Salmon Trollers: Collecting Data

  • Supply Fresh Chinook salmon to markets
  • Boats range from 18-60 feet. About 450 boats in Oregon Fleet.
  • They fish by pulling a number of lures or baited hooks through water at speeds of one to four knots.
  • Fishing lines are rigged to a pair of outriggers, which spread the baits and keep them away from the boat.
  • Lures are lowered into the water on thin stainless steel lines. Each line has as many as four lures on monofilament leaders attached at intervals of two to four fathoms (fathom=6 feet).
  • A cannon ball weighing 10-50 pounds brings each line to the desired depth. Fishermen fish deeper to avoid coho salmon and instead target Chinook salmon.
  • Lines are set and retrieved using hydraulic gurdies (mechanical cranks).
  • The lures are barbless and include spoons, hootchies (plastic or rubber squids), plugs and natural baits.
  • The gurdies brings in the fish and then the fish are stunned, bled, dressed, washed, before being stored in an iced or refrigerated hold.