2025 Spring Troll Salmon 2025 Trip 1

I got to the point where I felt a sense of readiness.

It was a crazy winter selling direct to so many people. The albacore tuna can sales were off the roof! Amazing canned albacore and salmon sales were happening since getting off my last tuna trip in October of 2024. We put up 30 tons and are feeling the need for more. We are shipping cans all over the USA every day the US Post Office is open. This daily shipping must be converted to a weekly shipping schedule while I am out collecting Salmon to have put into cans and then ship to you the end customer. This story is what I must go through in order to get to the point of ability to send you a can….either I or my wife Kristi does all the shipping. Lately we have had an assistant helping us with the packing and we will be forever grateful to Gary Perry for this help!!

The boat, the supplies, myself, my home, Our son Zac and his self and his home….There was a lot to do. It all must be complete for an easy going trip.

We departed at 8am on April 9th to motor to Charleston and fill with ice, then turn back up toward the Banks for the opener. Charleston is a few hours running time south of Winchester Bay.

Once we had the 3 and a half tons of ice onboard we began our journey toward the banks. Arrival was about 9pm. We set ourselves adrift. Lined up for a sunrise gear set at the spot chosen.

Tomorrows forecast was for 25 knot sustained and 30 gusts. Gale warning. South winds in a prevailing north wind area.

I have my 20 year old son Zac with me. He has been crabbing on a commercial crab boat all winter and feels strong. I have been selling tuna and eating a lot of Doritos. We took Seanna. She showed as much excitement as I did with the phrase “On the boat!! Lets go fishing”…Wiggly and tail wagging excitement!!

We had to dodge a lot of crab gear on the way south. Icing was routine.  Off we went. It was already blowing from the south so the trip went pretty quick with the wind pushing us along.

Day 1 we set up at the south end of the south banks. The up tac gave us a few fish!! Easy rolling that way, we had to engage the trolling valve to slow us down to tac speed. Run down into the engine room and move a lever to the EXACT needed spot…..over and over again to find that spot….up and down the ladder..take a look…see the gear..watch the SOG…(speed over ground) to get the exact right speed.

WIND

Lol. It got really loud. Rigging was singing and it was difficult to keep our hats on….Rippin!

This is a 19 ton fish hold  wood vessel with a round bottom. No rolling chalks. During Salmon season we use stabilizers, but they are small and have a somewhat effect but it is nominal. Rolly Polly!! I think it is made for best travel when FULL. One semi trailer truck full of tuna makes this vessel ride really nice. We got a few tons of ice…

Once trolling, the slide up toward the north in this south wind went easy. 6 beautiful fish.

The turn south is difficult to explain.. This turn defines “fishable” If I cannot make the turn and make it work….we must simply continue on toward the north and wait for better conditions. take whatever we can get…or quit and set ourselves adrift.

It worked out. The mash against the waves was just to the point of ability on keeping a somewhat steady 3 knots going forward with 6 wires in the water, 4 spreads/hooks per wire. But wow did we have to grind against it. Every move around was a dance of difficulty, but not accepted as such. For me it hurt!! Its like yelling at everything all the time. Very intense. My body remembered tho! My muscles and body remembers and just goes back to work. It worked!! Everything keeps working. Not just the machinery of the ship, but my body and the machinery in it. Lol. For that I am very grateful!

The day continued on and the intense winds never really beat us. Zac and I prevailed, Seanna was accepting of it all. Hunkered down on the mash against it and out looking for treats on the easy slides with the wind at our backs….She barked at us a lot. Lol. “What the actual FUCK do you want??’ Is what I kept wondering because she was so happy.

We finished day one with 33 beautiful salmon and I figure average to be 12 pounds dressed. Some over 20 but many smalls near 8 pounds and mediums around 10.

There was about…..4 or 5 other boats around. I know we got beat by Aiden on the TNT. He is  really hard to keep up with! I was wishing for my buddy Zeke on the Sunset Charge but he was coming down from a long ways away north, mashing against this south wind and looking as he came…My friend Brandon from Winchester Bay on the Brandywine had immediate autopilot problems and was fishing solo, so he headed back. Jay never made it. Triggerfish held back from Charleston. Nobody other than Brandon from Winchester Bay or Charleston….Lots of guys did not make day one to the banks.

I blew it…..I was thinking that I better check out the North bank on day 2 so when at the top of our tac I just kept going…it was easy going up with the wind at our backs. I was exhausted anyways…just keep riding up the hill. Fine. We got up there and shut down. 15 miles north of the previous good fishing area. Dinner was  fried chicken, baked potatos and green beans.

FISHING RULE NUMBER ONE…DO NOT LEAVE FISH TO FIND FISH!!

I broke that rule! It took until 1pm to get back to the fish on day 2.  Arrival with zero at 1pm…..15 by dark. Still got ruff ass but wind from the north today…..BLOWING!!

$#@%^!!

Lol…..bet I do that again some day.

Day 3. It was WINDY! Geeze. Where is the break here???!!! GRIND all day with multiple attempts at many different angles….over and over…insanity defined!!

Boats EVERYWHERE in the morning and spread out and ultimately gone by 6ish….then 7ish…still stuck at 10 fish. Check forecast…worse tomorrow!! 30kt!!

@!#$@#$!!!! “Zac we are OUTTA HERE!!”

Super surprise to him….Had him….(And Maddie his girlfriend….buggin…”when you coming home???…lol!!) Convinced we would ride this out for 5 fishing days….maybe go to a different port….come home in like 30 days…..LOL!!

OUTTA HERE! Pull the gear and then we will pull the stabilizers so we can blast toward home full speed…..Take advantage of Sunday for Dock Sales because buyers will not commit to a price and the only price is a measly one….FORGET it!!

Short supply. Supply dictates price. Lots of people wanting. NOT to take advantage, but we will no longer be taken advantage of either!! I got 12 dollars a pound back in 2012 on these Oregon Troll Caught Chinook salmon during the Springtime opener. It is 2025!! I heard $11.50 from Fathom Seafoods. $12 from another buyer for a limited amount. Told them to take a hike!! Raise your price to $14 wholesale. Otherwise I am selling direct to public for only $1 more that what I consider wholesale value. So be it!!

Sold 40 today at $15 per whole fish pound and will sell the rest tomorrow.

THANKS for reading this!!

Support your salmon hatcheries. They work!!