Posted on 05/26/2021 12:54:41 PM PDT by nickcarraway
New fishing restrictions and windy weather got the salmon season off to a rocky start, but local fishermen say their recent catch has been really good.
For the last couple of days, they've been busy off-loading their catch at the Santa Cruz Harbor.
Commercial king salmon fishermen coming in with their catch and lining up to unload it all. Getting them in ice ready to be shipped off to market after a pretty good haul these last few days.
"Anywhere from 20-to-60 somewhere in that range. It seems to be slowing down now," said Scott Edson, Commercial Fisherman.
Catching salmon may be slowing down but at H&H Fresh Fish, it's been busier than ever.
Cutting up fish for its 1,000 subscribers-and none of it goes to waste.
"The salmon are beautiful and a little fatty. Yesterday, I was getting 12 pounds on average, so that's up from the ten's," said Heidi Rhodes, H&H Fresh Fish, co-owner.
Currently, retail prices are quite high, anywhere from $25-to-to $30 a pound. Fishermen are selling them off the docks with prices ranging from $1-to-$15 a pound and consumers are buying them up.
"I can't fish! My boat broke. I got to buy it," said David Jonas, of Santa Cruz.
"Great taste! Everyone's grilling around the house and it was my turn to start doing it, so I got myself a nice piece here," said Steve Cortez of Watsonville.
Salmon Season got off to a rocky start on May 1, due to strong winds that kept most boats from leaving the harbor, and it's been like that through the season.
"Two more days after today and then we'll have to take a 20-day break and then we'll get back at it. I think I'm ready for a break. it's been a busy couple of days," Edson said.
And some of the big buyers aren't purchasing right now because the market is so flooded, so, they'll wait for the prices to drop before making their move.
Yum! I’ve been catching Stripers, also yummy. Oh and I love to clean fish. A little weird, I know.
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