F/V Samara

Sitka, Alaska

Wild Alaska King Salmon, Wild Alaska Coho Salmon, Wild Alaska Keta Salmon

Karl Jordan is a third-generation fisherman from Sitka who catches King, coho, and keta salmon using hook-and-line methods on his power-troller, the F/V Samara. When he isn’t catching and carefully handling line-caught salmon in the summer, he works as an educator. In the off season he teaching the next generation of ocean farers and wood workers the technical skills they need to navigate their lives. Both fishing and teaching give him an immense sense of satisfaction and provide opportunities to think creatively while working hard.

Quick Takes

What's something that most people might be surprised to learn about fishing?

"There's a lot of invisible work in fishing. I fish hard in the summer, the sun will rise at 3 a.m. and set at 11 p.m.—and I’ll spend it all fishing. I put around 3,000 hours on the engine of the F/V Samara, but that doesn’t even count time at the dock spent readying my gear, maintaining and improving my boat, fixing up my rigging, working on my electronics, or making sure that my living conditions on the boat are going to be comfortable for three months fishing on it with my crew. I work in my garage, pouring zinc fishing weights, polishing fishing gear, tying up hooks, checking my lists, and taking stock of supplies for the next season. "