A very Target Rich Environment at DVinfo.net

David Rice · March 30th, 2009, 09:24 PM

I spent two hours Saturday filming the Sitka Sound Herring Sac Roe Fishing opener. A limited entry, gun firing start, where Commercial Fishing boats jocky for position, then race to their favorite spot. Ramming each other, and eventually running over each others gear. Here is a short sample on Youtube in HD: YouTube - 2009 Sitka Sound Herring Sac Roe Fishery in HD 1080p

Dale Guthormsen · April 1st, 2009, 08:07 AM

David,

That is just insane!!!!! Is it salmon they are netting???

David Rice · April 1st, 2009, 05:36 PM

Dale,

They are fishing for Herring, or I should say the Herring eggs which are sold to Japan at a very high price. Millions of dollars are made in a few hours of fishing. I shot 6 hours of footage in three days. Including net repair, sample taking, Birds, Sea Lions, and other pre-fishery preparations. There were around fifty fishing boats & processors in a very small area. Collisions are numerous. At to the mix, eight fish spotter planes, sea lions, whales and hundreds of Bald Eagles. I got some great shots of Bald Eagles diving into the fishing nets and stealing herring.

The Herring will begin spawning on our local beaches this week. Alaska Natives will begin harvesting some of those eggs by placing tree limbs in the ocean for the herring to spawn on, or by using throwing nets. There is so much to film here, that it's hard to decide where to point the camera.

During the last two years, National Geographic, BBC, Discovery Channel, and a French outfit had big crews here filming. No one came this year. I got it all to myself.

Alan Craven · April 1st, 2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Rice

Dale,

..............

The Herring will begin spawning on our local beaches this week. Alaska Natives will begin harvesting some of those eggs by placing tree limbs in the ocean for the herring to spawn on, or by using throwing nets. There is so much to film here, that it's hard to decide where to point the camera.

During the last two years, National Geographic, BBC, Discovery Channel, and a French outfit had big crews here filming. No one came this year. I got it all to myself.

The BBC broadcast their spectacular program of the mass herring spawning recently. It was one of a series called "Nature's Great Events".

March 30th, 2009, 09:24 PM	#1
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	A very Target Rich Environment I spent two hours Saturday filming the Sitka Sound Herring Sac Roe Fishing opener. A limited entry, gun firing start, where Commercial Fishing boats jocky for position, then race to their favorite spot. Ramming each other, and eventually running over each others gear. Here is a short sample on Youtube in HD: YouTube - 2009 Sitka Sound Herring Sac Roe Fishery in HD 1080p

April 1st, 2009, 08:07 AM	#2
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	David, That is just insane!!!!! Is it salmon they are netting??? __________________ DATS ALL FOLKS Dale W. Guthormsen

April 1st, 2009, 05:36 PM	#3
David Rice Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sitka Alaska Posts: 470	Insane ,Yes! Dale, They are fishing for Herring, or I should say the Herring eggs which are sold to Japan at a very high price. Millions of dollars are made in a few hours of fishing. I shot 6 hours of footage in three days. Including net repair, sample taking, Birds, Sea Lions, and other pre-fishery preparations. There were around fifty fishing boats & processors in a very small area. Collisions are numerous. At to the mix, eight fish spotter planes, sea lions, whales and hundreds of Bald Eagles. I got some great shots of Bald Eagles diving into the fishing nets and stealing herring. The Herring will begin spawning on our local beaches this week. Alaska Natives will begin harvesting some of those eggs by placing tree limbs in the ocean for the herring to spawn on, or by using throwing nets. There is so much to film here, that it's hard to decide where to point the camera. During the last two years, National Geographic, BBC, Discovery Channel, and a French outfit had big crews here filming. No one came this year. I got it all to myself.