Meet Lee Gallagher, Our New Salmon Fisher!

(Photo courtesy of Lee Gallagher, of himself)

Hailing from Metchosin B.C on Vancouver Island, Lee Gallagher got his start working at a marine boat rental shop in high school, which solidified what he always knew - that he wanted to work on the ocean.

After high school, Lee enrolled at Camosun College in Victoria, and once completing the classroom course work for the ‘Masters 60 Ton’ which enables one to skipper specific vessel(s) of up to 60 gross tons in specific areas, he needed to to obtain some sea-time experience to complete this ticket / certification. And that’s where our long-time Skipper Otto fisher, Guy Johnson comes in!

He met Guy by chance in 2005 at the docks in Cowichan Bay. At the time, Guy owned an oyster farm and needed harvesters, so Lee gave him a helping hand, and soon learned to harvest prawns and salmon on Guy’s previous boat ‘Michelle Rose’. From there Lee obtained his ticket and soon joined the Canadian Coast Guard full time, but spending his “time off” fishing with Guy.

If you can believe it, 18 years later, Lee and Guy still fish together each season. And during the late summer salmon trolling, Lee now skippers Guy’s new “Michelle Rose” boat solo in the waters around Haida Gwaii. This year Lee has brought back gorgeous frozen-at-sea pink salmon for Skipper Otto members to enjoy.

Lee is so excited to share his love of the ocean. New in the Dock are candied pink salmon strips from his catch in August of this year - great for you to enjoy this winter!