LIFE IN WATER

Four years ago, Emmanuel Williams told his circle of friends that he would be the first person in history to catch a Swordfish on a PWC. Last week, he did just that, proving that if you set your mind to something and believe, it will get done. As a fisherman who is fully dedicated to his craft, this catch signifies one of his biggest dreams turned into a reality.

The idea of evolving is desired, but the feeling of connection to the process - that impact is contagious. When it comes to making an environmental difference in the ocean, well that isn’t simply conceived or executed by one, it’s a series of people making waves of connections that unite and inspire many to make sustainable changes.

The XTRATUF team headed down to Cotty’s hometown of Croyde, North Devon

Meet Tommy Snyder - fisherman, surfer, snowboarder - who lives to take on the challenges of all weather and environments.

XTRATUFs are the foundation, and with the change of season - from fishing to gear work and spring to winter - the Insulated Legacy Lace Boot and Legacy Clog are the perfect footings to take me from chilly predawn mornings - frosty nets and frozen fingers- to the warm golden midday sun that has you question whether it’s the same day you woke up to.

When the dock ramp is a sheet of ice and it’s pitched at 45* degrees it's reassuring not having to worry about your footing. My go to for the wintertime in Alaska is the Men’s Swingsaw with the Glacier Trek sole. They’re warm boots so they end up being the first thing I grab before going out the door in most months. They’re comfortable to wear standing for long periods of time at the rail longlining and can handle whatever you throw at them off the boat and out in the wilderness.

My favorite way to recuperate after the holiday is to set fitness goals. I start a very strict diet and go into hiding for about 90 days as I get ready for the next season.

One of the many perks of spending the summer harvesting wild salmon in Alaska is the home pack —the fish that we bring home to feed our families. We make sure to smoke a good portion of the salmon that we bring home, creating a sweet and smoky treat that can be shared at family dinners or munched on for a quick healthy snack.

Words from the Ernest Henley poem “Invictus” which speaks to showing courage in the face of death.

“We’re proud to celebrate the amazing work of the non-profit High Fives Foundation. High Fives helps people who experience life-changing injuries return to and enjoy outdoor physical activities...”

“The unpredictability of the sea is an intoxicating appeal. You never know what you’re going to get.”

"It's been my dream to climb and ride some of the biggest and wildest mountain peaks in the world."

"This is just the beginning"

"Meet Errin Casano- Outdoor enthusiast and self professed boundary-pusher. She packed up her kayak and Xtratufs to set out on an ocean adeventure on the sunshine coast in British Columbia where gnarly winds attempted to push her off course."

"Sharkdiving isn’t for the faint of heart. For Tanner Mansell, the ocean and life around sharks is a lifestyle that he couldn’t ignore."

“Lifelong water lover and climber Noah Kane pushed himself harder and farther to reach new heights when he attempted a climb El Toro in Northen Mexico. See how he faced the toughest challenge of his life.”

“You’re going to like me for me. I hope to see the fishing industry become more colorful.”

"I thrive on the edge."

Why one fisherman spends his winters in the desert

"If this place doesn't bring you to your knees crying...you're not working hard enough."

It’s still dark outside and my hands are already black with grease. I feel a bead of sweat make its way down my spine and I wipe my brow with the back of my hand. “It’s always something,” I mutter to myself at least fifty times a day. The old stapling machine has shit the bed again and I haven’t quite mastered all its ins and outs. It’s getting late. We haven’t had a designated box-maker in years since we’re short-handed and if we have fish today, I’ll need all hands on deck to pack them when we get in. So here I am.

On Martin Luther King Day, we are reminded of the importance of community. Dr. King is a transcending spirit whose lifelong mission for civil rights still inspires us to learn and actively participate in the positive change our world needs.

For part-owner of Pike's Place Fish Market, Jaison, fishing has been in his life since his earliest memories spending time with his grandfather fishing for salmon and crab on the Puget Sound.

TO THE SURFACE. from gnarly bay on Vimeo. Producers - Aaron Schurman, Dana Saint, Dan RiordanDP / Photos / Audio / VO - Tyler MurgoAdditional footage - Jack Ieronimo, Rúni DjurhuusPost Production - Jack Ieronimo & Jordan IngramSound Design - Jared Blizzard Like most things, Covid-19 wreaked havoc on the...

Teddy Cosco is a passionate outdoorsman, enthusiastic camp cook, and sometimes-lucky fly fisherman. Exploring the tundra via floatplane, fishing off the Alaskan coast, and camping throughout the PNW, the Whitehorse-born now-Vancouverite grew up with the outdoors in his blood.

One of the great things about fishing is that you can make it as involved and adventurous as you want. You could fish with the family in a rowboat on a calm lake. Or, you could choose a deep-sea expedition with friends from college and even embark on extreme adventures. Napping on a riverbank with a pole in the water is still fishing, whether or not you catch anything.

My family has been making a living on the water and commercial fishing for hundreds of years, so I suppose it is in our blood. But, unlike my brothers who seemed inclined to be part of it from a young age, there were never any women working on my family's dock or coming off one of the fishing boats, so it hadn't crossed my mind or interested me that I could or would be a fisherman.

Manual labor can be hard on the feet. But don't worry. We rounded up the best work boots so you can carefully tread over sharps, hot surfaces, high voltage, and dangerous objects — or just stand on a hard surface for hours at a time.

Brewers have realized what Commercial Fisherman in Alaska have known for decades, that XTRATUF boots offer all day comfort and the best protection against the broadest range of acids, corrosives, and contaminants – keeping brewers protected no matter what's brewing.

For many months, we dreamed. We dreamed of a shimmering golden sea stretching across the horizon. We dreamed of dramatic granite faces rising from the depths of infinite blue, of mountains drawing lines of white from the sky to the ocean.

Alpine sports such as skiing and snowboarding aren't cheap. Even getting to the mountain can be expensive. Equipment rentals or purchases weigh on the wallet too, and for safety and comfort, skiers and boarders should buy the right apparel and gear. The high-end brands listed in this post are trusted for quality, durability, and fit. When properly cared for, they'll remain useful – and stylish – season after season.

Our favorite holiday tradition is making our family's wild salmon gravlax recipe. We love this simple recipe for curing fish and always have a batch going through December to share with friends and family.

Our small town's take on the Scandinavian tradition. Instead of masked carolers going house to house and getting treats, its community members going business to business and getting food. For us Julebukking takes place the week before Christmas and is a way for the small business community of our town to give a thanks back to their patrons for their business throughout the year.

Besides being an absolute shredder on snow, she is also Captain McKenna of her families fishing boat. Winters atop giant mountain peaks and summers catching Alaska salmon with her siblings teach a permanent lesson of hard work makes you a better skier.

Fishermen are expert story tellers. The more salty the fishermen, the better the story.

In the last 10 years an entire category in the fishing world has been taken over by what amounts to a pretty incredible fishing story. A fishing story for sure, this one involves brand evolution couched equally in Alaskan identity and keeping feet safe, dry, and stable while on the water.

It's 3:30 am, the third time waking up since I went to bed at 8:30, tossing and turning for who-knows-how-long. I have another 40 minutes before my alarm goes off. I roll over to face my husband and listen to his steady breathing. I close my eyes and wish I could fall asleep straight away as he does, or sleep through the night just once, but it's fishing season and my brain laughs at me...

This summer, I've been working my gear and learning the waters of Alaska's Prince William Sound through June, July, and now into August. Chasing the sockeye, keta, and pink salmon runs swimming their way through the bays, islands, and fjords that surround this wild place. Together, my partner Michael and...

Setting your alarm for a 4:30 AM wake-up can make for a long day working on the water. But for Pro Team Member Allan Mathisen, Dungeness crab fishing season is underway in Southeast Alaska. Last year was marked by a record price and harvest level, but this year with the market uncertainty, the price is about half of what it was last year. Here's hoping hard work pays off this season.

The events which have unfolded over the past weeks and that are happening as we type this are tragic and disheartening. They have brought to light many sad truths that aren't new, that racial inequality is far from uncommon. So, what do we do about it? What can we do...

Growing up in Maine, Linda developed a love of fishing at an early age, learning the sport from her father who would bring her fishing on their local lakes and rivers for panfish, brook trout, and landlocked salmon. She carried this passion with her when she moved to Alaska after college...

Experience the ocean's freshest delicacies with our mom's favorite fish stew. Originating in San Francisco, this Italian American dish was traditionally made from the cold and salty Pacific Ocean's catch of the day stewed with juicy fresh tomatoes in a wine sauce. Our mom's recipe pulls in Alaska's seasonal shellfish, halibut, crab, and shrimp.

In honor of National Siblings Day, we are celebrating The Salmon Sisters, Claire and Emma. Raised on a homestead in Alaska, they embody the hard work, dedication and commitment to community that we admire.

If you like the Salmon Sisters you're going to love what the Salmon Bros bring to the table.

What do brewers and fishermen have in common? Boots for starters. Maybe isinglass too.

We've made the 2020 Fish Alaska Editors' Choice Awards!

Your footwear is the foundation for a productive, safe and comfortable day at work. Employers and workers want to avoid injuries while on the job, and standing for long periods of time can lead to tired, accident-prone feet.

The XTRATUF Ankle Deck Boot (in men's and women's sizes) is designed for staying upright on a wet fishing boat, but despite its utilitarian origins, it looks good enough for city wear. This boot has a versatile and comfortable shape as functional as the workwear it's descended from, and it's styled sort of like a Chuck Taylor.

Learn how Rhode Island Trap Fisherman and XTRATUF Pro-Team member, Corey Forest and her family work together off the coast of our country's smallest state.

We've taken the guessing out of it.

The farm tour at Island Creek Oysters will take you through The Hatchery. If you've ever seen an episode of MTV Cribs, this is the part where the celebrity host would say, "this is where the magic happens." And yes, we are also referring to reproductive magic...

I wasn't sure how I was going to balance motherhood with fishing, but parting from either did not seem to be an option or a thought I could bear.

I don't think either of us really believed that we would make a career out of fishing, much less a career fishing together. The Holeman Brothers, Travis and Bear (Bryan) just had such crazy different personalities and views of the world.

I was an eager young 14 year old innocently arriving to a beautifully-treacherous place where I would learn to love the simplicity of a cup of black coffee and a granola bar.