Travel

How to Cook Fish Like an Alaskan Fisherman

The absolute best way to do it, according to the locals.

January 14, 2019
Photo by James Ransom

Did you know that Alaska has 34,000 miles of coastline? Did you know that sustainable fishing laws were actually written into Alaska’s constitution in 1959? That all Alaskan fishing boats have to be built in America (see: sustainability)? That it’s bad luck to change the name of a boat?

My chance to travel to this amazing state came via an invitation from the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). My goal was to learn all about their sustainable fishing industry as well as the plentiful seafood that comes from their waters. From the moment my plane landed in Anchorage, I started most conversations with the same question, “So, how do you cook your fish?”

Every local I spoke with had an opinion on the matter. Because in Alaska, everyone at some point puts a rod into the water and fishes. Some for commercial purposes, some for their own food, and some just for fun and relaxation. And once you start talking about fish and fishing with anyone here, it becomes imminently clear how intertwined the industry is with the culture and day-to-day rhythms of our 49th state. The cooking of fish, then, is a big conversation starter. The overriding theme was KISS (“Keep It Simple, Stupid”). (Well, nobody called me stupid; Alaskans are by and large extraordinarily polite.) The advice I got mostly revolved around preserving the clean, pure flavors of the fish and seafood, being restrained with other ingredients, and never overcooking it.


Our first night in Alaska, we have a taxi driver named Shauna. A recreational fisher, she describes fresh king crab as “sweet heaven,” scallops as “candy fish,” and fresh Alaskan cod as a priority purchase when it’s in season March through May, and August through October. She talks about grilling salmon over a campfire while growing up. I say something about the luxury of having this kind of pristine seafood in your virtual backyard, and how lucky Alaskans are. She agrees and adds, “I’ve always felt bad for you guys.”

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I meet Jarl Gustafson at the dock in Homer, Alaska where he’s repairing his boat. Jarl fishes commercially, mostly for halibut and spot shrimp (a bigger prawn with two spots on the back of its tail), selling them to distributors. At home, he sautés those shrimp with garlic, butter, and lemon, and then surprises me by saying he likes to add them to his salads sometimes. Yum. As for fish, it’s pretty straightforward: Bake at 350°F with olive oil, salt and pepper, and “whatever else is in the cupboard.” He’s the first person of many to mention Johnny Seasoning to me, which is a packaged seasoning from Tacoma, Washington, apparently one of the go-to mixes of Alaskan home cooks.

In the same way that I like to ask what cut of meat my butcher likes, I want to know which fish the fishermen cook most often for themselves. (Fun fact: Hanger steaks and skirt steaks were less popular for a long time because no one knew about them, largely because the butchers kept them for themselves.) Jarl mentions rockfish, which he says is “Alaskans’ favorite fish,” and he’s far from the only one to extol its virtues: tender, flaky, delicious, and economical.


How to Cook Salmon

Homer Spit is home to popular bar The Salty Dawg Saloon. Inside, professional fishermen Brian Toste and Douglas Kayser are drinking White Russians and happy to talk recipes. They speak over each other in the way that old friends do: They have a lot to say about salmon on the grill. First, their favorite type of salmon (of the five Alaskan varieties to choose from) is King salmon, which is “the most forgiving,” with Spring Chinook being one the most prized varieties of the King species. They have nice things to say about Sockeye, Coho, Keta and Pink salmon, as well. Then, the preparations:

  • Option 1: Simply smoked in a smoker with alder-smoke wood pellets, salt, pepper, and maybe Johnny’s Seasoning. Wrap in foil, but leave foil slightly open at the top to allow the smoky flavor to get in.
  • Option 2: Mix together a blend of 2 parts vinaigrette and 1 part mayo, smear that over the top and bake or grill.
  • Option 3: Apply a thin glaze of mayonnaise, place sliced onions on top (“not whole slices; two rings per slice”), Johnny’s seasoning, wrap in foil, then onto the smoker or grill.
  • Option 4: Season salmon steaks with salt and pepper (Doug: "plus flour"; Brian: "no flour"), then fry in butter.

We talk about salmon for a long time. There’s a lot to say about salmon in Alaska. “Their life goal is the food chain,” Brian says. The respect with which every person in Alaska talks about fish and fishing is close to reverent, and it hasn’t taken more than a day to feel very invested in this world.

We’ve registered for Nonresident 3-Day Sport Fish Licenses, so the next morning we head out from our amazing home base, Tutka Bay Lodge, on a chartered fishing boat. Jeremy Woodrow from ASMI tells us that a little bit of beer can soothe seasickness, and who are we to disagree with a local? We all find ourselves sipping cans of Alaskan Brewing Company beer at 7:30 a.m. as we cruise into the waters.

Join The Conversation

Top Comment:
“I've lived in Alaska most of my life. It's always been a good luck tradition that the first "chicken" (halibut under 30 lbs) would get cooked on the beach as "poor man's lobster". A giant mess hall size stewpot of boiling water on the campfire with a handful of sea salt and same size handful of Old Bay seasoning. (Approx 1/4 c.) Halibut cut into one inch chunks, fished out of the stewpot once it's popped to the top and nicely white. Dipped in melted butter and served with an ice cold Alaskan beer that's been chilling by hanging off the side of the boat in the icy cold sea. Everyone on the beach wanders over, soon it becomes a shared buffet with smiles, laughter and hopefully a new friend with a big boat. :) Come visit true wilderness.”
— Snow
Comment

We’re allowed to catch two fish each, and the best part is that we’ll get to eat some of our haul that night and the rest will be shipped to us at home. With the help of charter fishermen Brian Ritchie and Wildfrid Roedl, I catch two halibut. And of course, we talk recipes. They’re also familiar with Johnny’s seasoning, they also know about the mayo and dressing slather—but their favorite way to prepare their favorite fish, rockfish, is in tacos. Sprinkled with traditional taco seasonings, topped with the typical accessories: avocado, tomatoes, and the like.

I know exactly what I’m making with my catch, as soon as I get home to New York.

Recipe: Alaska Rockfish Tacos


More Taco Recipes

How do you like to cook your fish? Let us know in the comments below.

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • Kent Davis
    Kent Davis
  • judy
    judy
  • Melissa
    Melissa
  • Terri Mills
    Terri Mills
  • Apfia
    Apfia
Author of The Mom 100 Cookbook and themom100.com blog. A New Yorker, cook, and mom, I don't sit still very much.

14 Comments

Kent D. October 25, 2019
A commercial fisherman in Alaska
mainly fishing for Halibut ? Lol the halibut season is like three days long out of the year.

 
Terri M. October 25, 2019
Commercial halibut fishing in AK is not driven by time; it's driven by quota to ensure fishing in AK is sustainable. For 2019 the quota set by NOAA was 22 million pounds. That's up 1.5 million pounds from 2018. As a resident I am fortunate that I can bag 2 fish per day, any size, no limit. That keeps the freezer full!
 
judy June 5, 2019
Well, I am not a native Alaskan or Washingtonian. But I have learned to bake salmon, and fry salmon and pan sear salmon and microwave it and broil it. And Steelhead as well. My favorite topping: combine equal parts honey and coarse whole grain horseradish mustard, a few grinds of coarse black pepper, about 1/4 tsp granulated garlic and 1 tsp dried parsley. More or less on the seasonings to last. Slather over the top of the salmon ( or steelhead) and cook. less than 2 minutes in the micro for about 4 ounces, and 4-6 minutes for the rest of the methods, depending on size/thickness of the fish. Beautiful, light flaky every time. don't forget the baked potato and green beans.
 
Melissa April 3, 2019
Does anyone know a place that would sell me done fresh Halibut from Alaska and ship it to me here in Morehead City NC. I would love some fresh Halibut and the only place that even sells halibut is the Harris Teeter and it's frozen. Thanks
 
Terri M. October 25, 2019
Anything delivered would be flash frozen since it takes two days to get to the east coast. What you can get direct is better than you find in grocery stores because it remains flash frozen until you use it. When we leave Alaska I plan to use Alaska Seafood Company for my 'fresh' fish. They currently process our excess salmon - shelf stable packaging - I really like the service.
 
Terri M. February 27, 2019
As a relatively new resident in Juneau, AK I've actually learned a thing or two from your article! This is 'clear the freezers' season (yes, we have multiple) so I'll be putting some of this suggestions to use. I agree that rockfish is great for tacos and I absolutely love lingcod for fish and chips! Our salmon is so delicate and sweet I have to learn to stop over seasoning it! You'll have to come back to sample our dungeoness and king crabs. Nothing better than a fresh caught dungey but they are also good out of the freezer warmed on the grill with a little alder wood smoke.
 
Apfia January 21, 2019
I grew up in Homer and my family fished the Copper River Delta for almost 30 years. Our favorite way to prepare salmon is definitely grilled with a little seasoning, and in foil vegetable packets. The packets we do a fillet of salmon topped with sliced ginger, garlic, carrots, onions, cauliflower, peppers-whatever veggies you like really- sprinkled with a little salt and pepper, a squirt of lemon juice or a drizzle of soy sauce, drizzle with olive oil. Fold up tight so it doesn’t leak, and put on the grill. Once it’s done devour with fresh bread and don’t forget to dip the bread into the drippings 😋
 
HalfPint January 14, 2019
For oily fish, I like the Vietnamese method of braising fish steaks in a caramel-like sauce (Cá Kho). It's a great way to full season fish which I find a lot of western cook methods fail to do which results in 'meh' taking fish when it could be so much more.
 
HalfPint January 14, 2019
that should be "tasting", not "taking". Oy.
 
Snow January 14, 2019
I've lived in Alaska most of my life. It's always been a good luck tradition that the first "chicken" (halibut under 30 lbs) would get cooked on the beach as "poor man's lobster". A giant mess hall size stewpot of boiling water on the campfire with a handful of sea salt and same size handful of Old Bay seasoning. (Approx 1/4 c.) Halibut cut into one inch chunks, fished out of the stewpot once it's popped to the top and nicely white. Dipped in melted butter and served with an ice cold Alaskan beer that's been chilling by hanging off the side of the boat in the icy cold sea. Everyone on the beach wanders over, soon it becomes a shared buffet with smiles, laughter and hopefully a new friend with a big boat. :)
Come visit true wilderness.
 
Eric K. January 14, 2019
Delicious. Thanks for painting a picture, Snow.
 
Megan G. January 20, 2019
Oh my goodness, that sounds amazing. I can’t wait to visit!!
 
Melissa April 3, 2019
Do u know any place or anyone that would ship fresh or previous frozen halibut to me here in Morehead City NC? I would love to have some fresh Halibut but no one around here sells it it serves it. Thanks
 
jpriddy June 7, 2019
Google "fresh halibut shipped from alaska" and you will find plenty of sources.