Commercial salmon fishing in Crawfish Inlet, Alaska.

Raw footage of commercial seine fishing for salmon in Crawfish Inlet, Baranof Island, Southeast Alaska. Unbelievable return for the chum salmon fishery.
Footage taken on F/V Lucky Star. August, 2018.
Net rolls varied from 3,500 lbs. - 8,000 lbs. This is incredible fishing!
"The purse seine fleet set a single day chum salmon catch record for the entire state with a haul of over 980,000 chum salmon taken at Crawfish Inlet south of Sitka on Thursday, Aug. 30 according to Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (NSRAA) manager Steve Reifenstuhl. Seiners took 1.13 million fish in two openings."

[@fishinhank942]

I used to work for NSRAA, that was a big year! Glad you guys could make some money.

[@FLYBOY123456789]

So many questions...but first a few comments...what's for breakfast - scrambled eggs with salmon, what's for lunch - salmon burgers, what's for dinner - salmon steaks. hard work...and what a haul.

[@deweyhobie]

Great video. I can’t believe that is the Lucky Star. I fished on that boat from 1990 to 1994 salmon in Alaska sardines San Francisco, squid and sardines out of San Pedro. Good to see she still working.

[@jamesrivis620]

Totally amazing haul gang ....awesome teamwork !!!!

[@allanclose9684]

Guy with orange rain gear is a top hand. He was always making things work without the tangles.

[@Nonflushableturd]

Damn i thought he was sloppy

[@auwalidrismuhammad1336]

I would’ve taught “I could go fish like hundreds of fish with a boat” then I saw these processes that should be accurately taken step by step. Now I know it has to be LEARNED!!! This is BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@elwoodwatson9906]

You youngsters got it easy with hydraulics. In 60's and 70's we had to use hand brailers with the help of the deck winch.

[@tommyboy71]

Nice haul boys. Thanks for putting food on the table.

[@Illyrian_Warrior]

This looks like one of the movies where aliens invade humans.

[@pnwRC.]

Great video! It's nice to be reminded how hard someone works so that we are able to consume the foods we eat.

[@cammontreuil7509]

You don't eat those fish. They are Chums/Dog salmon. Japanese want the eggs. Chums aren't fit to eat.

[@pnwRC.]

@@cammontreuil7509 the process of catching Atlantic salmon I'd presume would be identical, no?

[@cammontreuil7509]

@@pnwRC. Atlantic salmon are all farm raised. Atlantic salmon don't school up like prolific Chums do to be able to net them in this manner.

[@pnwRC.]

@@cammontreuil7509 NEGATIVE! The fish I eat are NOT farmed. I pay an extra high price for the wild caught salmon

[@cammontreuil7509]

@@pnwRC. salmon is a generic term. Make sure you know what you are eating.

[@koreanature]

My best friend, It's always great. Your video is excellent quality. We liked and enjoyed to the end. Thanks

[@china-trip]

Wow... !!! My best friend, It's always great. We liked and enjoyed to the end. Thanks

[@fishpest2039]

Nice catch, skipper is very calm to watch, guys use a bloody broom to more the fish to the hold hatch not your bloody foot. good video, much better than the Pacificfishing video

[@lucianofreitas3337]

what is the name of the tool used to tap water??

[@johnlarsen4455]

@@lucianofreitas3337 plunger

[@martydavies7198]

What a good crew I hope they are paid well they're awesome!

[@user-jn1jr9cm4v]

100000 месяц. Зарплата.

[@curtismoss3522]

Guys were logging! Haha! Nice set! I can't wait to go back to work on my seiner!

[@wandamorris780]

I enjoyed watching that very much. Men are very good at their jobs!

[@RajeshKumar-ug5ix]

Show begins after 16:55 minutes this is helpful...

[@noraacilo5516]

So amazing really a lot of fish caught by intelligent techniques good job guys

[@fullenglishbreakfast3289]

No fish we're harmed in the making of this video 😂 😂

[@bangrul74]

that is very cool..!! Your video is very entertaining, well done my Friend...

[@xxxxxxxxxxxx_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Damn that roller is sweet. When I fished, those were pretty new so only a few guys had them. We always had to use the brailler when we had a big set. That would take forever.

[@todorispetroxilos7237]

^×#_@^@^#^@ διδξδηδηδηδβσξσβσν ρ δδξξδξδβδνδνδ

[@scottyfrawley9736]

How can I get a job like this?

[@polygamous1]

Amazing team work everyone of you guys knew exactly what to do n very willing to help each other out just hope you guys get a dissent price for your catch n its not just the fishmongers n middlemen making all the profit, here in the UK wild salmon filleted is £25 a Kilo GL guys you have my respect

[@sambathhean339]

Very good for your fising

[@ammmjsjje]

GB to. Me

[@sgtcrab2569]

Nice set and really well handled by the crew!

[@user-wh9ww4lr7w]

​@@sambathhean339 🎉

[@nildetesantos2928]

Aqui no Brasil nem sei mais o valor. Só passo vontade. Um absurdo o preço

[@dirkpieterse3179]

Absolutely incredible I am living in a country where we do not have Salmon. Most unreadable fish in the world. And to see fisherman working so hard to give the world something ineradicable is absolutely great. I Love it!!!!

[@cammontreuil7509]

Trust me you wouldn't eat those nasty Chums.

[@WoyLad]

I wish there were videos before we had RSW holds and pumps. Gosh we used to fight down there while pitching fish.

[@user-kb9vc9dz3x]

Very nice.I veri qled see look

[@abdulhafid2109]

@@user-kb9vc9dz3x .. zubaidah dan sukses aamiin ya

[@deweyhobie]

Oh yeah been there done that wrestling matches in the Gurry. I used to love those smashed Humpies at the bottom.

[@cousinfun1]

Lucky Star that's a great name, I would like to see some specs on the vessel though. Footage tonnage... and some pics.

[@winomaster]

The guy in all orange is the one making this operation go. That's the way it always is. Smarts and skills are rare.

[@JustinBeyerlin1]

Awesome video! What is that rod with the thing at the end of it that you guys are hitting against the water for?

[@eviedechant]

I am wondering the same thing. It looks like maybe he is trying to scare something off

[@cammontreuil7509]

Spooking the fish to stay at the back of the net.

[@lucianofreitas3337]

what is the name of that tool?

[@enzobrown2368]

@@lucianofreitas3337 Plunger

[@enzobrown2368]

Plunger

[@vjcasio]

Wonderful video.

[@hiindandes]

Well done!!

[@jcgalmiche8352]

That was a rare protected species of log.I'm so glad they recognized that and set it free again quickly.Sustainable fishing there at it's best.

[@aaroncherry2993]

LOL, we try our best!

[@johnceyesdaby]

put it back so the next fisherMAN can catch it...Fing moron

[@robbie8142]

That is sooo clever 🤣🤣🤣🤗🤗🇭🇲🤗

[@trimbaker1893]

free range duglas fir...no shortage of em.

[@trimbaker1893]

@@johnceyesdaby no. a moron would put it on board.

[@luisorellana3579]

Buen trabajo !!!!!!! el de naranja un tigre , FELICITACIONES

[@timothyhorner3152]

What’s he doing with the pole and hitting the water

[@stephensaucerman7451]

Doctor: "Tell me again how you tore your ACL?" Boathand: "I was drop-kicking salmon ...."

[@redskins17084]

These guys have it down to a science. Great Job .

[@cammontreuil7509]

Chums are a no brainer. They school together like idiots. Just circle them.

[@josephcook7121]

What is the instrument ya'll kept jabbing in the water, and what does it do?

[@denvernuggets007]

Awesome work guys. Love to eat salmon. Do you ship these salmons world wide???

[@Raja-so6uh]

Damn really awesome catch dude excellent

[@carlillos6800]

Buen trabajo, bendiciones.

[@oppomonysros4554]

j2

[@michaelmullins1290]

Where was the next haul going. Looked like the box was full, but they all finally fit. Better than the last video with the deck boss screaming and cussing.

[@kgrant1888]

At 21:00 why is the water so brown around net, and the brown gets bigger? Also why is there so much foam around net that also gets bigger?

[@jcz232321]

What is the pole with what looks like a toilet plunger (LOL) on the end of it being used for as the guy keeps plunging it into the water?

[@denisricher1349]

That makes a sound for the fish and they turn into the net

[@deweyhobie]

That pole is called a plunger. Personally, I don’t think they work worth shit, but that is from a guy who had to do it all the time.

[@jessray2853]

I can feel the jellyfish sting from here

[@johnbelusko6347]

What is the guy hittin the water with the pole? What is the cause of that? Sry im from oklahoma and havent a clue

[@jarvsie]

That's sustainable log fishing ! Catch and release. Catch it again.

[@epulsemprul5586]

Ouuuuouuuuuu uuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuu OOH uoouuuuuhiiov cucu-cucu uuuuu uiipiiiiuuiiu huhu h

[@epulsemprul5586]

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiippiiiiiiiiiiiiiiioiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[@epulsemprul5586]

Iki Prapatan iiipiiipiiiiiioiioiiopiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[@epulsemprul5586]

Huhu Hhhhhhohhhhhhh oh job hhhhhhhi

[@pakcikotsman7584]

As @@epulsemprul5586

[@danielspencer5855]

Wow, where do I start? Amazing video!! I started watching fishing videos to get pumped for next season and found yours to be very relaxing. Crawfish inlet is a very beautiful place, some of the best huckleberry picking I've seen. That was a beautiful set. I'm terrible at guessing but I'd say somewhere near 15,000 pounds? It's very entertaining reading these comments and seeing everyone asking about plunging :) Don't listen to the haters, they have no idea about our lifestyle.

[@aaroncherry2993]

Yes, the fishing work is a work like no other - glad you enjoyed it! I published the video for fellow fishermen and educational purposes. No fancy editing. No overblown hype. Just straight fishing! Our biggest set that day was about 25k lbs

[@danielspencer5855]

25k is pretty good, I was in Crawfish last week and our biggest set was about 5k. So far it has been a disappointment there this year.

[@haiquang689]

Zcaể

[@russellclement2058]

@@aaroncherry2993 Looks like a huge operation what was your share ? and theres a good while repairing the net

[@cammontreuil7509]

Beautiful set of nasty Chums ? You don't know your fish. They are called dog salmon because really only fit for a dog to eat.

[@abelardogonzales8283]

Are They Over Fishing It Or It's Salmon Season's Time!

[@noneyabizz4537]

what was the guy in the beginning doing with the long rod ?? Off the back of the boat ?

[@deanb4799]

I'm curious too.....

[@tylercallaway9043]

That’s an incredible set. 40,000lb? I heard crawfish gets awesome late in season. Was that the set of the day or were other boats hauling that kind of weight? Also love the speed that the skipper is hauling at. I hate stacking corks when it’s fast. And the jelly bunnies... oof. Gotta love the work to do that fishery.

[@aaroncherry2993]

Thanks Tyler - yes, the fishing was heavy and slower in Crawfish - too many fish! Our biggest set that day was about 25k lbs as I recall

[@matthewbomberger1774]

thats not 40000 pounds that is maybe 5-7 thousand pounds tops

[@mcvennison1101]

What a joke. Good job with your net 🤣🤣🤣 and they blame a crashing salmon population climate change 🙄 🤣

[@jeremythompson1593]

WOW That was freakin Awesome to watch!! I love watching stuff like this! I was lucky enough to grow up around guns, hunting, fishing ect…. But I’ve always worked hard to better my life and set an example for my younger generation…. But that’s just how I was raised… So many of today’s youth are so freakin lazy and don’t want to do crap, but yet still expect to have everything given to them drives me crazy….

[@pinkadam8989]

why did you irrelevantly bring your life story into a video about fishing lol

[@johnstone210]

That log ,was it a tag and release..????

[@peteparker7003]

Nice catch of Dogs! How many water hauls before you scored?

[@aaroncherry2993]

no water hauls that day, just pure fish!

[@trimbaker1893]

@@aaroncherry2993 tons of red jellyfish do not count...

[@dannyscott3531]

My OCD wanted to see every last fish go into the well.. I mean, c'mon man!!!! LOL

[@Raja-so6uh]

When a man knows what he's doing you just gotta pay attention and remain silent and watch lol

[@knockhello2604]

Yep

[@junior007a7]

God bless you Raj Mohan for saying that

[@pallmall7385]

Thanks for all your effort to help us get food on our tables!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@edwardvega2624]

So much blessing bro!

[@zaqs1970]

GOOD TO SEE THE GIRL ALSO WORKS JUST LIKE THOSE GUYS....REAL HARD WORK

[@knockhello2604]

Yup

[@northleftdirt1122]

Now I can see why our salmon fishery is shut down to recreational angling, makes sense.

[@Bob-vc6ug]

Where do you live?

[@northleftdirt1122]

@@Bob-vc6ug British Columbia

[@tigersadful]

Dạo này có gì mới không?

[@charlielang1704]

What does a hatchery in Sitka Alaska have to do with Canadas poorly managed fisheries?

[@jasonlelwoj5781]

My friend I was at Alaska doing the same things, we were pulling out 7 thousand pounds a day for almost 5 months!! 😅😅

[@smyers820gm]

What’s the guy doing with the long pole with the ball on the end?

[@Rico-fj7sn]

What is the stick for if i may ask hitting the wather.... and thats a very good catch congratz

[@danielspencer5855]

It's called a plunger. Basically it makes noise and bubbles to help keep the fish away from the open end of the net.

[@soldtobediers]

Wouldn't wanna be the poor bastard who stepped off into one of them 2 openings. Reckon all the seagulls were @ wall mart?

[@kenpohanis5211]

I’m thinking that’s where the saying comes from ”down the hatch!” 😃

[@soldtobediers]

@@kenpohanis5211 Yeah! Reckon walking the plank's a cleaner drowning than that muck.

[@ploplo4871]

what

[@ploplo4871]

@@kenpohanis5211 AZ

[@ploplo4871]

@@kenpohanis5211 àAaà!I

[@OneBlueFroggy]

Why do the fish bleed? The water in the hold is so bloody, why is that? Is that Roe and not blood? I am not seeing a lot of by-catch that others are complaining about. I found this to be an interesting and informative video, thank you for sharing, and answering questions, really helpful.

[@juantwotree5710]

What's the haul? How much do they get paid per pound? If anyone knows, thanks

[@dangraf3504]

Roy Scheider said it best ,” your gonna need a bigger boat “.

[@eissejdelarmente3360]

Wow😱😱😱 That was a lot of 🦈🦈🦈🐟🐟🐟 early boundery. 😂👍👌👏

[@yosoyboricuaSD]

What the guy with the long stick doing looks like he's punching the water with a boxing glove at the end of the stick

[@danbraun8430]

javier S D I was wondering the same fucken thing 😂

[@gglen2141]

@@danbraun8430 I'm guessing it's a noise maker to keep the fish away from the freedom end of the net.

[@danbraun8430]

Graeme Glen oh I bet you are right, I never thought of that 👍

[@bradgibson1966]

It's a plunger, imagine a toilet plunger but about 18 feet long and made of metal. It's used to make noise to keep the fish away from the boat.

[@franciscogilroja4447]

Un buen trabajo se nota que son profesionales

[@cuocsongnhasanomy5642]

So amazing how great it is. Love it, thanks. Like

[@windycitygaming8839]

911 operator: What's your emergency? Salmon: A fisherman stepped on my head!

[@detectingrose2221]

So what was the one guy what looked line a plunger kept stabbing the water it was very interesting how every body works togather and know how to do the net so it's ready for next time and I never thought of catching a log hope it did not tear the nets up thanks for showing how it's done. Awesome job good team work

[@kellylave13]

Waiting for the same reply here... great team indeed

[@sp0ons2]

The plunger is shaped to project a loud 'pop' down into the water in order to scare the fish back into the net. Before the half-purse (when the rings come up and are pinned with the hook) there are plenty of places for the fish to escape. The plunger guy tries to prevent that. Some boats even have a guy plunge at the stern before the gear has started to come over the block.

[@rezarhodes3865]

So what was the total for that day when you finished sorting? One or 2 more of those and the decks gonna be loaded

[@aaroncherry2993]

We loaded the boat with about 60k lbs of salmon

[@cammontreuil7509]

@@aaroncherry2993 I wouldn't consider a Chum a salmon. Salmon is a fish people love to eat.

[@danielspencer5855]

@@cammontreuil7509 If you were to look up the definition of "salmon" I don't think it would include "a fish people love to eat"

[@cammontreuil7509]

@@danielspencer5855 in the true sence you are correct. Salmon is a generic term that the uninformed have been brainwashed to believe is one fish. Chum/Dog salmon are not common table fare. You will see this fish sold at Asian markets, but not at your local Safeway.

[@nteifesinachiemmanuel201]

Good job, I would like to join this amazing fishing

[@peeweebarney]

It would be nice if they add another camera attached to the little boat so we can see how it drags the net back out into the ocean.

[@chrisgridley1937]

What is the guy doing with the pole hitting the water?

[@carlreinkemeyer3848]

he plunges to keep the fish in the net, because there is a gap in that area where the two ends of the net meets.

[@TognaEm]

Chris Gridley it’s known as the “idiot stick” because it doesn’t do anything at all. Skippers just hate seeing their crew stand around.

[@stevie5042]

Now that's team work!!

[@janesmith1008]

what's the white foam left in the water after the salmon are on the boat?

[@Torthetamebadger]

If you want to see more than a winsch pulling a net, scroll to 18:50 first fishes appear hahaha

[@wrenchaholic]

no. the first fish actually appears at 2:59

[@TokenTombstone]

@@wrenchaholic Think of all the innocents tame badger has deceived.

[@peteparker7003]

The stick is to make noise to keep the fish in net before it is closed

[@philipkeeler9997]

That's pretty funny.

[@born2soon]

What is the yellow/blue guy doing with that prod?

[@TYRANTS-EXPOSED]

You guys are going to drop the ring hook one of these days. 😂

[@johnveenendaal1748]

Hai , whats is the Guy doing with the pole ?

[@azalismooc62]

I wonder too...

[@MADDLADO1]

At the end of the pole is a cup that when rammed quickly into the water, makes noise that scares the fish away from the only place they can escape, until they finish pulling the net closed .

[@thomream1888]

@@MADDLADO1 Thank you, was really curious what he was doing!

[@islaniodesouzasilvaislanio7776]

Show de bola parabéns pelo vídeos 🖒🖒🖒🖒

[@jc422]

whats the long pole ? and why is the guy spiring the water with it ?

[@kiyoshiotda442]

Can anyone comment on what the crewmember is doing in the first few seconds of the video is doing, hitting the water with what looks like a wad at the end of a pole? Is that bai?

[@smokster0604]

Do they need a OSHA 30 hour course...

[@se7enPHse7en]

That fish on the top left corner has to go through all of this again... 29:01

[@johnnygee5639]

Someone missed the part where the cork or leads guy was post to call out "Giller" and then the web guy was post to handle that haha!

[@cheggs04]

Hi everybody. How is there enough room on the boat for all them fish.. ?

[@johnwoltmann1897]

What were they doing with gaffing motion?

[@davidbarros7143]

que trabajo cordinado exelente pesca y muy buenos trabajadores

[@gimmeabreakplease2521]

I worked a seiner southeast forty years ago. Those boys just made some money - no jellies either - damn.

[@tibuflavius]

One of those catches is over 100.000$?

[@roygbiv330]

how many hours do they put the nets in the water? 2 - 3 hours? or 24 hours?

[@aaroncherry2993]

Each set is usually 30 minutes long

[@PedroPeyolo]

What was that white foam next to boat ???

[@dericbarnwell1477]

looks like bycatch was octopus, flounder/halibut, and other juvenile fish. and the bycatch that went overboard was alive. (unlike earlier comment stating otherwise)

[@aaroncherry2993]

It's hard to minimize bycatch in a narrow inlet. Flounders are tough fish and have a 95% survival rate when thrown back in ocean. Jellyfish are everywhere, all the time. Very annoying I must say.

[@naturalmystics-kd9vt]

You are a smart thinker thank you

[@MrPierreLebon]

*Feeling a bit silly now, with my sportfishing "catch and release" mentality....*

[@rezarhodes3865]

This was mainly pink salmon which i wouldn't catch for sport or keep anything more than bait. Now if you are catching cutthroat or sockeye and releasing the smaller guys in hopes too hope it gets larger the next time someone catches it... That's good sportsmanship

[@philipkeeler9997]

@@rezarhodes3865 These were Chum. (as per the description). Pinks usually weigh no more than 5-6 lbs.

[@dongargon763]

It all helps ,it’s the right attitude to have ,commercial fishing has destroyed many of the fisheries,they are trying these days a bit better but we are just taking too much ,catch your own

[@mattsfuckingchannel6615]

Can someone tell me what the guy with the weighted pole is for?

[@lenledwidge5367]

What is the one guy doing with the long pole?

[@shananewell6130]

Damn I think it's time to get a bigger boat with a bigger tank inside of it lot of fish

[@cubmixit]

Funny comments from you “fishies”... it’s life... these hard working guys are making a living and support their local community. And feeding a lot of people.

[@daviddykehouse5553]

All i see are a bunch of dipshits netting fish

[@cubmixit]

Yep- but still working hard and too many fishies making dumbass comments....

[@MrTvs700]

Whats the name of the hotrod boat? Bingodopper? I'm curious why it sounds so tough? Does it help scare the fish into the net.

[@timmayer8723]

Scott Acheson No, but the noise gets their attention. The sound of the engine in the smaller boat tells me it's a small diesel attached directly to an all aluminum hull and super structure. It is a nerve wracking sound.

[@buckethead1473]

Gotta ask what’s the guy hitting the water for with the pole

[@tdiepeve]

Next time you order salmon at a restaurant and it comes with a boot mark on its face - it came from this boat.

[@johnnygee5639]

If you order Chum from a restaurant, your a f**king idiot and you should do a little research before you order Salmon again. The one thing you might order from I high end restaurant would be and caviar / the eggs from this type of salmon. So unless your a plant or a cat/dog then I don't recommend ordering Chum / dog Salmon from any restaurant. Sorry for being so direct but I work in this fishery and to come off as if they ar stepping in the fish on purpose is a very improper statement and these guys are busting there ass. Let alone people don't usually eat the meat of these salmon, mainly the eggs. You want good salmon then order Sockeye (Red) Salmon or King Salmon or Coho (silver) Salmon. Stick to those 3 then you will have a good meal but don't order Chum (dog) Salmon or Humpy's (pink) Salmon. Have a good day!