@captseandwyer

Sean Dwyer

For those of us who haven't experienced the beauty and uniqueness of Alaska, what do you think makes it so special?

The rawness of Alaska is really what draws me in, I love the beauty of the terrain and just how vastly different it is from one part of the state to another. One of the things I've always thought was so unique is that we really are in the "ring of fire" — especially in western Alaska. Last cod season we were fishing about 45 miles offshore in the eastern Bering Sea and on clear nights you could see the orange glowing lava flow running down from the top of Pavlof volcano to the south of us. Pretty surreal.

Splitting time between Seattle and Alaska, does your mindset shift depending on where you are?

The fishing mindset doesn't change for me, wherever I go I tend to keep the same drive, whether I'm sport fishing in a river or setting pots in the Bering Sea. I love feeling the rush of having a big pot come over the rail or a fish take the line. Even when I strike out, the thought process then becomes what can I do differently? Where do I need to move? I think as a fisherman you always have to try and figure out what you're doing and why it's working or not. I take lots of notes on what I see and try to pay attention to the variables around me. I'm probably over analytical at times but it’s just the way I'm wired.

What are some of your favourite things to do when you're off the water?

I love to spend time at home with my wife, Bri, and our dog when we're not on the water. We enjoy spending time with friends, cooking and relaxing, sometimes we even take our little boat out for just a fun cruise on Puget Sound - no fishing involved. I've been known to rally 50cc scooters around with my buddies from time to time too...

“Just keep your head down, ears open, mouth shut and embrace the process of becoming a commercial fisherman."

The one piece of advice I'd give greenhorns is to remember that it gets better. The pain will go away, the seasickness will stop (hopefully), the work will come more naturally; it takes time to learn. Just keep your head down, ears open, mouth shut and embrace the process of becoming a commercial fisherman. Everyone has a different experience from when they were a greenhorn but anyone who's made a career out of this life has learned to their hits and keep on rolling.

SEAN'S PICKS