Are you worried about the algea that’s cut all our clam and crab fishing down?
We are in tokeland today and stuck a pot in on the bay side since they said that should be safe.
Tokeland was a bust. Had a pot in for 3 hours and only brought up one little crab. No one else had any luck, either. 
We havent had any algae issues here. The last couple of years our are had demoic acid issues. We had to wait for it to clear up. Its looking like we launch at 4am
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I wish I knew some good spots up there. The only crabbing I did was in the puget sound when we salmon fished, we’d throw a few pots out. Sportfishing.
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As of right now, im on call for 4am. There is a possibility of fisherman striking for better price. I was just in coos bay which Has a big port. It was unusually quiet there. It should be busy. Really quiet for the nIght before gear setting.
Crabbing politics… every year its something.
We decided to play it safe and stay out of the danger zone until the weather get better. 17 foot swell tomorrow. It makes rocky areas unpredictable increasing rogue wave possibilities. The most dangerous time is with a boat load of gear.
I feel good about playing it safe.
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Were on strike. Which means im on call. I could get a call to go at any time.
The buyer offered a dollar fifty five a pound and the entire coast said no. The bad weather has all the bars very treacherous so everyone decided to strike.
Ive heard that the price offer is two dollars and eighty cents now. Three bucks is what we usually start at.
Hurry up and wait.
The last couple of years we had to wait until the crab were hard and demoic acid cleared up.
This year they are hard, no demoic acid, but the buyers are trying to get that delicious crab for nothing.
Theres been alot of beer drinking going on at the shop. It hasnt been attractive, its been annoying. Hopefully we start soon! I am ready!
Our mechanic has been annoyingly drunk. Ive had enough of him.
Glad to avoid this bad weather though.
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I survived my 2nd sober Xmas. It was much nicer than last year.
I tortured myself feeling all those feelings that I could no longer run from. I was miserable enough to change things! That’s what I did and this is the result!!
My oldest. 15 almost 16
My youngest 13 almost 14
Recovery made this possible! I felt xmas joy today for the first time since they were taken.
I’ve spent the day reflecting.
I worked on my YouTube videos. I finally found some good music I can use without copyright hassles.
I finally found a place. Ill be able to paint again, and work on my photos, and videos without a million interruptions. And most important…!!!
A no alcohol allowed zone.
I’m looking forward to not living out of suitcases. I spent most of this year living out of suitcases. It was worth every second of it for what I accomplished.
The universe even set me up with a place to carve. It landed in my lap when I found my place.
I ended up finding a 35 foot trailer, and the guy I bought it from hooked me up with a spot in an RV park. I’m still looking for a house, but this will get me out of the shop!
I’m feeling better than I can remember feeling! I’m focused! I’m confidant! I’ve taken my life back!
It feels good! Really good!
I couldn’t have navigated the waters I navigated to get here without you all having my back. I’m forever grateful!
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Crabbing is still the entire west coast fishermans strike holding out for better money. hurry up and wait status. Im making the most out of my time until it starts!
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Merry Christmas!
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That’s great wonderful news Jason. I’m so happy for you.
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Thank you Eric!
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A couple of years before my relapse from long term recovery. I found this gem. His channel got deleted for his political views. I thought I had lost it forever. I found it! He started a new channel similar name, and he reposted this.
I was going through extremely difficult times, and it helped me alot. I like to listen to this and then meditate on it. Its so powerful. I was thinking about it, then I found it!
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Its been a challenge to get here, but I made it!
I got my new to me trailer parked in its spot yestarday, and spent the night in my new home last night.
Rentals are hard to find here. People who have houses for rent here have all switched over to AirBnb rentals.
So I went this route.
Its nice to be out of the shop and have some privacy. Its really nice to have a no alcohol allowed zone too.
My strung out coworker is in and out of the shop at all hours. Its been getting to me lately. My boss tolerates him, so I have been going along with it. Its been making me angry.
He doesn’t make doing drugs look like any fun though. So thats been good.
The RV park I wanted stay at is full, all of them are. The trailer came with a opening in the park I didnt really want to stay at, but I took it.
I bought my last bag of meth in this park. Supposedly, they are clearing the tweakers out of here.
Within 30 seconds of arriving, while the trailer was being parked. Dude that I got the meth from came over, and started talking to me.
He was super friendly. " long time no see! What you been doing? "
I was cold as ice… if looks were a punch in the face, he would have a broken nose and two black eyes. I was so cold that he left quickly.
Thats how it has to be!
I cant carve here, but I can paint! I have all my supplies here, and im excited to finish unpacking.
Ive been a carpenter all my adult life, and Ive never built anything nice for myself. Im going to remodel this trailer and trick it out, make it into a really nice painting studio and video editing/photography studio. Im going to look for a shop to rent that I can carve in and park this trailer there.
Im really excited to not be living out of suitcases anymore!
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Livin’ the life. Sounds fantastic. Happy for you!
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Yay, Jason! It’ll make such a big difference having your own space. We’ll have a virtual housewarming when you’re ready! 
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I’ve been getting settled in and I’m loving it!
I was gearing up to start painting today when I got the call. We loaded up our bait and are launching at 2am, 4.5 hours.
Im ready! Mentally prepared.
Last year I was scared shitless that I couldn’t do a sober season. This year… I got this!
Last year when Matt almost got killed, and I got the news, I wanted the drink. The news looked bad. I thought he was dead. It triggered me.
I didn’t drink, fortunately. He was rescued. So I would have drank for no reason. I was thinking about that when we were fishing a few weeks ago. Sometimes when I look over I think how glad I am he isn’t a ghost.
We’ve gotten close. He is staying clean, and not drinking. We talk recovery and are supportive of each other. We talk shit about our other coworkers addict behavior. Its good for me.
He’s been staying at the shop since I left. So he’s been seeing the full spectrum of our strung out coworker.
Lately I’ve been feeling so much gratitude! Im so grateful! I dont even know how to explain it. Its not normal, but I like it! Alot!
I got my place mostly set up, mostly unpacked.
I built an easel next to my computer station, so I have access to this forum when I’m painting right next to me. I can listen to recovery while I paint. Its pretty awesome!
I bought this dungeness crab art in Hawaii the day after I sobered up. I felt like shit, and hated myself. My date was telling me what a dick I was as we pulled into this gift shop.
I saw this. It was only 25 bucks. I bought it.
What a great reminder to have in my safety zone!
Post alot of memes! I love coming in from a trip a laughing at memes on the way in!
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Be safe out there Jason. I love your crab. I have one too. I picked it up at a gift shop on vacation in Aruba after an all nighter of doing coke and drinking. It reminds me how my using took me away from spending quality time on a tropical beach. Hopefully my hard work will give me a chance to do it all over again and do it right this time.
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I want to go back and do it better too.
I salvaged what I could, but I sure wrecked that trip.
Thats cool you have a crab reminder too.
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We got all our gear set today. There are 300 pots out there with crab crawling in them right now. We had a break in the weather today.
We got our last string set just as the weather came in. Big swell today. exhilarating ocean. Its going to be too nasty to go out tomorrow. The gear gets to soak. We made it into the danger zone today where the best crab we found were.
I’m excited!
The prison ship was the first boat in the water today He was waiting for the dock forklift to get there. We brought our own. We were the first ones off the dock with a load of gear, We hit the grounds first!
the look on his face as we left was priceless!
They still haven’t replaced me. Its an insane amount of work for two people.
I dont have to do anything to get them back. The best revenge is to live well!
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Crabbing is dangerous. The ocean is dangerous.
I’ve had several close calls.
The first time I ever fished the open ocean, our boat got capsized by a rogue wave. Sportfishing for salmon out of Garibaldi Oregon. I thought for sure I was going to die, but I was rescued.
I bought a case of beer on the way home, and pounded it.
I was 26. It had a major impact on me. At the time I was lead carpenter on a big framing crew. I made good money. I worked hard, and I partied harder.
It made me reflect on how much of my life I spent drunk and or high. I quit drinking. It was easy. I started my first construction company. I excelled!
Eventually I started drinking again.
Since I’ve been a commercial fisherman, I’ve had a lot of close calls. They have been good excuses to get drunk! Really drunk!
Yesterday, we had a close call. I didnt even crave a drink.
I got go pro footage of it from two angles.
We’ve been grinding hard. Everything hurts. Its one of my favorite excuses to drink.
No cravings!
Greatful to be alive and sober.
I’m sleep deprived and I have a chance to get six solid hours of sleep. That’s what I’m going to do!
I wanted to check in and let you all know I’m doing good!
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