Anchorage Daily News

The halibut season opened Saturday, and local fishmongers expect to have fresh flatfish on ice this week.

Dannon Southall of 10th and M Seafoods said he hopes to have the fish from Homer in today.

Southall said the weather has been a little rough, making the halibut harvest tougher.

“The boat hasn’t even hit the dock yet,” he said Tuesday morning, so he doesn’t know what the price will be.

The International Pacific Halibut Commission reduced the harvest again this year so nobody knows yet what that will mean to supplies.

Nearly 5 million fewer pounds of fish will be caught, a 7.3 percent cut from last year. About 50 million of the 60.4 million pounds allowed can be harvested from Alaska waters. The rest will be taken from California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The harvest runs until Nov. 15.

For a halibut alternative, Southall has fresh cod at $6.95 per pound for fillets. Rockfish and sole fillets are running $7.95.

The 10th and M stores have troll-caught king salmon in, and those are running $25.95 for fillets.

Fresh halibut is one of those fish that can use a little something extra to pop off the plate. Since the warm weather has been upon us, Dale Walberg’s Mile 5.2 Greenhouse in Eagle River is teeming with fresh herbs that a home cook might consider when serving Kachemak Bay-area fish.

Walberg said he has fresh basil, thyme, sage, parsley, lavender, oregano, mint, chives and lemon balm.

Valley farmer Alex Davis says he has tomato starts poking through the potting soil, so he’s getting ready to start the farming season all over again. He’s still taking orders for ducks. He said they would plan to hatch the birds this spring and have them ready to eat in the fall. He requires a $10 down payment with the rest due at $2.50 per pound at slaughter.

He will have russet, purple and blue potatoes in $5 and $10 bags at Northway Mall on Thursday. He also has more than 1,000 pounds of carrots: 1 to 19 pounds, $2.25 per pound; 20 to 49 pounds for $1.75 and 50 pounds or more for $1.25.

Farm fresh eggs also are available.

Davis is at the mall from 3 to 7 p.m. near David’s Jewelers. Call for pre-orders at 1-907-746-0038.

Find T.C. Mitchell online at adn.com/contact/tcmitchell or call 1-907-352-6716.

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