacific cod he ventured up to the Bering Sea to participate in the Turbot Fishery. Prices were said to be decent, even for the heads. After a few weather days in Dutch Harbor, the hunt started. Thinking he could pick up at his past production spots from several years ago, it wasn't long before he realized a new search was needed. Several searches here and there took him farther north to meet the ice pack. It provided little and going as far as the Russian Border was not an option. After three weeks of dismal catch results, cutting losses became a better option. The boat and crew were able to end on a good note however by picking up some halibut in the Western Gulf on their way home. | |
 This was not one of our target species. We would have to do some research to explain what this ugly thing might be. |
 Thanks to the ice pack up in the Bering Sea, somewhere close to Latitude 60, the stormy seas were held down. |
 Frolicking fur seals trying to pick up a snack from the gear |
 Castle Cape in view off in the distance |
April - In March, Jim was honored to be nominated by the Governor’s office to serve on the North Pacific Management Council. While being greatly encouraged by his peers, Jim is struggling already over the time it will take from his more comfortable profession as a fisherman and boat operator. And then there is all that sitting. However he’s told the chairs are comfortable. (See Jim's nomination letter for a seat on the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council from Governor Parnell-- We'll know in June if folks in Washington formally appoint him.) Industry support letters for Jim's appointment to the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council |
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Jim and I ended the month with a trip to the Isles of Hawaii- Kauai and Oahu. On Kauai we found favor at a local fish market near Rice street, and on Oahu we visited Pier 38 where fishermen's fish go on the auction block. We compared notes with local fishermen, a local NMFS agent and Sean Martin who serves on the West Pacific Management Council. Unfortunately we forgot our camera so the post card will have to serve as proof of our trip. |
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March - The IPHC set the Halibut opening early this year, March 6th. It was blowing, cold, and icing conditions. The trip proved fruitful with prices high due to low inventories. After the first opening the prices dropped like a rock. Rather than going on another halibut trip, we contemplated a sablefish trip. The market for sablefish was also quite good due to low inventories and improved demand in the domestic and European markets in addition to the Asian markets. Weather didn’t cooperate with the plan, and because the fish come in small in the spring, it was decided to finally take an extended vacation from fishing. |
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 Pacific Cod Roe, one of the many ancillary products of Pacific cod that has marketability. |
January-February – Jim and the crew arrived in Seward from Seattle on January 15th after a long repair and maintenance stint in Washington. Such included a paint job, reefer repairs, upgrades in the galley, and a big switcharoo in the captain’s stateroom (all things starboard went port and all things port went starboard), allowing for a larger bunk and more storage space. The Kruzof started fishing/freezing January 21st in Central Gulf for Pacific Cod, however to the chagrin of operations it closed five days later. Then it was decision time, Eastern Gulf or the state water fishery in Prince Wm Sound to continue fishing and load the boat. It was the latter. Delivery time came in mid February. Then it was break time until the halibut opening. |
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This years pacific cod catch from the Central Gulf and PWS. |
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