Go inside Alaskas storied Sitka Sound herring sac-roe fishery where elite fishermen battle for the opportunity to make six figure salaries in a matter of minutes. This episode follows the commercial fishing vessel Star Shadow and its crew as they attempt to net huge schools of herring in a very short time period. The fishery is often resorts to combat fishing as fifty boats battle each other for the same fish bumping other boats to gain position is commonplace. The competition is fierce, but the payoff can be huge. Herrings value is determined by the eggs, or roe, inside the fish, not the carcasses themselves. Herring roe or Kazunoko is a prized delicacy in Japan, so much so that Japanese buyers fly their own technicians in to Sitka to examine the product each year. During the season, a decent-sized haul or set of herring can weigh a few hundred tons. For many fishermen, including veteran Star Shadow Captain Joe Lindholm, Sitka is one of the fisheries he looks forward to all year long.
