DECEMBER 2016
Incorporating
I N F O R M E D F I S H E R M E N • P R O F I TA B L E F I S H E R I E S • S U S TA I N A B L E F I S H
True north
Innovative longliner sets a sustainable course for Seattle’s Blue North Fisheries
GOING STAG
Get equipped for a solo trip BRAILER-MAKER
Homer’s Nomar has it in the bag www.nationalfisherman.com
Meet us in Seattle PACIFIC MARINE EXPO
CONTENTS
Meet the 191-foot Blue North, the Alaska cod fleet’s newest freezer-longliner. Jeff Pond photo.
NATIONAL FISHERMAN • DECEMBER 2016 • VOL. 97, NO. 8
DECEMBER
2016
Incorporating
INFORM
ED FISHE RM
EN • PRO F I TA
True north
BLE FISH ERIE
S • SUST AIN
ABLE FIS H
Innovative longliner sets course for Seattle’s Blue a sustainable North Fisherie s
GOING STAG
Get equip ped for a solo trip BRAILER-MAK
www.nationalf
isherman.com
ER Homer’s Nomar has it in the bag
Meet us in Seattle PACIFIC MARINE EXPO
Features/ Boats&Gear 28
7
28
On Deck
7
Northern Lights
Lonely hunter
A Maine bluefin tuna harpooner shares his tips for solo trips.
SeaShare delivers seafood to those in need across Alaska and the Lower 48.
34
8
Peek at Chesapeake
Science on Your Side
8
An excerpt from photographer Jay Fleming’s debut book.
38
38
Cover
4 Editor’s Log 5 Fishing Back When 6 Mail Buoy/Eileen Sobeck 9 Fo’c’sle Library 10 Washington Lookout 12 Consequences 16 Around the Coasts 23 Crew Shot of the Month 24 Market Reports
King of the north
The Blue North ushers in a new era of sustainable fishing.
46
Through the fire
Md. boatbuilder gets a little help recovering from a major loss.
50
No more marks
Last Set
How one Homer family came to sew Alaska’s favorite brailer bags.
54
Around the Yards
Bays filled in Maine; a new jet out west; Md. dory on the blocks
64
Product Roundup
An EPIRB with a 10-year battery; Inflatable folds up for storage
How and why New England fishermen target and avoid Gulf of Maine species.
34
50
Post-hurricane shellfish checkup in Florida p. 76
READER SERVICES Classified Advertiser’s Index
66 69
Table of Contents page 28: Corky Decker photo page 34: Burl Lewis photo page 38: Kevin J. Suver photo page 50: Zed Blue photo
National Fisherman (ISSN 0027-9250), December 2016, Vol. 97, No. 8, is published monthly by Diversified Business Communications, 121 Free St., P.O. Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112-7438. Subscription prices: 1 year - U.S. $22.95; 2 years U.S. $43; 3 years U.S. $62. These rates apply for U.S. subscriptions only. Add $10 for Canada addresses. Outside U.S./Canada add $25 (airmail delivery). All orders must be in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank. All other countries, including Canada and Mexico, please add $10 postage per year. For subscription information only, call: 1 (800) 959-5073. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, Maine, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes only to Subscription Service Department, P.O. Box 15116, North Hollywood, CA 91615. Canada Post International Publications Mail product (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 40028984, National Fisherman. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept. or DPGM, 4960-2 Walker Rd., Windsor, ON N9A 6J3. READERS: All editorial correspondence should be mailed to: National Fisherman, P.O. Box 7438, Portland, ME 04112-7438.