July 16th, 2026
Dear Wild for Salmon Family,
As I write this, we're entering the final stretch of the 2026 Bristol Bay sockeye salmon season. It's hard to believe, but we're about 92% of the way through the projected run, with more than 41.5 million sockeye returning to Bristol Bay. The season came on about three days earlier than expected, and some river systems, like the Ugashik River where we're currently fishing, have exceeded projections by nearly 20%.
Looking back, it's been a strong season for the F/V Ava Jane. The boat has performed beautifully, and our crew has worked together seamlessly from day one. Every year presents its own challenges, but this season has reminded us once again why Bristol Bay demands both respect and patience.
One thing that's stood out this year has been the weather. After an exceptionally cold winter in the Bering Sea, Bristol Bay stayed much colder than normal throughout the fishing season. For most of the summer we've enjoyed relatively calm conditions, but this past week Mother Nature reminded us who's really in charge.
Two powerful storms swept through the bay, with winds topping 40 miles per hour. In my 25 years of fishing Bristol Bay, there have only been a handful of days when conditions were simply too dangerous to fish. This was one of them. The entire fleet pulled off the grounds and anchored for nearly 12 hours while the wind and waves passed. Moments like that give you a healthy respect for the power of the ocean. No fish is ever worth risking the safety of the crew.
One of the highlights of this final week is welcoming my daughter, Ava Jane, aboard. After an incredible journey, two car rides, three flights, and a tender boat ride, she finally arrived in Ugashik after nearly 50 hours of travel. She'll spend the last week of the season working as a deckhand and then help us prepare the boat for the trip home. We're also hoping to sneak away for a little recreation during the closure and spend some time beachcombing before we head back.
Each day, we're seeing fewer fish as the peak of the migration has passed. That's the natural rhythm of Bristol Bay. Soon we'll finish hauling our nets, secure the boat for another year, and begin the journey home.
While we're excited to get back to Pennsylvania, we're even more excited to bring this incredible wild sockeye salmon harvest home to you. Every fillet represents long days on the water, an amazing crew, and one of the healthiest wild salmon fisheries in the world.
Thank you for following along with us this season and for supporting our family fishery. Your support makes it possible for us to keep doing what we love year after year.
We'll see you soon.
With gratitude,
Captain Steve Kurian
F/V Ava Jane
Wild for Salmon
