I sometimes share fish just gutted and gilled whole or raw fillets bone in, often to be enjoyed fresh.

Sometimes so fresh rigor has not even set in. This is freshness one cannot buy at the supermarket.

All the time.

I get more than enough to sustain us through the year, so I am always happy to share the bounty with others. My neighbor is experiencing health challenges and doesn’t get to go out and fish as often as he used to, so I know he appreciates getting fresh fish and enthusiastically says yes every time I offer. Funny thing, he is a devout leftist like Salmo G and we spar over politics every once in a while, but I don’t let that stop me from sharing with him. Not that I expect any favors to be repaid, come to think of it, it’s ironic that his staunch beliefs and socialistic principles never seem to involve reciprocating back toward me in any way.

Capitalism for me, Socialism for thee!


Streamer

Right on! I grilled some fresh salmon fillets for a gathering of dems two doors down. I even pulled the pin bones.

Reminded them I am a veteran. Fishing and hunting is what I do in retirement.

Sure. I share, but I usually don't have a ton more than I need, because I don't harvest a ton.

I don't expect anything in return, but sometimes, it comes back around. Mostly, I'm just happy knowing I made someone else happy.

You guys are sick. I will share fish with friends but not democrat neighbors. To each his own I guess.

Definitely do. Crabs as well.
I generally text them when I’m on the ferry home. Pull up to their house and do a handoff. I get plenty of stuff in return as well, fresh veggies, great blueberries, pies, whiskey, beer etc.
SF

Haha, yes. was fishing, limiting out on a double. A guy came up asking about catching them. I tossed him the lure I was using.

The next time I saw him out on the water he gave us three beers, one for each of us at lunch time.

A few years back I was fishing summer runs in Oregon. As I was walking out a guy fishing pointed out a rock and said that two fish had just went behind it. He encouraged me to make a cast as he couldn't get them to bit. First cast with a bobber and jig I hook and then lose one of the two. I reeled in, cut of the rig and handed it to him. Just wish I had done it before hand, as I actually felt kind of bad. I hope he caught the other one.

Krijack,


I like hearing those types of stories. I like helping others get into fish and getting their firsts. I recall one day almost 20 years ago a friend and I were fishing for winter steelhead on an off the radar stream. We had both just caught limits of chrome steelhead and were getting ready to leave when a dad and his son about 12 or so walked up. They were impressed with the fish and neither really had a clue about catching steelhead. We gave them a quick lesson and the remainder of our eggs and wished them luck. As we drove across the bridge just upstream of where they were fishing, we looked down and saw the son beaching his first ever steelhead with the help of his dad. That moment brought me much more joy than any of the fish we caught ourselves that day.


Streamer

Great story, Streamer. I like giving young guys tied hooks or lures like corkies or rags. If they want advice, I'll give it, example: "with high floating lures, like corkies, okies, etc. shorten your leaders""etc. I especially like to give kids a spoon or a spiiner because I'm over loaded with them anyway, being a gear hog

My good neighbors all get a little bit of salmon or crab on those days that I do well It's surprising how a fillet of a smalll salmon is treated like gold to non-fishermen.

My only sibling, my sister, gets a lot of fish from me. But the neighbors and friends get lots also. None of them fish so they really appreciate fresh fish. My sister has some health issues and I always tell her and the friends and neighbors that I can't give you any better "medicine" or something healthier to eat than fresh wild salmon to eat. I never ask for anything in return but they give me fresh produce and home baked goods. Plus fresh salmon is so expensive that some can't afford it. Makes a person feel good to share some of the bounty.

I retired this year and am well into my third punch card. No way my wife and I can eat that much fish, so my friends and neighbors have been very happy this year as I’ve given away probably 2/3 what I’ve kept. I usually give away deboned fillets, but do I have a couple people who’ll take whole gilled and gutted fish if I’m feeling lazy.

I had one lady who I always give deboned fillets to comment that pulling pin bones seemed like it would be a fun zen like experience. I assured it was far from a zen experience, especially if you time it wrong and the fish hasn’t relaxed, and it then quickly becomes an expletive laced slog.

Most people will occasionally reciprocate with cakes, breads etc, but it is certainly not expected.

In the long run how do you think that will work out?