Foul Weather FISHING, Gillnetting Salmon in Bristol Bay Alaska

Chasing salmon during stormy weather in the Ugashik district of Bristol bay Alaska. We are one of ~25 boats that brave this foul weather in the second half of the 2022 record setting sockeye season. Bristol Bay has the largest wild sockeye salmon run on EARTH!
You folks have been asking for some crappy weather content, here it is!
Thanks to / eliaas.sch for the use of his wave photo. Yes, this thumbnail pic wasn't actually taken in Ugashik!
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[@maryveit7765]

Hey! You're in reverse. ILOL!! Thanks for putting together this real-life, crappy wx video. Your wheelhouse is fantastic, your commentary is genius, and I love that we got to see the Captain's zero-privacy bunk. Go ahead, have another tasty adult beverage. You deserve it. 😍

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

That tasty adult bevy line…I stole that from you! 😃

[@tristantaylor808]

Great video! I was out there in 2022 on FV Lizzy with Capt. Dave Iyani. We splashed in the Naknek, headed up to the Nushagak for half of the season, then finished off in the Naknek district. It was my first season and this video brings back good memories.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Glad it was a good experience for you!

[@markmaccani9411]

Great video. Looked thin for boats out there. At least you had a solid platform that could handle the weather. Couldn't have been the most fun sets for sure.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Yeah we stuck it out long than some! A buddy of mine caught more that twice what we did that day. He fished closer to the line and had a “D” permit so had more gear also….

[@stevet8121]

Very interesting to a California guy who gets sea sick. You have some mad boating skills, Captain! I think I better stick to flossing Reds on the Kenai.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Hey I want to hit the Kenai too!

[@MarineJetPower]

Strong Work!

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Thanks @MarineJetPower!

[@torxxx1]

i hate to say it, I miss those rough days in the bay.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

😂😂😂

[@brendanwoerner3352]

Interesting. Way different than the Bering sea!

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

So, if you ask me...which you didn't 😆, Bristol is part of the Bering sea. More to your point though, yes we are well inshore from where the crab fleet does most of their business. We are almost always within sight of land.. ready to duck-and-cover when it gets really nasty out.

[@justinsalaskanadventures]

Love the boat! Fished 2021, was a great time!

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Thanks! How come you didn’t fish this season?

[@justinsalaskanadventures]

@@SaltWaterSalmon my real job is a tug captain in anchorage but I still live in king salmon, didn’t fish this year because the real job was too demanding for summertime, next year is a different story though..

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

@@justinsalaskanadventures oh yeah, I get it. At least you're on the water!

[@justinsalaskanadventures]

@@SaltWaterSalmon well I’m always flying around out in the bay, keep your eye out, and be safe on your off season!

[@phex5205]

Fished here the last two years. Literal hell weather it has seemed. Hopefully next season will be better. I’ve heard Bristol bay used to be relatively good weather all season.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Honestly I'm probably not the best guy to ask...for the past 3 years I've been inside a top house. The previous 23 years I was exposed on the flying bridge 😆 so it's my opinion the wx sucked before! Lol

[@Ambition-AK]

You should put a pair of Double D's on that boat! It'll help with more drag when it's windy.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

OMG the wind pushes this big girl around SO bad!

[@harvey_weenstain8857]

50 cents baby 💪

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

😅🤪😭

[@GM-md5ss]

RIP Cptn Lance Norby 7-1-21

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Ugh, that was a bad one! Mi no gusto!

[@atsra659]

Love the video, what would be a good way to get on a salmon boat? Id be interested in any kind really. Ive worked every season since 2019, on factory trawlers and this last season i worked on a long liner for pacific cod. Thats like 8 seasons i think or 9 in a row not even sure, ive lost track. havent done salmon yet but id be willing to give it a shot.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Hey, curious if you've spent time on the deck of those trawlers/longliners? The hub for the fishery I'm in is Naknek, by far. Dillingham has many many boats too but Naknek and King Salmon are tied by a road system and have the lion's share of the boats and services. None of these smaller catcher boats have a hiring division or office, they are all owned by families or single folks. Best place to find work is on one of several Facebook pages, (i inow it sounds stupid but, if you're not in the clique you gotta start somewhere, and FB is free). Bristol Bay Fisherman, Bristol Bay Exchange, and Bristol Bay, Ak: Jobs Rumors & B.S. Folks are always posting (preseason) looking for crew. Alternatively you can fly to King Salmon/Naknek and "pound the docks" (no docks really, just boatyards). Good Luck.

[@atsra659]

@@SaltWaterSalmon I got some deck time on the longliner. It was an alaskan leader boat, this last B season, did dipnetting, gear line, but mostly factory which is where they need all the power.l, it all counts as deck time though. Did 3 contracts in a row, probably about 75 days total. On the trawlers I usually work in case up and factory, it's hard to get deck on those boats because they got everyone all picked already and you kind of have to know someone on deck. which sucks. Do you only do salmon season or do you do something else during A season?

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

@@atsra659 I only do salmon in June/July.

[@Its_uriahwood777]

I saw you yesterday in Portland and it was by the gorge Im pretty sure

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Sounds about right! I was in that area!

[@Its_uriahwood777]

@@SaltWaterSalmon I did not think you were gonna answer lol

[@Its_uriahwood777]

Also I watch you on youtube

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

@@Its_uriahwood777 I try to answer everyone…unless they are rude. Yeah I had to run some boat parts over to air cargo yesterday morning. Then back out to Hood River to finish up work on a rental…in Anchorage now, headed to Bristol Bay tomorrow.

[@Its_uriahwood777]

@@SaltWaterSalmon Nice hope you have fun

[@Bristolbae]

Is it hard to pick from the bow when it's blowing? I figured that would be the go to in foul weather.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Yeah, I get too much action on the bow because it’s so lite up there! Hard for the guys to stand up when it’s snotty out.

[@Bristolbae]

@@SaltWaterSalmon Yeah I wondered about that... Same problem with the other new 17' wides from Madden too. They're so light in the bow! I suppose there are pros and cons to all of the new designs..

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

@@Bristolbae at least the Madden ones have room for four guys up there! Mine not so much, due to a skinnier bow. Which also affects the focsle living quarters…

[@Kebun_idaman]

Great guys... Greetings from Aceh

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Hey thank you so much for watching? Did you feel that earthquake last week or are you too far away from it? I know it was on the other side of the island…

[@johnkroetch4559]

Just rewatched this one. Why don't you pick with bow and gently throttle into it? Too bumpy on deck?

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Essentially, yes. And the crew don’t like picking on the bow, especially in big weather. It’s just too much wave action up there. Definitely lose more fish picking off the stern though…

[@Rett_Fra_havet]

where can I buy a boat like that ???

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Custom built for me by Peregrine Boats in Eagle River Alaska! Owner is Jeff Johnson.

[@LTD99649]

6-8 feet? closer to 6-8 inches than feet.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

Roger

[@eddysantana1504]

Waoooo. I. Want to know more

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

There are tons of folks looking for good crew every year Eddie, come up next summer!

[@eddysantana1504]

@@SaltWaterSalmon okay I’m getting ready for the month of July to go with my family and do some research on fishing and buying a small boat.

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

@@eddysantana1504 nice! Good luck 👍

[@eddysantana1504]

@@SaltWaterSalmon l want to know how much a small boat of 25 feet. More or less. Costs me

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

@@eddysantana1504 www.dockstreetbrokers.com look for boats here and other brokerages…

[@oceansockeye]

The weather doesn't matter just kill fish

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

😝 I like your style @oceansockeye!

[@oceansockeye]

@@SaltWaterSalmon this season was crazy weather but can't let that stop you from getting over 200 thousand pounds👍😎

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

@@oceansockeye true, true. I heard some real hero stories from this year…boats with 500-700k! 😳

[@oceansockeye]

@@SaltWaterSalmon yea it was a great season price was ok looking forward to seeing what next season brings us

[@SaltWaterSalmon]

@@oceansockeye agreed