I've been working without a single break since 5, and it is now 1:30 of the next day. Anyone remember that I was geeking out about a 26 tote day?
We have over 50. I'm thinking 55 or more, but we won't know until later today. And it wasn't just us either... our neighbors on either side were similarly struck by fish.
Several of our nets broke from having so many fish in them. There were nets out here that filled up more than 3 totes by the time one was done picking them, only for the net to be filled with another tote's worth when they leave for the next net. One of the boat crews I talked to, with the best fish-picker on site, hadn't even visited 4 of their 9 nets until the pull because there were so many fish. There were so many fish that we began to pull a full 2 and a half hours ahead of schedule. We even barely made the pull (infact still had one net in the water after pulling time). 'Barely' meaning by the skin of the teeth (which is pretty thin skin, doesn't take insults well)
My father, a late 50 year old who has fished all his life has never seen a day remotely like this.
My mother's brother, a 60 year old has fished all his life has never seen a day remotely like this.
My father's best friend, a 70 year old who has been fishing since the dinosaurs roamed the earth could draw only a single similarity to it, that in Bristol Bay and with 2 nets (and not nearly so many total fish).
We have 33 nets. The fish in these nets were being picked so quickly that we soon ran out of totes. The processing plant was so over-burdened that it not only ran out of ice: it ran out of totes used to transport the fish. We had so many fish and 3 extra helpers with which to do it that even with me assisting my mother in bringing totes to and from the canary (by taking a second vehicle and swapping at a halfway point): They brought full totes in at twice the rate me and my mother brought empty totes in.
Now.... you'd think I'd be completely ecstatic... after all I've made more today that in most of the rest of the season combined. You'd be wrong. There's something so ridiculously incredible about getting 50+ totes that it can shut even me up. Infuckingcredible.
We have over 50. I'm thinking 55 or more, but we won't know until later today. And it wasn't just us either... our neighbors on either side were similarly struck by fish.
Several of our nets broke from having so many fish in them. There were nets out here that filled up more than 3 totes by the time one was done picking them, only for the net to be filled with another tote's worth when they leave for the next net. One of the boat crews I talked to, with the best fish-picker on site, hadn't even visited 4 of their 9 nets until the pull because there were so many fish. There were so many fish that we began to pull a full 2 and a half hours ahead of schedule. We even barely made the pull (infact still had one net in the water after pulling time). 'Barely' meaning by the skin of the teeth (which is pretty thin skin, doesn't take insults well)
My father, a late 50 year old who has fished all his life has never seen a day remotely like this.
My mother's brother, a 60 year old has fished all his life has never seen a day remotely like this.
My father's best friend, a 70 year old who has been fishing since the dinosaurs roamed the earth could draw only a single similarity to it, that in Bristol Bay and with 2 nets (and not nearly so many total fish).
We have 33 nets. The fish in these nets were being picked so quickly that we soon ran out of totes. The processing plant was so over-burdened that it not only ran out of ice: it ran out of totes used to transport the fish. We had so many fish and 3 extra helpers with which to do it that even with me assisting my mother in bringing totes to and from the canary (by taking a second vehicle and swapping at a halfway point): They brought full totes in at twice the rate me and my mother brought empty totes in.
Now.... you'd think I'd be completely ecstatic... after all I've made more today that in most of the rest of the season combined. You'd be wrong. There's something so ridiculously incredible about getting 50+ totes that it can shut even me up. Infuckingcredible.
Please give me a home where cloud buffalo roam
Where the dear and the strangers can play
Where sometimes is heard a discouraging word
But the skies are not stormy all day
