Yesterday we joined my parent's neighbors for red/sockeye salmon gill-net fishing. This is another type of Alaska subsistence fishing that is restricted to residents in certain small communities. Gill-netting works by installing a fishing line net near where a river and the ocean connect – we were near the Buskin River in Kodiak. The net hangs down about 12 feet and has weights on each end and along the bottom to hold it in place – we used two of these nets. Right now, the salmon are ready to spawn and are headed toward the river ... and ... hopefully ... they get caught in our nets on the way. The salmon's gills will get lodged in the net and, at that time, we zoom over in a little boat and pull up the net and fish. The goal is to get to the salmon before the sea lions do. The net is pulled into the boat, the salmon freed, and the net is placed back in the water for another chance.
There were eight of us total: Corey, me, and Kya, my mom and dad, and three of their neighbors.
This is the neighbor's runner boat for checking the net. Corey is in the orange and blue.
When the buoys bounce and splash it is a very good sign ...
We usually pulled up 1-3 fish in a catch.
We'd watch the fish finder for schools. If a group was near, the small boat would "rodeo" around to spook the fish into the net.
and then we hit the jackpot!
12 salmon in one catch!
This is what 28 Sockeye Salmon look like.
The cooler was full so we decided to clean the fish at our fishing spot.
My dad had to get a photo with the salmon before they became filets.
The seagulls arrive immediately ... and then the bald eagles joined us.
They got so close to the boat!
We threw "chum" (fish guts) into the water and the birds loved it.
The eagles put on an amazing show, stealing from the seagulls.
We all enjoyed the festivities, even Kya liked the "birds."
Corey had a celebratory beer.
We were out from 9 am to 5 pm so there was lots of waiting and playing.
We even talked to Grandma Rene in North Dakota!
And the best part of the day: salmon on the grill.
This was definitely the best salmon I've ever had. Corey, my mom and dad all agree. Delicious.
Because we were on the boat ALL DAY, we were all swaying for hours after getting off the boat. It was the strangest feeling.
After dinner, we went for a walk to the end of my parent's road, which turns into a wooded trail to the ocean. We saw lots of wild flowers.
These are spruce tips.
Wild chocolate lilies
The pink ones are shooting stars ... not sure what the white flowers are.
Beautiful evening for a walk to the beach.
Skipping rocks. again.
Lupine
What great day would be complete without a bonfire?
Ted and Kathy (friends of my parents) joined us.
Phew, what a fun day.
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