Cold Country Salmon is a small scale set net operation fishing the crystal clear blue waters of Bristol Bay Alaska. When not fishing, local owner Zac Culbertson runs a small acreage family farm in Louisa County between Charlottesville and Richmond. The entire Bristol Bay fishery is a sustainable, biologist managed fishery to ensure its future viability. Farmed fish is categorically banned throughout Alaska to prevent the pollution of not only the coastal watershed but the wild salmon genome.
Every June Zac heads to Bristol Bay to fish on the Ugashik river. His fishing season lasts from mid June til the end of July with the peak occurring in mid July. During the peak they often fish for 2-3 days straight. While fishing, they are constantly selecting the very best of the catch to bring home to sell to customers throughout Virginia and D.C. The fish selected are bled on board the skiff, filleted and pack in ice. On shore they immediately package and freeze the salmon. This very special handling process is what sets Cold Country Salmon’s fish apart from any other wild caught salmon available on the market. Nobody in the industry has such exacting standards. This is why Zac and his crew designate their fish as “Beyond Sushi Grade”.
In addition to its superior King, Sockeye, and Coho salmon, Cold Country Salmon is able to supply its customers with several line caught species of fish including sablefish, halibut, pacific cod, and pacific rockfish. In addition to its raw seafood, the vendor offers smoked salmon, salmon spread, salmon cakes, spices, and glazes prepared in Northern Virginia.
Zac notes: You can view real time what’s going on in Alaska at our fish camp by visiting our Facebook site https://www.facebook.com/coldcountrysalmon
You will find Cold Country Salmon up on the plaza at the Westover market.