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Alaskan Fishermen, Boats and Fishing Grounds (...continued) The fishermen who fish in the Copper River District on the north coast of the Gulf of Alaska are a select group. There are 540 limited entry permits that can be fished in this area. Boats are 24-36 foot, one-man operations that fish gillnets 150-fathom (900 ft.) long and 60 meshes deep (about 26 ft.). In the spring, late summer, and fall, they fish by long line for halibut, black cod (sablefish), rockfish, and lingcod.The fishing grounds surrounding the Copper River are about 50 miles wide and approximately 20 miles from Cordova, Alaska. Cordova (pop. 2,000) is a remote fishing town on the coast of Prince William Sound, in the Gulf of Alaska. Copper River salmon are the earliest running and one of the highest quality wild salmon harvested in the Gulf of Alaska. These salmon travel up to 300 miles to their spawning grounds. The longer the journey, the higher in fat and Omega-3 oils, providing a firm texture and rich flavor. Three species of salmon travel the waters of the Copper; King, Red, and Silver. King or Chinook salmon have a bright orange flesh very high in oil and flavor. Kings run from mid-May to mid-June. Red or sockeye salmon are a rich red with very firm flesh. Reds are abundant from mid-May thru late July. Silver or Coho salmon have a more orange flesh and milder flavor. Silvers start arriving early August and taper off by October. The salmon of the Copper River District, managed by the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game for long-term sustainability, are caught wild by family fishermen, and are hand-selected to ensure premium quality. 1. Map of the Copper and Bering Rivers fishing area 2. Photo of the town of Cordova, Alaska from the harbor |