Clearly, we are better at running a fishing operation than a blog. As the salmon season looms near, Robert and his crew are hanging new web on old lines, which makes him giddy. Is it okay to call a fisherman “cute?”
~Stacy
Fall 2009 Update
September 11, 2009
Greetings from Alaska!
The fireweed blooms have vanished, the mosquito population is waning, and every red-blooded male in Clam Gulch is stealthing about in search of a bull moose.
I have been busy canning the measly carrots and the robust rutabaga that Robert’s garden has yielded, while our wild children have been gathering the lingonberries that cover our land. Oops, it’s the berries that are wild!
Here’s a picture I took today: Luke (1), Ray James (9), Tyrrell (7) with one of Sadie’s puppies, Anthony (5), and Caroline (11). Our goat’s name is Scoop. By the way, Caroline is the only one wearing shoes. She’s rather tame.
Before the snow flies, I wanted to say “Thank you” to all those who pre-ordered salmon from this year’s harvest. We had a banner season, and your patronage has contributed greatly to the success of our endeavors. Thank you!
Of special concern are those with whom I neglected to confirm the ship date prior to fish being sent. Your patience with me that day refreshed my confidence and I am grateful.
We look forward to hearing from each of you again in 2010; but first, a long winter’s nap sounds nice….
Sincerely,
Stacy Correia
Old News
Monday, January 7, 2008:
It’s a boy! God has opened the windows of heaven and poured out blessing. As He promised in the last chapter of the Old Testament, He has rewarded our meager offerings with abundance that exceeded the space available to contain it. Of course, He has also expanded our boundries, providing us with seven acres of land between the two roads we use to access our fishing grounds. The perfect location for our new home!
Luke was born at 1:04 in the morning on Saturday, December 29, 2007. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces. He is content and loved.
You can read more about Luke’s birth in the online version of our local newspaper, the Peninsula Clarion.
Thursday, August 16, 2007:
We have just completed a great season of commercial salmon fishing and are now resting. Soon, we will be heading out to fish again, but this time we will be using rods and reels to pursue halibut for our family freezer!
Stay tuned for an introduction to a new little Correia in late December….. 
Friday, June 8, 2007:
The Salmon are coming!!! Are you ready? We have been receiving reservations for our 2007 harvest, and are excited to begin shipping out those orders. We, ourselves, have already enjoyed a taste of this season’s return, and are looking forward to sharing our commercial catch with you.
Our herring season this spring was especially neat as our seven-year-old son, Ray James, filled the position of Bow Man on the skiff. He and Robert stayed on the beach in the small shack we built last year. This was a great time of fellowship for them. Ray James is now in need of some new pants as he is getting to big for his britches!
Thursday, August 10, 2006:
Our commercial salmon fishing season ended yesterday. We took the children and our cousins, Holly and Pono, down the beach at low tide to view what remains of an old shipwreck. The Corea ran aground on the shore of Cook Inlet on April 23, 1890. Though the ship’s name is pronounced just as our last name, there is no relation. As the tide came in, Robert waded to his thighs through the surf as he carried each of our children back to shore. This will be one of many happy memories we will take with us as we pack our buoys, nets, ropes, and tents up the bluff to store until next spring!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006:
Yesterday was opening day of the commercial salmon fishing season! Though it was raining hard when we set our nets, the weather was nice as we pulled them in the evening. We were able to deliver a nearly full tote of sockeye to a local buying station. This season is off to a great start!
By the way, Anthony (now two years old) said his first grammatically complete sentence as we drove down the beach on Friday: “Mom, I see boats!”
Thursday, June 8, 2006:
Last night, we took the cook shack down to the beach. Just after crossing Falls Creek, the truck stalled and wouldn’t restart. We used our Ford F350 to pull the stalled vehicle away from the shack and higher up the beach as the tide was beginning to come in. We pulled the shack to the fishing site, then returned to the Chevy. It started right up! We were quite relieved, as it took both trucks to winch the cook shack up onto the gravel pad. We finished just as the tide came up, and quickly headed home. The whole thing took about six hours! We slept very soundly.
Sunday, June 4, 2006:
The herring season ended on Friday, and we now have a couple of weeks to prepare for the salmon fishing season. Robert and his crew have been filling sandbags to secure the sets. He also set up some tents on the beach for housing our family and some of the gear.
Monday, May 15, 2006:
The herring have arrived! We are now catching and delivering herring (used mainly for halibut bait) to processors and charter guides. If anyone in cyberspace is interested in fresh herring (also popular for pickling), don’t hesitate to contact us!
Monday, May 8, 2006:
We woke up to a thin blanket of snow this morning! Robert is at the store buying some goop to patch a hole in his hip boots. He will move a skiff down to the beach site tonight during low tide (it’s easier to drive the truck across Falls Creek at low tide).
Saturday, May 6, 2006:
We are having a very late spring this year! There are still patches of snow, the ground is still too frozen for digging, and the herring aren’t here yet. We are anxiously watching the birch trees begin to bud.
This morning, Robert is heading to his dad’s shop to grind points on new stakes which he will pound into the ground for setting beach nets.
Friday, March 31, 2006:
Robert’s last day as truckdriver for Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. His goal is to finish mending all of the nets before herring season begins on April 20. Of course, he may not be able to fish for herring until early May as the snow will likely prohibit trucks from driving on the beach. He also plans to convert an old camper, previously used to store rain gear, into a warm shelter with a wood stove for drying off between tides.
(February 10, 2010 Note: The new shelter referenced here was eventually used as the birthplace of our little Luke!)
