Getting chummy off Alki Point

Seems like a distant memory, but the sun WAS out for a while Monday morning – and these photos sent by Alki’s Bob Bollen (thank you!) are proof. He spotted the Endurance and Quandary out fishing Monday morning off Alki Point. According to this state bulletin, it’s chum-salmon time. (But we will completely confess to being fishing-expertise-deficient, despite having extensively trawled the state and tribal websites, so if you think/know these vessels were doing something else, please advise!)

7 Replies to "Getting chummy off Alki Point"

  • Andy Rottler November 11, 2008 (3:06 pm)

    You are correct, they are fishing for chum salmon. However they are purse seiners not trawlers. I purse seiner extends a net our from the boat lengthwise in a straighline or slight curve. One side of the net floats up on the surface, supported by floats. The other side extends down underwater to a lead line that extends the length of the net. The fish swim into the openned net and at the same time the fisherman gradually bring the two ends of the long net together buy pulling a line the runs the length of the net at the bottom. Pulling this line closes the net so the fish are trapped in “purse” that is then lifted on board the boat.

    I hope this helps.

  • WSB November 11, 2008 (3:20 pm)

    Thanks – I knew they weren’t trawlers (a member of the household worked in the Alaskan factory-fishing industry for a while long ago), that was just my lame attempt at creative vaguely fishing-related verbiage; suppose I should change it to “fishing” … THANK YOU for the additional information! – TR

  • marty November 11, 2008 (3:43 pm)

    Those boats are million-dollar operations. With boat, fuel and crew expenses I don’t see how they can make much money when chum don’t fetch top dollar in the market.

  • Huindekmi November 12, 2008 (7:37 am)

    All this fishing lingo is going to drive me in-seine.

  • miws November 12, 2008 (11:57 am)

    That pun rilly smelt, Huindekmi! ;)

    .

    Mike

  • Walt November 12, 2008 (7:05 pm)

    Get these indians out of our waters they are taking to much salmon we have repaid them enough NO MORE

  • gary November 23, 2008 (3:51 pm)

    These guys are not native, there the local white guys trying to make ends meet, feed people and make money for the family. I guess they should be invesment brokers, instead of working there butts off in all weather for six fishing days a year, for 90 cents a pound, and as far as the natives go sir, your family could have been one of the families that the tribes helped when you landed at alki and the whole party about died, get over it the sound is dying as it is, we all lose. gary

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