First published 1998
Brad Matsen pulls readers onto the decks of Alaskan fishing vessels where fortunes rise and fall with each season. From the chaos of Bristol Bay salmon runs to the dangerous pursuit of king crab, Matsen recounts his experiences aboard crabbers, trawlers, longliners, trollers, and gillnetters. He navigates terrifying storms and celebrates exceptional catches while moving between the classic fishing ports of Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Naknek, Cordova, Petersburg, Sitka, and Seattle. These towns blend working docks with lively bars and quiet neighborhoods in portraits of frontier life. Matsen's stories span from the boom years when crab fleets generated massive wealth to the seasonal rhythms of trawler life on the open ocean. His authentic accounts capture both the brutal realities and unexpected rewards of commercial fishing in Alaska's unforgiving waters.
Genres: nature, adventure, non-fiction, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: first-hand-account, slice-of-life
Setting: Alaska, Bristol Bay, Cordova, Dutch Harbor, Kodiak, Naknek, Petersburg, Seattle, Sitka
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
223 pages · Paperback · Alaska Northwest Books