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October 17, 2003Grim remindersABOARD THE F/V EXITO, BRISTOL BAY, BERING SEA -- Mostly it's been a day of bad news and grim reminders. We're moving into the teeth of a 35-knot wind, considered a gale. The weather, which finally began to look a bit promising yesterday, has turned sour. The boat grunts up the swells, ranging from 10- to 15-feet, pauses at the crest and plunges down the backside. While it does this, it pitches side to side, occasionally as much as 10 degrees. Think of the most stomach-churning roller coaster you've ridden. Now ride it for four days straight. It's a little like that. Once more, the catch has been lousy. We are a little below average compared with the rest of the fleet, but no one seems to be doing particularly well. Total estimated catch so far is 2.2 million pounds of crab for the entire fleet. With an overall quota of 14.5 million pounds, this could extend the season until the middle of next week. We'll know more tomorrow. Erik Snyder, the only greenhorn deckhand, already looks dead on his feet. The deckhands worked all night retrieving pots, sorting crab and then dropping the pots in new places. Right now they are going to get about three hours of sleep while the Exito motors north through the storm to retrieve pots they set 36 hours ago. No one has mentioned it, but today is the two-year anniversary of Scotty Powell's death on this boat. Powell, a veteran deckhand and friend of both of the captains and two crew members currently on the Exito, was swept overboard by a 40-foot rogue wave -- a swell much more massive than the ones before or after it. A small picture of him smiling and holding a salmon hangs in the galley. One small positive note: Magone Marine out of Dutch Harbor, a company known for difficult salvage work, has towed the F/V Raven to the protected side of Amak Island. The Raven capsized two hours before the season began on Oct. 15. If the Raven is being towed, then likely it has been righted and can be saved. Comments
Hi Mike and Karen, It is cool I found your blog. My husband Ted Thacker is with the Discovery Crew. I'm not sure what boat he's on but he called me this evening from the ship phone. It is great I can get an idea of what's going on through this blog. Needless to say I am worried senseless about him being out there. Do you guys have contact with the other ships? Are you guys fairing well out on the sea? I hope so! Hang in there! Posted by: Laura Thacker at October 18, 2003 01:34 AMTo all the guys on the Stormy Sea,good crabbing and get back safe!!! Posted by: James Jendro at October 18, 2003 10:04 AMHi again Mike, If you do have the capability to get a message to the other ships and it isn't too much trouble, could you get a message to my husband, Ted Thacker, to call home again tonight? Thank you so much. That's interesting Laura- your Husband did not tell you which boat he is on - even after he called you?!? Well he's got a job to do - better wait for 3 or 4 more days, he needs to concentrate on his work, then he'll be back at the dock for unloading Posted by: Jules Verne at October 18, 2003 05:43 PMNo he didn't tell me which one! But he's part of the Discovery Channel film crew and he's supposed to call me again on Sunday evening. So I will ask him which boat then! ~Laura Posted by: Laura Thacker at October 18, 2003 06:10 PMAny updates beyond the 17th in the journals? I have a greenhorn 19 year-old son and veteran husband on a red ship called the Margun. Season is moving slow and I am not going to hear from them even by e-mail until it is over at least that is how it usually is. Hate this fishery and now I am sure my son won't just settle for salmon fishing anymore either. The "in the blood" thing is so very true. Thanks for this opportunity to hear word daily, there is really no more than a recorded fisheries announcment available.ADF&G doesn't put anything on their website pertaining to how this season is going. Posted by: C Mavar at October 18, 2003 09:13 PMHi Mike and Karen My boyfriend Brandon Mcgavran is crabbing, on the boat Bearing Star (I beleive that is the correct name). I do not know if you two are able to contact other boats, but if you can please let him know that he is in all my thoughts and I love him. Along with all the other readers, I would love to know how the catch is going beyond the 2.2 mil that was posted on the 17th's journal. Thanks so much for keeping all of us at home posted. Our thoughts and our hearts are with all the crews up there. Posted by: Michelle Delaney at October 18, 2003 11:17 PMHi there Mike, I just wanted to apologize for my frantic postings. I have spoken with my husband who convinced me to stop worrying. Thanks for a peek into what is going on out there. Good luck to everyone and I will send out good thoughts for a safe return! Mike and Karen... any skippers looking for 12 year offshore lobsterman drug/booze free can cook, many refs from able captins.1 season aboard f/v shadowfax.will be in dutch on 10/01/04.can be reached at 5088011710.can fax doc sea time. Posted by: jc hess at March 17, 2004 02:36 PMany skippers looking for 12 year offshore lobsterman drug/booze free can cook, many refs from able captins.1 season aboard f/v shadowfax.will be in dutch on 10/01/04.can be reached at 5088011710.can fax doc sea time. Posted by: jc hess at March 17, 2004 02:36 PMany skippers looking for 12 year offshore lobsterman drug/booze free can cook, many refs from able captins.1 season aboard f/v shadowfax.will be in dutch on 10/01/04.can be reached at 5088011710.can fax doc sea time. Posted by: jc hess at March 17, 2004 02:36 PMim looking to be a deckhand during the crab fishing season if anyone can give me any info Hello my name is Garrett. I am looking for any information on getting a king crab fishing job. I do not have experience, but I can cook and am a very hard worker. Posted by: Garrett at November 4, 2004 11:07 PMPost a comment
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Mike Lewis has been a reporter at the Seattle P-I for 3 1/2 years. This was his first trip to Alaska.
Karen Ducey became a staff photographer at the P-I earlier this year. Before joining the paper, she worked in and photographed Alaska's commercial fishing industry for more than a decade.
