Krista and Ryan Philbrick are making high-quality salmon accessible and affordable right out of their Gig Harbor home.
The couple has fish in their blood, not to mention a strong and innovative work ethic. Ryan grew up in Sun Valley but spent his summers in Alaska, fishing with his father in Bristol Bay. Ryan’s family has several generations of boat-builders, so being on the water was natural to him.
His boat, F/V Legend, is based in Bristol Bay. Krista grew up in north Tacoma, and Gig Harbor seemed a perfect fit when they got married and were ready to settle down.
Krista’s nickname, “FishWife,” spawned from her jokingly telling Ryan she had to go “darn his nets” in the offseason. It was only after the nickname stuck that she realized the true meaning of the term:
“Coarse and loud woman: an offensive term for a woman who is regarded as loud-voiced and lacking in manners.”
Krista laughs it off now. Particularly since the business sold 50,000 pounds of salmon in 2012. Not bad!
FishWife Salmon is wild Alaskan sockeye, caught fresh and immediately frozen. It tastes fresher and better than the options so common in a grocery store.
Each fish is bled as soon as it leaves the water, and that creates a longer-lasting, better-tasting dish. The salmon are immediately chilled in Ryan’s refrigerated boat to 33 degrees, and shortly after harvest, the bin bones are removed. The fish is then vacuum-packed and flash-frozen.
FishWife Salmon provides free delivery around the Puget Sound for orders made online, and orders outside of the area have a minimal charge. The sockeye is sold in fillets, portions and smoked. Prices are available at FishWifeSalmon.com.
Gig Harbor Guide columnist Laureen Lund is the marketing director for the City of Gig Harbor. She can be reached at lundl@cityofgigharbor.net.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.