Running a tender here at coffee point , dillingham, for Peter Pan.
Sitting on anchor S.E.15 winds
Nothing happening yet
Some subsistence, looking slow
Tender fleet ready will see how much effort from fisherman
Has been strange year with distancing quarantine,no dock access
No coffee for setnetters when they deliever
Weather been raining
Fish and game counting escapement before open
Keep you posted

My son is in Egegik,,AGS, no rooms,meals,services,, 2 months on 32" boat. Luckily the boat has a shower and AGS has pledged good tender services. I've got lots of job offers but at 69 and spare pig parts I think a pass is in order!

your choice to stay home is not bad considering the year ,but knew others counting on me to be here again need all the help to pull a season off. The fish don't know what's going on and let's get em.
Weather improving.watched a couple old ladies catch about 10 reds in 25 fathom net this tide in front of our anchorage

Happy Father's day
Sunday report no openers yet

Happy Fathers day.

I ran a tender for 8 years here during the King boom days. I used to eat breakfast,lunch and dinner and mug ups with Governor Jay Hammond. Working for NELBRO years ago in Naknek doing frozen Herring, lightering to the Jap Trampers out in the Bay. Also set netted out on the cut bank

Sitting here on the Yukon watching fish swim by and they have us closed for everything. This season is going to suck.

that is crazy! i was out last night on the big susitna and i seen hundreds of kings. i dont understand why the season is down. why can the japs and com guys have a free for all the salmon. but us guys that just to fill our freezers for our faimlys are S.O.L.....

My son is down there as well fishing with his Uncle and Cousin. They better do well because he quit a good job here with no guarantee of getting back on when he gets back.

Kids.....

-TJ

Fishing and trapping go so well together that's why we go
No opening yet
Earliest may me Weds 3 am
Escapement is at 10610 kings and 40,146 on the wood River

Otter aught six- welcome back to the Nush. What tender are you running?

Celilo converted 59 foot old coast guard buoy tender from the Colombia River
Working coffee point setnetters, I anchor by the hospital alot

I set-net out of Grave Yard Point from 1990-97. We sold to Red Salmon in Naknek. Lots of work but good times. That whole industry has to be really strange with this distancing stuff. Especially no coffee from the tenders!! I suppose no cannery meals or mug-ups while in town either.

Its political. Between the Canadian and the Tanana cry babies trying to shut us down, I am not sure which one is worse.

Still no openers till Thurs 3 am maybe?
Seeing jumpers
Not allowed off boat at dock
No mug up
Harbor closed,they want you to go out and anchor

C'mon Jeff! No way you can see the fish in that silty Yukon water!

Otter welcome back to the Nushagak definitely a strange year with no kings hoping to see a push on the morning tide so we can get the smoke house full first time we ever had more reds than kings on June 21The harbor is a mess with the no rafting to the ramps and come in for one tide and leave

Thanks Otterman good to be back. Seeing more jumpers tonight.giving us some hope it won't be long

23kings in the subsistence net this morning darn near all jacks though really strange year very few big females bring caught and the jacks are all males out of 23 only 1 over 20 pounds and 5 more 15-20 pounds the rest were under 10 pounds. Problem is those jacks all go by the sonar and get counted as reds due to their size. Big push of reds into Wood River this mornings tide we tried a set pulled and ran up the Nush to get away from them finally seeing the big early run dogs as well

My picture window looks out over the river. I watch jumpers all day.
They opened us up for a 18 hr subsistence period today using dip nets only, we can’t even use the 6” webbing in our dip nets and all kings need to be released alive!

Neat history on the celilo. I drive past you every morning on the road. Maybe see you on the water some day.

We have a opener starting at 0330 for 12 hours.
All loaded with ice and chilled water,RSW (refrigerated Sea water)
Gas for the set netters to
Will see what this year brings. My 4 th time running this boat.
The last three have off the charts for my guy.
Basically we are buyers on the grounds for the plant. Pretty much like groney buying fur
And we truck em in.and so far in 3 years bought 1.8 million pounds (Celilo)
Last years price was $1.55 a # iced .you do the math. So fish were like 6 something apiece
Kind like the good muskrat days but just super size catches
The contract / season is about 35 days
Sleep now is a distance thought

If I can't you all some pictures before this is over I should walk the plank
My crew member is a computer engineering major. going to put him to work extra

Glad you guys finally got an opener and really glad the driffters are going to work as well my son has a drift permit hope they get their 150,000 pounds this year

Been open almost 4 hours. iced 9 setnetter boats.one delivery for 758 #. Looks like some fish but won t be no barn burner .at least weather is nicer

Deshka weir count

Things are picking up. Maybe you will get to put some red ones in your freezer?

The new goal of 9000-18000 a bit different then the old goal of 13,000 to 28,000. Keep fixing things like this and the next upper goal will be the old lower goal.

First 12 hour opening was ok had 11,340# delievered
Only 13 were king's 8 lb average

Curious what price is being posted

Last year didn't post a price till like 2 or 3 weeks into it
Only after the competition posted theirs
They wish they hadn't taken the old canning lines out I bet
The ones who still do are turning profit .easy storage long shelf life and don't have to send to. CHina for reprocessing

Second opener now
Back on coffee point area
4 am to 4 pm
Sounds like the other side was where the better fishing was yesterday
Right Otterman kings that small getting counted as reds
Only had 4.1 # average on reds very few chums
Must be wood River fish

Slow fishing but making paychecks
Only picked up#6,339 total from I think 7 fisherman at most
More kings and some chums
But small king's
Will see what tomorrow brings , another opening for 12 hours
Big tides this weekend,21.8 feet tonight
Running like a flood raging River when docking but actually not bad to dock when using current
I know from canoeing rivers it was a good education

I saw you cruise by headed back down river yesterday evening I was watching a guy pull his subsistence net on Scandinavian beach righ past the Bristol fuel dock . The boys came up yesterday during the closure to change out a jabsco said it wasn’t super hot fishing for the drift fleet yet but sounded like this mornings opener might be big

Hoping you guys make bank. Lots of hurdles, for sure.
Good luck.

Tough day ,S.E 20 plus and tide making slop
Waiting for sandbar to appear so I can nap
Condenser pump seized up on the chiller
Mcguyver deck hose pump into line chilling again
Have old pump out and photos to the Man
My hunting all around friend who happens to be the reefer go to guy for the Kodiak big boys
Will be gold streak here Monday (ak. Air).how's that for week end service
Yes it will cost me some favors but that is what we do
So standing by today as back up but I am still in the game for sunday
Fishing was a little better from the other tender here today
Sunday with this wind pushing on this way should be better

Sunday picked up 10,511 # made the trip upriver to the plant.then back down to be relief
Still running small red average 3.8##
RSW holding up
Parts ordered
Crew coming together, routine runs now. The youngest (17) semi green horn is making 200
A day for 35 days at 7 g he is a pretty happy worker .plus he really knows his birds and points them out to us.

Sounds like it has been pretty nautical for the fleet but should be better today and tomorrow saw you cruse by the harbor yesterday

seeing any falcons out there otterman?

only a osprey.and some slatie back gulls
Big tides now, they have just dropped almost 20 feet
Only 5 feet under keel. Still on back up anchored
Closes tonight till 7:30 am tommorow then I am on
Hope someday to see you Otterman.
Gets slow I may have to go into harbor for part's (pizza)

crap this year you will have to order in advance and do a bump and go they aren't letting people hang around very much. They are a little easier going now that guys are fishing but then the weekend comes and the Russian Fleet comes in it is a cluster I saw a good share of the Russian boats on the hook below Nushagak point last weekend

What are the Russians doing there otterman?

What’s wrong with Russian folk?

Russian folks that been living in Alaska long time.they like to stay together
Pump came in ak air from Kodiak . one day delivery
Up and running again.about 2 grand when said and done with extra spare valve
B O A T. Break out another thousand.
Closed tonight. See what July now brings

Mike
Nothing wrong with Russians just wondering. Thats all.

The "Russian" are old Russian Orthodox they are very close knit bunch & most come from the Homer area and nothing wrong with them, for the most part they are pretty nice people that simply have different beliefs nothing wrong with that. They don't fish Saturday and Sunday and with the no rafting rule in the harbor this year when a bunch come in they just anchor out around the harbor turns it into a cluster is all I am saying

Talked to the boy two days ago. They had to make a quick trip to town to send one of the hands to Anchorage for an abscess on the back of his throat that needed to be drained and then watched as it healed up. He is done for the season and they are down to three guys now. I guess they also saw a boat go up in flames. Crazy times. Said fishing was slow but picking up each day with more and more fish.

-TJ

If you believe the port Mollar numbers and they tend to be pretty accurate the peak is still a week away everything is running late so tell em all to hang in there the fish are coming they all just doing a quarantine before pushing into the rivers🤣

Speaking of quarantine, they had two school district construction workers they let into the village test positive for the Wu flu.

The buyer promptly quit buying fish in our Y-2 district so we don't get to fish the summer season here.

Hoping we get to fall fish now.

Otter Im sure from the sounds of it you are busy as heck was wondering if the average weight came up at all on the fish? I hear the Ekuk set Netters plugged Ekuk cannery this morning and lots of boat loads last night drifters are just getting started again hope they are all loading up

They are here now,after some slow days which we only had 1,295# for Sunday
Today was much better.we have bought about 28 k # this afternoon
Definitely bigger fish running now 4.5 # average
Will keep buying here at upper coffee till full or morning comes first
Combine and Clark's point are doing even better I hear.


Quarantine for the fish must be over

Yup the fish showed with a vengeance my wife's cousin set nets over at Nushagak point and he had a record set yesterday saw a video of the set looked like every two or three pains in the net had a fish in it that’s some pretty insane fishing

I fish the Dry Bay set net fisherie, Between the canadians taking 2 of our days away and you guys getting huge catches its making it hard to earn any money haha! Hope the fishing stays great!

Patrick heard you on the radio yesterday was tempted to say hi but didn't want to jump on the company channel

Listening in on shedule is good way to get a feel of what's happening
Since we are doing more texts even harder for me to know what the other tenders are holding
The run is on, bought #32,109 Monday and 35,109# Tues and last night
Sleep is very long gone distance thought it
Waiting to unload now, backing up plant all the fish ,
But they are on it

Peter Pan just announced suspended buying this afternoon temporary to catch up on processing
Bunch of fisherman are cussing right now I bet seeing fish going by

No update from the boy, but from the sounds of things, the fish have arrived and the fishing is good. I hope the price holds and they fill up.

-TJ

Restart buying 4 am for 12 hours
Setnetters 4000# limit
Drifters 5,000# limit

Thursday pretty good day here
Quick pickup of 23,130#
Seems to have slowed some since we ran upriver to the plant
Limits are off now
Here comes the hot weather.5 totes of ice on board to give out every day.

My son came up day before yesterday had a minor issue to work on while buying was suspended they took time for a steam and had a few stories to tell fishing the last four days at that point had been absolutely insane he has been fishing since high school and is now a drift permit owner when he says this I know he is happy and the bills are paid and the boat has been loaded multiple times. I could tell more but am sworn to secrecy but the words sunk nets came out of him multiple times He was wishing it was a normal year no covid crap he wanted his 9 yr old on the boat to pitch fish

Any idea on where price might end up?

-TJ

heard there was a cash buyer in both Nakenek nd Nushagak paying around a $1- $1.50 a pound hope it holds up but really nothing firm yet

Talked to the boy yesterday and fishing has been about average for them. They did a transfer and are picking up the deckhand that had to head to Anchorage. Hopefully the fish are still running when they head out.

-TJ

Running good Little late. But strong
Two runs to plant past two days for
17,081# and last night plugged the tank at 36 k#
Just back to coffee.see what the flood brings tonight
Very few chums and kings , very few
First pink last night

Went and threw a net out with the grandkids this morning pulled it right back in with 23 reds good enough for what we wanted then took the grands up the river to see the drifters fishing in the Wood River special harvest area they were pretty amazed when I told them those big nets are double the length when they fish out in the bay they enjoyed the show for a bit then we headed home

Yes 23 reds will keep you busy and not turn in to a major project I personally like to also stop at about 25
Steady out here now on the slow side .nice weather clear and 60-70 degree range with a light breeze
But that's still a decent paycheck.home stretch now.lets hope it stays steady on the back end.

We did another 50 Yesterday to ship off to the kids that couldn’t come out this year and get there own shipping them off this morning was more work then I wanted but the 9 yr old grandson was driving the skiff while I set net and did a great job his little sister helped pick the net and split fish I imagine one day they will both be on Dads boat fishing with him

Great to have them helping you fish
Well wish I had good news but one of our fisherman is hanging it up for the season
Just passed on to me Trident and ice cycle posted .60$ #
Nothing heard from Peter Pan yet
Just finished a book Eskimos of the nushagak river.good history of area in it.
Now I know why you call it scandavania Beach.
The other fascinating book I also read and was just crazy is called the Firecracker Boys
It about the atomic energy commission trying to create a deep water harbor up by point hope in 1960
Never mind that it's frozen a heck of a lot and the fallout.They Almost pulled it off.
Thank God people Asked questions.
Slow yesterday had 6,732# to deliver
Adds up to 216,274# for the year so far hauled. A third of what we usually do but overall still a good run just that other tenders helped share the load.

"Celilo " 59 feet by 15 old coast guard buoy tender that's been lengthen for a fish hold
Powered by Detroit diesel 6-71
Packs around 36k #

Setnetters making a delivery
Brailer bags hold 5-600#

Brailer bags being weighed then onto tender

Into the chute to RSW refrigerated Sea water 33 degrees fish hold

Getting pumped out at the plant
This 36k# load will be done in under 30 minutes

And another commute back to work
This is around 2-3 am looking out over dillingham

Pre shipyard preparations
She spends the winter on blocks here
Nice flat boat so shifting sandbars not a problem here

Office window view

Thanks for the pictures. Brings back memories! When I fished up there we always listened to "Radio Reader" on Public Radio. It was great - part of a book was read each night - usually historical books of the region. Do they still do that?

Trident and icicle at 60 cents means Peter Pan will be there or a tad less sure does suck for the fishermen all A guy can hope for with those prices is a huge season poundage wise to make up for it a bit but it is still right at half of last yrs price🤬

Peter Pan dock face unloading fish
20 foot plus tides

Peter Pan dock face unloading fish
20 foot plus tides

Otter3006 when you get hauled out stop in the PAF office and you will see some of my wifes fur sewing work she is the one that has had stuff there the last several yrs

Yes I have seen the fur In Paf . Very nice . The contract ends Weds and looks like I will be pulled out at Bristol alliance this time Instead of paf.you will have to drive by. Be nice to meet you

Rumor on price I am hearing rumors now
No official price posted

otter3006 thank you for posting the pics, its enjoyable seeing an entirely different part of Alaska and lifestyle.

I would love to hear a 6-71 under the strain of 36k#. Nice pictures.

Peter pan seafoods has just posted prices
.70cent base reds with .15 iced then if premium (floating in ice slush) another nickel for 90 cent total
Our fisherman all go that extra step for that nickel
Well we are done here folks.
Final load today for #5,227 for season total of#229,365.
Not the greatest of years but with this environment we are dealing with not bad. Bills will be paid
Boats cleaned and ready to be be pulled into dry dock tomorrow at day break.
They are going to do it differently this time with air bags and roll me up into yard. Will definitely want a picture
Yes hillbilly this 6/71 is awesome .it's jumps when I hit the start key unbelievable
I cannot even count to one and she is going
Not a fast boat and with a load the momentum will carry you farther than you think.
This is our 37 th day straight on the water.59 x15 feet, I need to go for walk .

Glad you paid the bills. Praying for all the fishermen, I know times are hard, 3 fishermen attend the church I pastor.

Getting pulled out this morning
Interesting way they use these air bags and are rolling me in
So for Bristol Bay salmon run now stands at 53.5 million with a harvest of 35.8 million
Naknek was the hot spot

My first time back on Land-. Fireweed

One of the authors of the Fire Cracker boys was William O. Pruitt. Jr. The Univ of Manitoba library has his whole collection of material online. He went on there to teach and tried to set up a Taiga Research station but his past experiences in Alaska he would not let any other researchers to work out of there.

Very nice journal of the fishing activity that you have posted. Thank you

Is that a leaf of Giant ragweed in the above picture ?

That plant with the big leaves is pushki.(spelling?) And it can be nasty.itching blistering etc

Cow parsnip or puski the blistering can be nasty, you got that right.

https://youtu.be/OqpJIutHH8Y
This was actually a pretty typical set for us at Ugashik this year. We dont always round-haul, but the water was dropping fast on us, we fish in just inches of water at times.
Very good year for set netters as very few drift boats showed up in the district. Too bad the price was about half of last year though, had fun though (except for a brief medivac visit to Naknek).
Sorry a out the video quality.

W That's beautiful,nice set.thats called recovering the net then we will pick.great stuff..
The owner of this boat run his tender in ugashik for setnetters it's the Whitney

^^^^^^
The "Whilitny", a blue sort of schooner style boat?
I have delivered to that boat a few times for E&E Seafood.

Yes that be it blue . and wood
Dillingham Ak harbor

Those airbags are a neat setup. Looks like they work well for the flatter bottom boats.

Otter3006 It was nice to finally meet face to face it was a nice visit see you next year

Yes nice to meet you also. Dillingham is a nice place to visit and work.Still working my way home and have been busy in anchorage looking for a truck.Not what I really wanted to do but nothing last forever but did get 20 hard years on the last one.So pulled the trigger and taking the tusty ferry back.Hope to be back next year also
No

Otter, I was wondering if you ran across my buddy's son, Yote Robertson, while working Bristol Bay. I've known his father and family for the past 30+ years. Yote is the only man I know of to have taken (4) Dall Sheep with a longbow. He has a reputation as an extraordinary brown bear guide, also.

Sorry haven't heard that name before .must be an interesting person .will keep my eyes open