Wednesday, July 24 marked the start of salmon fishing by Lummi Island Wild’s co-op of owners in the annual reef-net fishery. Bob Jewell (pictured here in his fishing workshop), a life-long professional fisherman, joined a crew on opening day for the 72nd consecutive year; he first went out at age 13 with his father’s crew, and later invented the first electric-start winch.
The benefits to our chef staff of reef-netting lay ahead for several weeks after the start. Other reef-net gear operators fish alongside the Lummi Island Wild crews once August sets in, and the fishers stay active into September.
These salmon reef-net gears provide one of the most plentiful and sustainable sources for the salmon that we prepare so many different ways – year-round, but especially during this special time of the year when the day’s catch could wind up on your plate that night.
