Isaac Reynolds
Isaac Reynolds has been fishing for us since the earliest days of Sitka Seafood Market. Back then, we were known as Sitka Salmon Shares, and he was running a 32’ troller called the April L. I was also fishing at the time, on a smaller, slower boat named the Loon. Neither of us could handle rough seas, so we often found ourselves fishing near one another — we liked the same spots for salmon and had similar boat styles.
While the bigger trollers could power 20 hours offshore to the Fairweather Grounds, Isaac and I were more at the mercy of the weather and tides. When the wind kicked up and the seas got rough, we had to tuck into the protected inside waters. Our slow boats made even the 12-mile run from anchorage to the fishing grounds a two-hour trip — each way. From the start, Isaac was all about quality over quantity. For him, if your fish aren’t perfect, it doesn’t matter how many you catch.
After nearly a decade aboard the April L, Isaac upgraded to the F/V Alaska, a 44-foot wooden troller. It’s a sturdy, beautiful boat with classic lines — and more than capable at sea. As Isaac puts it, “It can handle way worse weather than I can, which is comforting.” With this larger vessel, he’s now able to fish through the rough winter king salmon season in Sitka Sound, getting out on the water even when smaller boats are stuck in the harbor. The winter season helps ease the pressure of the short summer run and has given Isaac more time to spend with his family in town.
But the past two summer troll seasons have come in well below the ten-year average for coho salmon, leaving many fishermen — including Isaac — spending more days on the beach. Just as he was preparing for the winter season, an engine failure brought things to a halt. He had to be towed back to town for safety, cutting his winter king season short and leaving him with the hefty and costly task of replacing his engine.
Replacing the main engine in a wooden troller is no small task. While a well-maintained engine can last up to 20,000 hours, replacements can become inevitable over time. The job requires cutting into the boat’s structure to remove the old engine and install the new one, along with disconnecting and reassembling a network of critical systems. These include the hydraulic lines for the anchor, cooling systems, electrical wiring, battery banks, steering, and exhaust — all packed tightly into a cramped engine room beneath the wheelhouse. It’s a complex, physically demanding process.
To help offset the cost, Isaac spent the entire spring working as a crew member on a longline boat, but even that covered less than a quarter of the total project. The expense of the engine replacement will ultimately equal an entire season’s worth of profits. As mechanically capable as he is, Isaac has taken on most of the work himself — often sleeping on the boat and working late into the night to get it done in time for the summer king season.
This situation underscores the tough realities small-boat fishermen face. The cost of equipment and upkeep continues to climb, while fish prices have remained relatively stagnant. It’s shaping up to be a demanding season, with financial recovery hinging on how the fish show up. Thankfully, Isaac’s wife, Bridgette, has a steady job with benefits — but making a living on the water has never been easy.
Direct markets like ours play a crucial role in keeping prices up and supporting independent fishermen, but there are no guarantees out there. Isaac exemplifies what we stand for — he’s committed to producing exceptional fish and takes pride in every step of the process. When he’s not on the water, he’s hunting or sport fishing to feed his family, fine-tuning his smoked salmon recipes, or refining his bleeding and icing techniques to ensure top quality. We’re wishing him all the luck this season — and hoping that the new engine fills the Alaska’s holds many times over.
