Summer Salmon Season Highlights

It’s September and we’ve been off the boat for a week–getting our land legs under us and slowly letting our summer fishing seasons sink in. We’re adjusting to the feeling of sleeping in a real bed, the quietness and stillness of living in a house, the independence of having your own schedule–without the rest of the crew working beside you. It feels so good to wander through the fireweed in Homer, notice the Sand Hill Cranes resting in the fields, and eat sun ripe tomatoes from our mom’s garden. With all the small comforts of home though, we always try to bring the best parts of fishing back to normal life with us. The simplicity of life on the water, the space to think, the camaraderie, the focus on cooking and eating good food, and taking advantage of the wild beauty around us. Here are some of Emma's favorite memories from her salmon seine season in Area M. We are only on land for a few more days and then headed back out the Aleutian Islands where we grew up to fish for halibut with our family. Wish us luck!

In June, we fished on the south side of Unimak Island, where volcanoes Shishaldin, Raggedy Jack and Round Top kept us company. Sometimes you can see Shishaldin smoking!

Grateful for the beautiful salmon that swan into our net, that will feed people delicious and nutrient-rich protein this year. 

We hiked almost every day we weren't fishing. Aside the Brown Bears, the islands are tundra topped and welcoming, with lupine fields and friendly foxes. Nice to stretch the sea legs!

On the 4th of July, we were in King Cove and had a crab party with lots of other fishermen. We ate so many crab legs, and saved some for crab eggs benedict the next morning. 

An unexpected visitor landed on my skiff – a Brown Boobie! Usually found in the Gulf of Mexico or Caribbean Sea, this little guy took a well-deserved rest during one of our sets. 

We ate salmon every day this summer. Our whole crew commented on how soft their hair and skin was feeling – those Omegas are real! We made lox and pickled fish and poke and even tried some sushi rolls!

We goofed around on deck a lot, and took portraits with many sea creatures.

False Pass was full of ripe salmonberries and our crew picked many kitchen pots full and made jam, pies, and pancakes with them all season. Salmonberries are one of the most wonderful parts of Alaskan summer.

We got to fish in some incredibly beautiful places, and on off days explore some too. We stopped in Squaw Harbor in the Shumagin Islands and saw the old cannery there – a time capsule of fishing gear, coastal relics, and old wooden boats that have retired here. 

We were the lucky recipients of king crab, dropped on our deck by some fishing friends. So fun to have such incredible food from the sea, all around us.

Lots of reading this summer – inside, outside, between sets, on wheel watch, and waiting for the tender. Always feels good to get into a good story and be transported into another world. One of my favorites (pictured here): Figuring by Maria Popova. 

We caught an octopus and made it into ceviche. Such beautiful creatures, so tasty (and chewy) too! Excited to keep learning more about best ways to prepare them.

Ate many baked goods this summer on the boat and on the docks. Hard to say no to this little Sand Point lady's cookies!

Got to put the new metal Salmon Sisters Maris Hoodie to the test! So cozy and soft, and the perfect layer under my raingear. I really didn't take it off for 2 weeks.