FisherPoets Gathering 2015

We've put the deck bucket over the stack of the 2015 FisherPoets Gathering and most fisherpoets have headed home until next February. A lot of us have a fishing season or two between here and there, fodder for more poems, stories and songs for the 19th annual FisherPoets Gathering February 26 - 28, 2016.

We thank, meanwhile, all in the commercial fishing community who made the 2015 FisherPoets Gathering another best yet. Nearly 90 fisherpoets joined us from 12 states and three countries. Fans plugged every venue every night. Neighborly volunteers, generous supporters and cheerful venue staffs greased our gears and made everyone feel welcome in Astoria.

We had a hard time deciding the winner of the 2015 Poem Contest.  Erin Fristad and Doug Rhodes were left standing, so we called it a tie. Their poems follow. This year's challenge was to include "You can't catch them all" in a poem with at least two rhyming couplets. The crowd loved these best.

2015 Fisherpoets 
Tele Aadsen,  Bellingham WA
Maryna Ajaja,  Port Townsend WA
Dave Atcheson,  Sterling AK
Fred Bailey,  Gabriola Island BC
Harlan Bailey,  Martinez CA
Rich Bard, Vashon WA
Lou Beaudry,  McCall ID
Gordon Bok,  Camden ME
Joel Brady-Power,  Bellingham WA
Jon Branshaw,  Westport WA
Jon Broderick,  Cannon Beach OR
Max Broderick, Cannon Beach OR
Abigail Calkin,  Gustavus AK
Jon Campbell,  Narragansett RI
Wayne Chimenti,  Port Townsend WA
Nancy Cook,  Astoria OR
Billie Delaney,  Port Townsend WA
Dave Densmore,  Astoria OR
Pat Dixon,  Olympia WA
John Elliott,  Saltspring Island BC
Maria Finn,  Sausalito CA
Erin Fristad,  Port Townsend WA
Mary Garvey,  Seaview WA
John Hagerty,  South Bend WA
Lorrie Haight,  Long Beach WA
Sue Hanson,  Poulsbo, WA
Patty Hardin,  Long Beach WA
Hannah Heimbuch,  Homer AK
Meezie Hermansen,  Kasilof AK
Tom Hilton,  Portland OR
Paul Holmberg,  Palmer AK
Will Hornyak,  Portland OR
Vicki Horton,  Port Townsend WA
Holly Hughes,  Indianola WA
Mary Jacobs,  Ophir OR
Cary Jones,  Eugene OR
Rachel Kallander,  Seattle WA
James Kasner,  Eugene OR
Gary Keister,  Port Townsend WA
Rebekah Killeffer,  Leavenworth WA
Marcia King,  Kauai HI
Rich King,  Kauai HI
RJ Kopchak,  Cordova AK
Hobe Kytr,  Astoria OR
Elena Lansing,  Salem OR
Phil Lansing,  Boise ID
Elijah Lawson,  Seattle WA
Geno Leech,  Chinook WA
Alan Lovewell,  Monterey CA
Irene Martin,  Skamokawa WA
Dennis McGuire,  Cordova AK
Pat McGuire,  Cordova AK
Ron McDaniel,  Sulphur Springs AR
Alec McMurren,  Petersberg AK
Buck Meloy,  Bellingham WA
Lara Lee Messersmith-Glavin,  Portland OR
Joel Miller,  Portland OR
Lloyd Montgomery,  Wasila AK
Annie Orr,  Port Townend WA
John Palmes,  Juneau AK
Niel Pfundt,  Bellingham WA
Don Pepper,  Alert Bay BC
Jen Pickett,  Jyväskylä Finland
Bob Powell,  Tarpon Springs FL
Dano Quinn,  Seattle WA
Doug Rhodes, Craig AK
Brian Robertson,  Powell River BC
Robin Rosemond,  Cordova AK
Steve Schoonmaker,  Kasilof AK
Rob Seitz.  Los Osos CA
Shanghaied on the Willamette,  Portland OR
Jay Speakman,  Gearhart OR
Emilie Springer,  Homer AK
Clem Starck,  Dallas OR
Jeff Stonehill,  Seattle WA
Sean Talbot,  Portland OR
Jim Toteff,  Kalama WA
Ray Troll and the Ratfish Wranglers,  Ketchikan AK
Brad Warren,  Seattle WA
Mariah Warren,  Sitka AK
Kelley Watson,  Port Townsend WA
Clark Whitney,  Soldotna AK
Steve Willard,  Marblehead MA
George Wilson,  Portland OR
Hillel Wright,  Denman Island BC
Anna Young,  Cordova AK