The 2021 Fishing Season Begins!
Captain Joe holding the first king salmon of the season aboard the F/V (fishing vessel) Tommy L II!
July 1 often arrives with a lot of anticipation. Are we ready? Will there be fish? Will the weather be favorable?
But, ready or not, the season has begun and we are all adjusting back to the “norm” of life among the salmon. For Captain Joe, his crew, and our friends out at sea, that means waking up to the alarm clock at 3:30 am, regaining the muscle memory of their sea legs, and being rocked to sleep at night by the ebb and flow of the tide.
When I asked Joe what comes to mind when the fishing season begins, he said, “It’s feels a bit like leaving society for the summer. We are so busy when we’re fishing, and with no way to listen to the news from the back of the boat, we have no option but to focus on the salmon and the beauty surrounding us. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also really refreshing.”
And, of course, there’s the occasional spotting of whales, a bear on the beach, or eagles flying above, in search of salmon from the shallower waters of nearby beaches and streams. Moments that remind us of what a wild place these wild salmon come from, a big reason why we love them, fish them, and fight to protect their habitat, so that they continue to return each summer.
King salmon fishing is in full force for our troll fishery, harvesting salmon one by one by hook and line only. The Department of Fish & Game, which regulates our fishery to maintain and protect salmon populations, will notify us the day prior to closing king salmon fishing. Once that happens, we’ll focus our time and energy on fishing for coho salmon.
We’re excited for our 5th season in business, and will continue working hard to ensure that our salmon will be available to you later on this summer, as well as throughout the winter and spring months ahead. Thanks for following along. Stay tuned for more updates!
The F/V Natalee K, captained by Joe’s son, Tyler Emerson, fishing alongside Captain Joe on the F/V Tommy L II.