Meet Our Fisherman
Nick Bordelon
November 3, 2011
The weather today in Port Orford in 46 degrees, south wind at 8 mph, gray skies and a constant drizzle that randomly turns into large rain drops. The roads are wet, people are indoors and the sea is at moderate 9 foot swell from the west-northwest. The smooth sea and variable southwest winds describe a fisherman’s day at work.
Port Orford Sustainable Seafood (POSS) buys local, day boat launched and caught fish. Nick Bordelon is one of our newest and courageous fleet members who choose a Captain’s life. “Nick takes impeccable care of his fish,” says Aaron Longton a fellow fleet member and Nick’s first boat Captain. With one crew member, Nick catches fish for a living and POSS brings you wild caught, Oregon coast, Pacific Ocean Chinook Salmon. Today, while at sea and on his cell phone, Nick shared his experience with me about this year’s salmon season.
“My season has been a little frustrating.” Nick says. The salmon have been more difficult to catch this year. Each day entails about 5 to 7 salmon out of an allowable catch of 20 at minimum of 24 inches. “When you lose one, that is a lot of money swimming away. I was just struggling to bring one in and it got away, swimming behind my boat, as it turns its head and looks at me. It got away” Nick explains during the interview. It is frustrating to get so close to bringing a salmon on board, just to see them get away at the last moment. This describes the struggle for survival between two competing species in the food chain.
Nick says that the catch ratio was better last year for salmon. “It is rewarding once you have the fish in the boat. There haven’t been any big days this year for Salmon. Nick has caught 45 – 50 salmon this year, his largest salmon weighing at “only 29 lbs” all here at the north beach where Elk River meets the Pacific Ocean in Port Orford, Oregon.
~ Stephanie
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