Commercial Fishing

[Skillet]

After we froze the day's catch, phase 2 of freezer work began. To preserve these in the best possible condition and prevent freezer burn, they all needed to have a thin layer of glaze applied as a barrier to the oxygen.  Then, back onto the plates to cure the glaze.

[Skillet]

It was rare to hit the rack before midnight, and after 3-ish hours in the blast freezer I was ready to sack out.  Thankfully, the guys I fished with always had a hot meal ready for me when I got out.
I think the finished product is with all the effort, though.  Wild, sustainable and chemical free.  Pot fishing these guys is virtually impact-free compared to trawling them up off the ocean floor, and keeping them alive until we popped the heads prevents the enzymatic decomp you see in other prawns.  They look great and I  can tell you they taste pretty darn good, too. 

All in all, a lot of work - but worth it.

[h20hunter]

 

[WAElkhunter89]

Those shrimp look fantastic. Eagerly awaiting the November salmon run, been watching the Sponsorship board everyday 

[Skillet]

Thanks fellas, happy to share the journey.

Going to get out there soon and see what the winter line has to offer up in terms of kings. I have to warn, though, that fish are scarce and prices are sky-high right now.  If I get into a pile of fish, I might be able to do a limited group buy, but it will be short-notice and my long-standing commercial customers get first dibs on these fish.  Just wanted to get that out there to keep everybody in the know. 

I will, however, be doing a group buy for coho filets (vacpac and some glazed), spot prawns, and possibly halibut portions.  Stay tuned!

[Sitka_Blacktail]

Once the shrimp were tailed and sorted (with eggs/no eggs), my stint in the freezer began.  I'd lay them out on sheets and freeze them solid.

Oh man, I love shrimp eggs. First thing I do after steaming them is suck all the eggs.

[Skyvalhunter]

Do you do a group buy for the shrimp?

[Skillet]

I'm going to do a HuntWa group buy on the shrimp and some coho filets, possibly some halibut too,  just trying to get the schedule arranged. 

Once the shrimp were tailed and sorted (with eggs/no eggs), my stint in the freezer began.  I'd lay them out on sheets and freeze them solid.

Oh man, I love shrimp eggs. First thing I do after steaming them is suck all the eggs.

Shrimp eggs are pretty tasty!  The egg-on tails are much larger on average, too.

[Dhoey07]

Any idea on shrimp cost?

[hunthard]

Tag

[Boss .300 winmag]

Quick update-
Pulling into the thriving metropolis of Hydaburg on Prince of Wales island, we ran short on bait 

Anyway, fishing has been pretty decent. Doing about 240 pot lifts a day.
I will say I do like the pot fishing, and my boat is a natural pot boat.  Hmmm...

 I'll post up some pics when I get back to Sitka.  Hoping you guys are laying up the protien! 

Sure did, my freezer is full, had to buy a 7.1 cf for just the burger.😉

You draw an elephant permit??

Nope just a very large steer.😉

[Skillet]

Any idea on shrimp cost?

Working out the details still, I just arranged to ship them south on a barge line to keep the price as low as possible.  Details to follow on a new Group Buy Thread soon!

[Skillet]

Looks like I'm taking a few more days off...

"PKZ042-220515- Cape Decision to Cape Edgecumbe- 308 AM AKDT Sun Oct 21 2018
...GALE WARNING THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT....
TODAY...SE wind increasing to 35 kt. Seas 18 ft. Rain in the afternoon. .
TONIGHT...SE wind 35 kt. Seas 18 ft. Rain. .
MON...SE wind 25 kt. Seas 13 ft. Rain. .
MON NIGHT...SE gale to 40 kt. Seas 18 ft. Rain. .
TUE...S wind 30 kt. Seas 18 ft. .
WED...SE wind 30 kt increasing to storm force wind to 50 kt. Seas 16 ft building to 29 ft. .
THU...S gale to 45 kt diminishing to 25 kt. Seas 32 ft subsiding to 23 ft."

[Whitpirate]

oOOF that's some weather.

Stay safe. 

[Skillet]

It is for a boat my size.  I'm just going to double up the mooring lines, crank up the stove and hunker down.  Lots of little boat projects I can do, books to read, etc.