Direct From Captain Tony: Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon!

About this time last year a couple of colorful characters from Alaska showed up at our fish counter. Tony Wood and his sidekick Josh Hermes told us they were sockeye salmon fishermen and asked if we’d be interested in buying some salmon.

Super friendly guys with a lot of excitement about their fish, Tony told us his story. At 17 years old his folks took him to Alaska. He loved it, decided to stay and become a pilot and a guide. In 2000 he sold his plane, bought himself a commercial fishing boat, started fishing for sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay and was based out of the town of King Salmon. Commercial fishing in Alaska is not for the faint of heart. People like Tony are rugged, hard working and creative people with a “go for it” spirit, a true zest for life and really are modern day frontiersman. With his smarts and high energy he decided that he would be in total charge of the catching, handling, processing and distributing his fish. Hand cut, vacuum packed, blast frozen and shipped directly to us.

His shtick was irresistible. He kindly handed over some samples of his product and upon sampling them we were hooked.

Every winter we have always tried to offer the finest previously frozen Alaskan wild salmon until the fresh spring runs start up. Tony’s fish is so nice and properly handled that it’s sashimi grade, which allows you to serve it rare, a good idea to keep it from becoming to dry.

I will say that Tony’s is the best “out of season” sockeye we’ve ever offered (in our 37 years in business)!

Here’s a healthy, delicious recipe to try: Indian Style Tomato Cucumber Salad with Blackened Curried Alaskan Sockeye Salmon

Ask Mike about great salmon leftover ideas!