She Fishes With Style And ‘Grace’

The following appears in the March issue of Alaska Sporting Journal:

BY TIFFANY HERRINGTON

Off the coast of Southeast Alaska, where the ocean’s vastness stretches well beyond the horizon, Kat Murphy can be found solo-navigating her 38-foot wooden fishing vessel, the F/V Grace.

A first-generation commercial fisher, Murphy has willfully chosen a way of life dictated by the rhythm of the salmon run, the capriciousness of the sea and the relentless demands of running a small fishing business. Her story, now immortalized in the short film The Grace, directed by filmmakers Natalie Berger and Moira Fett, is as much about her individual grit as it is about the sustainability of Alaska’s troll fishery and the intimate connection between fishermen and the natural world.

FROM SAILOR TO DECKHAND TO CAPTAIN

Murphy’s journey to becoming a commercial fisher began far from the icy waters of Alaska. Growing up in southern New York, she found herself drawn to water despite limited access to local waterways. In her 20s, she worked on educational sailing vessels, providing children with the opportunity to experience the ocean firsthand. “If you want people to care about our oceans and ecosystems,” Murphy reflects, “you have to provide them access to it.”

Her passion for maritime life led her to the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Washington State, but the shipyard industry proved an ill fit. “I wasn’t willing to work all year on land or fight various forms of sexism that put up barriers to entry,” she recalls.

In 2017, Murphy’s path took a pivotal turn when she landed a deckhand job in Alaska’s power-troll salmon fishery. The experience ignited a spark that would change her life.

Just a year later, armed with determination and a modest savings from her deckhand earnings, Murphy purchased the F/V Grace. The vessel had been sitting idle for years in Washington’s Bellingham Harbor, but Murphy saw its potential. With the support of friends and family, she readied the boat for the 700-mile journey up the Inside Passage and began her career as a captain.

“Nothing really prepared me to go from deckhand to captain, let alone figure out how to catch salmon,” Murphy admits. “It was a brutal learning curve.”

SOLO FISHING CHALLENGES

Fishing solo on the Grace demands physical endurance, mental fortitude and resourcefulness. “When you fish alone, you don’t really stop moving,” Murphy says. From steering the boat through fog and rough seas to icing fish in the hold and preparing meals on the fly, her days are a constant balancing act.

“I’ve gotten pretty creative about feeding myself,” she adds with a laugh, describing her “gear nachos” – a quick meal assembled during busy fishing runs.

Despite the grueling pace, Murphy finds moments of profound beauty and fulfillment on the water. “The gratitude I feel for a calm, sunny day or a full moon lighting up the night is indescribable,” she says. These moments remind her why she endures the hardships of fishing: the connection to Alaska’s wild places and the satisfaction of providing high-quality, sustainably caught salmon to her customers.

But the challenges extend beyond the physical demands of fishing. Murphy recalls one particularly difficult season when she had to haul out her boat with one hand in a cast, relying on the support of friends to complete the job. “I wouldn’t be where I am without my community,” she says.

Therapy, both talk-based and somatic, has also been instrumental in helping her manage the stresses of life at sea. “A healthy brain handles stress and decision-making so much better on the fishing grounds,” she notes.

FOR THE FISH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

For Murphy, the roles of fisherman and environmentalist are not opposing but intertwined. “Fishermen rely on healthy forest and ocean ecosystems to sustain the salmon runs that feed us,” she explains.

Southeast Alaska’s troll fishery is a model of sustainability, employing a traditional hook-and-line method that ensures each salmon is individually caught, bled and iced. This meticulous process produces some of the highest-quality wild salmon on the market, all while minimizing environmental impact.

Murphy’s work is regulated by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, which sets strict escapement goals to protect salmon populations. “We all respect these fish and this resource,” she says. “We want to protect these runs for future generations.”

This respect extends beyond her role as a fisherman. Murphy’s connection to her surroundings is deeply personal. “Being on the front lines, observing the natural world day in and day out, makes us conservationists in a way few others can be,” she says. Her lifestyle, dictated by the cycles of the salmon, exemplifies a harmonious balance between human activity and environmental stewardship.

The Southeast Alaska troll fishery itself is a remarkable example of sustainability in action. Unlike large- scale industrial fishing operations, the troll fishery operates on a small scale, with boats rarely exceeding 52 feet in length. Fishermen like Murphy use hydraulic gurdies to lower and raise high-tension wire with hooks and lures spaced throughout, targeting salmon one by one. The process is labor-intensive but ensures the highest-quality catch while maintaining the ecological balance of the region.

CAPTURING A LIFE AT SEA

When filmmakers Berger and Fett met Murphy in 2020, they were immediately captivated by her fiercely independent spirit and the emotional depth of her journey. “Kat was entering her fourth fishing season,” Berger recalls. “She was still navigating the steep learning curve of her trade, experiencing profound growth along the way.”

Over the course of two years, the filmmakers documented Murphy’s life on and off the water, crafting a cinematic portrait of her world. Shooting on the Grace presented unique challenges, from cramped quarters to unpredictable weather. “The boat was small, but that limitation forced us to focus closely on Kat,” Berger says. “Her challenges and victories became the heart of the story.”

Fett adds, “For Kat, being a fisherman and an environmentalist are inseparable. Her livelihood depends on the salmon’s annual return, so environmental stewardship becomes both a moral obligation and an act of self-preservation.”

Driving the Grace through the Inside Passage from Washington to Alaska was one of the most impactful experiences for Berger. “Serving as part of Kat’s crew deepened my understanding of her work,” she says. “The level of alertness required to navigate the vessel and the responsibility of being at the helm were humbling.”

The journey also offered breathtaking moments, such as witnessing the interplay of light and landscape in Alaska’s remote wilderness. The filmmakers were equally struck by the emotional layers of Murphy’s story. “Her passion for her work and her resilience in the face of challenges inspired us deeply,” Fett says. They chose an observational style for the film, allowing the raw beauty of Murphy’s life and environment to speak for itself.

“Both power trolling and verité filmmaking require patience and attentiveness,” Berger notes. “We wanted the film to reflect the quiet dedication that drives both practices.”

TESTAMENT TO RESILIENCE

The Grace is more than a documentary; it is a testament to resilience, sustainability and the enduring bond between fishermen and the natural world. For Murphy, the film captures not only her life but also the broader story of Alaska’s independent fishermen.

“We are small, family-owned and -operated boats,” she says. “We fish in all types of weather, year after year, because we love it and because we are responsible for feeding people.”

Berger and Fett hope the film will inspire audiences to think critically about where their food comes from and support sustainable practices. “Through Kat’s story, we aim to provide a nuanced look at what it truly means to fish sustainably on a small scale,” Berger explains. “We hope to inspire deeper reflection on how we live in harmony with the environment.”

Fett highlights the film’s observational style, which mirrors the patience and attentiveness required in both power trolling and filmmaking. “Kat’s meticulous process, her adherence to regulations and her connection to the environment challenge common perceptions of commercial fishing,” she says.

Murphy’s resilience extends beyond her work at sea. The challenges of running her direct-market seafood company, Katfish Salmon Co., require her to juggle multiple roles: fisherman, business owner and advocate for sustainable fishing practices.

“Getting to hand out and ship fish that I’ve carefully caught all summer is one of the most rewarding parts of my work,” she says. “The connection and traceability I can provide my customers is vital.”

LOOKING AHEAD

As Murphy continues her work on the Grace, she remains committed to her mission of providing high-quality, traceable seafood. Despite the hardships of this demanding lifestyle, Kat credits her persistence and the lessons learned over the years as key to her growth as a fisherman and business owner. Each challenge has shaped her ability to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing industry.

Murphy’s story, like the film that bears her boat’s name, is a testament to the power of perseverance and the beauty of a life lived in tune with nature. For those who watch The Grace, the hope is that viewers not only glimpse the challenges and rewards of a fisherman’s life, but also come to appreciate the vital role of sustainable practices in preserving Alaska’s wild resources for generations to come.

In addition to inspiring audiences, Murphy sees the film as a time capsule of her life and the vessel she cherishes. “The Grace is a special boat, built in 1946 in Seattle,” she says. “Many boats ike her are slowly being lost to time. Having footage of the Grace is important from a historical standpoint because it represents a way of life that still exists.”

For Berger and Fett, the film’s impact lies in its ability to spark conversations about sustainability and the resilience of independent fishing captains. “There’s something mythical about how Kat’s life revolves around the salmon run,” Berger reflects. “It’s a cyclical, interconnected story that we hope resonates with viewers on multiple levels.”

As the F/V Grace continues to navigate Alaska’s open waters, it carries the legacy of those who dedicate their lives to this demanding and rewarding way of life. By sharing her story, Murphy ensures that the voices of independent fishermen remain heard and valued in an ever-changing world. ASJ

Editor’s note: For more information about the short film The Grace, visit upstreamgrace.com/the-grace. Learn more about Kat Murphy’s seafood company at katfishsalmonco.com. Tiffany Herrington is a writer based in the Seattle area.