Salty Debbie (Keree)
Alaska
Information
Summer Home: Bristol Bay, Alaska
Winter Home: Chugach, Alaska
Years fishing: 5 Years
Athlete Story
Hi there!
I’m your fisherman, Keree Smith. During the summer, I own and operate a 32-foot commercial gillnetter in Bristol Bay, Alaska.
A friend first introduced me to commercial fishing back in 2015. Before coming to Alaska, I had never been on a boat in the ocean.
The first six hours I spent on the water were some of my most memorable; I spent them green as can be, bent over the side of the boat hurling every 15 minutes. My skipper pulled me aside and asked, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Five years later, I purchased the FV Deborah and completed my first season as skipper.
When I’m not on the salty seas, you can find me working on my hand-built cabin in rural Alaska, flying small planes, or ski guiding in the Chugach.
Purchasing a box of premium sockeye fillets from small-scale fishing operations like mine directly supports the livelihood of each and every fisherman. So thank you, and enjoy!
