NEW MEMBER
Capt. Midnite
2009-02-07 06:01:09
Have been a lurker for a while, my name is Jon, I have a 63yr. old body but, a 25yr. old mind. I fished salmon out of Sausalito Ca. from 1970-1993 had three boats during that time, the last was a very nice double ender named Compagno, well to make a long story short, since I left the fishery I have been lucky and saved a few dollars, but I haven't really been happy, lately I've realized why, man I miss fishing,and I have decided that I want to come back, I don't need to tell you that things are not too good in this area, and things don't bode well for the near future. I live in Shelter Cove now and we are entering the third year of severe drought, which I believe will only make things that much worse for the troll fleet down here, and an their already on their knees. I'm thinking about a change, any room for me up there, I'm thinkin' i want to buy my way back in.........GOOD FISHIN' TO YOU ALL
Salty
2009-02-07 20:20:21
Welcome to the forum. Good luck finding a ride.
Too bad the Bertha R sold. Was a great fishing boat. Tell us your favorite fishing memory.
Capt. Midnite
2009-02-07 22:01:49
Salty, thank you for the welcome, you're asking a tough question, there are many, I'm sure that like most of you some were surley magic and some were sadly tragic, but for some reason one particular trip I have often thought about. I'm not sure of the time frame, I think early 80s. As I remember we we're fishing between Pt. Reyes and the north island, good fishing, good grade and flat calm weather with thick fog. The radios were quiet, I had a smile on my face, I kenw why. I fished late that day, was closer to the Pt. than the islands, so headed to anchor up for the night. As I approached the anchorage I took a look in my radar, I could not believe my eyes, there were a least 500 to 600 boats, more than I'd ever seen in my life. I had to anchor up in 20f. It was a floating city, enough boats that you could feel the life, generators, idiling mains and deck speakers. Right then I felt like I was part of something special, we're workin' hard loving what we do, I felt a sense that I was part of a very special community.............sadly, I think that down here, it's lost forever, What the hell happened?
yak2you2
2009-02-08 06:55:47
Aye, welcome capt.
Terrible shame to see the west coast and all of the history associated with it crashing so hard. One need look no further than the history of the east coast fisheries to understand whats happening. Simply put, to much has been taken, and to little given back. I don't mean just commercial harvests, I mean the whole picture. The dams, the over usages of water, the agricultural run off, coupled with acrossed the board over harvests by all user groups, seems to be more weight than the mighty rivers can carry.
I sure wouldn't blame a fisherman for moving north to get back into the game. It seems like we still have a few good years left up here, but make no mistake about it, just watching the effects of the factory trawling and over grown sports fishing industries on our resources lately, I'd have to say our days are numbered too if we can't get things under control.
Best of luck to you should you decide to make a go of it.
Salty
2009-02-08 08:14:38
I heard the drum roll of the demise of trolling both in the late 50's and in the mid 70's. During that time we have outlived salmon traps. I actually saw one of them removed in 60 or 61. We have outlived the foreigners fishing right off our coast. I saw that fleet west of the Fairweather Grounds in 66. We have outlived the high seas salmon gillnetters (mostly) during which I got to publicly call them liars (and had to make an official apology). We have got the groundfish trawlers out of SE Alaska, I helped write and encourage the BOF to get them out of the state waters in SE. Linda Behnken led the way in Federal Waters.
We got the gillneters out of the sloughs on the Stikine and rebuilt that run. We survived the summer herring reduction fishery (my dad wrote lots of letters on that one but what killed them was the lack of herring.) We have survived the SE pulp mill clear cut logging industry. I was a board member of the Sitka Conservation Society and spent thousands of hours trying to protect salmon habitat from that industry. They blamed their demise on "environmentalists" but the court records show that they knew their demise was due to the markets.
And we are going to survive the guided sport industry. They will not disappear altogether like the trawlers and the mills but they will be reduced both by the market, spreading ethics to not waste carbon frivolously, and eventually some management control by both the Board of Fisheries and the North Pacific Council.
In the meantime trolling has prospered in SE with the US Canada Treaty, SE hatchery programs, and nearly worldwide recognition that the best fish on earth are wild Alaska Salmon and the best Alaska salmon are troll caught salmon. I have four young partners who have invested in freezer boats the in the last three years in part because they are doing so well trolling. Our safety and handling technology has improved and continues to improve. Our computer and other fishing technology is advancing at an unbelievable rate. 14 years ago I was pioneering putting a computer on the boat in our troll fishery. Now I have two computers and a back-up on the boat. When I started handtrolling seriously in 1978 I had a CB and a lifejacket. Now I have satellite phones, cell phones, satellite internet and e-mail, and radios too numerous to count.
Last year the prices were the best ever. This year, while probably not good, they are likely to be relatively better than anything else.
Thirty years ago I represented hand trollers in the bloody battle with power trollers. Now hand and power trollers work together on the ATA Board and on the Aquaculture Association Boards. Our Co-operative (SPC) seems in good shape and there are the best loan programs for quality improvement and power upgrades in my lifetime.
The state of the troll fishery in SE Alaska is better than ever. And it will likely be stronger after this Board of Fisheries meeting here.I
doryman
2009-02-10 05:43:58
Capt. Midnite,
You are not alone in your sadness to what has happened to us here on the West coast. I grew up trolling in Oregon, and bought my own boat when I was old enough. Have seen many good times but more bad. I really feel for the guys down there. I have lost a lot of money not being ably to fish most of our coastline too due to the Klamath and Sacremento problems. At least we have gotten to fish North of Cape Falcon, but that too has been real screwed up due to fish mangers suffering from cranial-rectal insertion disease. Maybe this year will be different, maybe not, but our small Northern Oregon fleet will continue to grind away. They are going to have to try harder to get rid of us. Thanks Salty for the positive outlook, it's real easy to get down on this whole business down here. Seems like everyone is working against us.
Salty
2009-02-10 06:08:38
I stood on a bridge over the Metolius River near Sisters Oregon and read about the run of King Salmon that used to spawn in that River, at 4,000 feet of elevation. They had to travel up the Columbia, up the Deshutes, up the Warm Springs, and who knows what else to make it to those springs. Can you imagine the strength and oil content of those fish that had to go over 4,000 feet in elevation to reach their spawning grounds. If omega three fats are the sauce of good coronary health then the oils in those fish would be the elixir of healthy hearts. Can you imagine one of them on the end of a line? Picture in your mind one of those 40 pounders rise out of the water to ascend a rapids?
We fished and dammed those fish to extinction as we did the hogs who used to spawn above Grand Coulee. It is a crime against nature that should make all of us weep.
I was taken to task by the ED of the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council years ago when I pointed out in public testimony to an undersecretary of commerce who was visiting that all the self congratulatory going on at the NPFMC over their great record conserving fishery resources in the North Pacific, conveniently forgot that arguably the greatest fish to ever swim in their waters, those Springs and Hogs of the Metolius and upper Columbia were gone, possibly forever.
The only good thing about the salmon fishery in Oregon is that the vineyards are producing great wines to drown our sorrows in.
kingquota
2009-02-10 07:51:44
Welcome to the fishery. I can relate. I am 70 and still hand trolling. I love the time spent on the water but the politics that one has to do in order to stay on the water. The backstabbing from those that are supposed to help their own community is something that is inbelievable.
Welcome to our fishery. They still bite the hooks and fght the same. It is the best life around, I have fished since I was six years old and have not stopped nor looked back since. Lost my friends and buried some and send my reguards to the others that the sea has taken. No regrets for we all know it is a strong possibilty.
I was fortunate enough to see the traps and even though I was to young to realize it was wrong (To some people) managed to be on a boat that raided one. I was a shrimper, gillnetter, seiner, breaker fisherman from Yakutat, Troller Crabber from Dutch and all in between and have been a fisherman for all of my life. I would not give up those memories for nothing. I look forward for more(LIVING A DREAM THAT I LOVE).
Capt. Midnite
2009-02-10 16:02:51
Well, I'm really starting to feel the suction,my best friend came over to my house yesterday, I was busy on the phone, when I was done he asked me what I was up to, I told him that I was making an offer on an Alaskan power troll permit, "are you crazy'' was what he asked. I didn't say a word, but I did think for a minute to myself, maybe I am but you have to be a little crazy to make a move like this at this time in your life. There is no turning back for me, I look forward to adventure in my life, it's what makes life worth living. Just listining to you guys, and gals talk and share information, and talk and sometimes argue, over a common interest is something I really miss. I hope that soon I can join your community, I hope I can earn your respect. Along the way I'm sure that I'm going to ask a few questions , I'll try and make sure that they aren't too stupid. I am looking at boats, but come to think of it , I'm always looking at boats. There is one in particular boat that has caught my eye, it's a 40ft. steel Monk troller that DockStreet has listed, I have fished around that boat many times and always admired it, it's got a grey paint job,I can't remember the name. If anybody here knows anything about it, I would appreciate any info. you have. I have always had wood boats, and don't think anything rides better, I would like to go to B.C., there seems to be some very nice boats available, I have an eye on one that I would really like to take a look at. Thanks again for the welcome, I'm looking forward to meeting in person, as many of you as I can. Jon
JYDPDX
2009-02-10 16:33:50
Hi Jon and welcome to the forum.
I know that boat. It's called the Monique. I've heard the owner has done well on it and is moving up to something larger. It's been a fairweather grounds boat every year so apparently it's quite a good sea boat. I haven't been onboard but believe the owner to be rather meticulous with maintenance. The boat appears to be very well kept up and very clean, rigged very nicely. I heard it is located down south this winter. I'm surprised it hasn't sold yet.
Good luck.