Slow opener for Cordova fishermen seeking salmon

May 14, 2010

Fisherman Nathan Doll says some days working in an office sounds nice, but not on most days. (Rich Jordan/KTUU-DT)

by Jason Lamb
Thursday, May 13, 2010

CORDOVA, Alaska -- This year's first catch of Alaska Salmon is heading to the processing plants after the fishery opener in Cordova Thursday morning at 7:00.

By all accounts, it was a mediocre day of fishing. Several boats were back in their docks early without a whole lot of fish to show for their day's work.

Behind the rain you'll find Nathan Doll.

"We're gillnetting the Copper River Flats I guess," he said with a laugh.

He wouldn't have it any other way.

"I could just be working in an office building. Some days that seems like a really good idea but for the most part, not really," he said.

Despite the foul conditions, he says he's seen worse.

"I've been out here it was blowing 60, 70 you know. Beyond 60 it's hard to set your net even."

What he would like to see more of is salmon caught in his net.

"I've got 20 fish on board, but I've had worse first openers than that, so a couple of hours into it I'm feeling alright about it," he said.

It was a slow salmon opener in Cordova. We saw Doll cast out two sets with not very strong results.

"Thirteen reds and one small king, which isn't that exciting but like I've said, I've had first periods out here where I had 20 fish for all 12 hours. It is what it is," Doll said.

A gloomy day in the skies over the Copper River Delta turned out to be just as gloomy for the fishermen in the seas.

Salmon was being processed Thursday night down at the docks here and shipped out early Friday morning to restaurants as far away as New York City.

Contact Jason Lamb at jlamb@ktuu.com

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