by Tele | Apr 23, 2011 | Commercial Fishing, F/V Nerka
[Part 1 of “How Nerka Got Her Sea Legs Back” can be viewed here.] “Uh-oh,” Joel said. “Hang on!” We surged into a sea of whitecaps, as clearly delineated from the calm water behind as if a line was drawn between the two. I braced myself...
by Tele | Apr 20, 2011 | Commercial Fishing, F/V Nerka
Creatures removed from their natural habitat are a sad sight, and I feel the same way about boats out of water. Perched on spindly prosthetic legs of steel tripods and wooden blocks, they loom gangly and uncertain, vulnerable bellies exposed...
by Tele | Mar 30, 2011 | Alaska, Commercial Fishing, F/V Nerka, From the Galley, Hooked Favorites, Women in Fishing
There’s a treacherous voice in my head. It maintains a mosquito-like buzz in the back of my brain, an oppressive equation: “You are X, so you need to do/dress/behave Y.” You know the one. Maybe you’ve struggled with your own version. Maybe someone...
by Tele | Mar 10, 2011 | Alaska, Commercial Fishing, F/V Nerka, Salmon Trolling, Women in Fishing
Whenever I tell people that I’m a commercial fisherman, they’re full of questions. “That’s cool – are you the cook?” (Sometimes, when I have to be, and much more than just that.) “Aren’t you awfully small for that work?” (This is...
