ILWACO, Wash. — The ‘Redeemer’ set off from the Port of Ilwaco to drop its crab pots at 2:40 a.m. Monday morning. It was the first of many boats to take off from Ilwaco to start their crab fishing season.
It is a bittersweet start, because some fishermen lost their crab pots in fire that tore through a landing filled with gear.
However, some of those fishermen can start their season because of the generosity of the community and their fellow fishermen.
Since the fire on Jan. 22, several fundraisers have been started. Including one by the Ilwaco Tuna Club. It has raised more than $100,000.
Fishermen from around the region are giving unused crab pots to the fishermen impacted. Others have helped make more pots.
“I can’t express it,” crab fishermen Zeke Estrella said. “There’s more help available than I can use.”
There were thousands of crab pots destroyed. Estrella said he lost more than 500. The fisherman said that represents a couple hundred thousand dollars of potential income.
Monday morning the Ilwaco Fire Department joined others from the town to send off the fishermen. The firefighters did a water solute to stand with the crabbers.
The crab fishing season officially starts Feb. 1, but fishermen can drop their pots Monday.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said they are working to replace buoy tags for registered gear that was lost in the fire.