Opening day sees big sockeye catch

The season's first shipment of Copper River salmon met with the usual hoopla in Seattle. Alaska Airlines photo

Thursday's 12-hour season opener at the Copper River produced an estimated catch of 82,000 sockeye salmon and 700 Chinook, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports.

The department had anticipated a harvest of 36,000 sockeye and 1,800 Chinook for the period.

Another 12-hour opener is set to begin at 7 a.m. Monday.

An Alaska Airlines jet arrived early Friday in Seattle with the first load of fish. The plane carried product from processors Ocean Beauty, Trident and Copper River Seafoods.

A cook-off ensued featuring top chefs from Seattle restaurants, plus an Air Force Reserve chef representing the 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.