The highest posted price doesn’t always make the best landing. Before you commit a catch, it’s worth understanding how the fish gets priced, weighed, graded, and paid — and whether the plant can actually take your volume. Here’s what to pin down with any buyer.

Price — and what’s behind it

Ask when the price is set and what it’s based on. A good buyer agrees the buying price before you deliver, based on species, market, grade, condition, and volume — not a number you find out at the dock. And a headline price means little until you also understand the weight basis and the grading behind it.

Weight

Which weight controls the settlement? Fish should be weighed on the plant’s commercial receiving scales, with the weight basis clear before you land. If you don’t understand how it’s weighed, you don’t really understand the price.

Grading

Know how size and condition affect grade and value — and that it’s applied the same way every time. Grading terms should be worked out with you ahead of delivery, and they can vary by species and program. Ask who makes the call and how a disagreement gets sorted out.

Settlement & pay

You delivered — how and when do you get paid, and who do you call with a question? You don’t need a buyer’s whole payment schedule up front, but the terms should be clear before your first delivery so there are no surprises after the fish is off.

Capacity — can they actually take it?

A plant that can handle one boat might not have room for a surprise tender load. A straight buyer is honest about receiving limits, line and cold-storage capacity, and other landings already booked. Planning ahead gives both sides better visibility — but capacity isn’t yours unless it’s been confirmed.

Communication

Most offload problems start as communication problems. Sort out the dock contact, ETA updates, and who can approve a change before the season’s on top of everyone.

How we do it at AFF

We agree price, grading, and weight basis before delivery, weigh on our commercial receiving scales, and our team handles the receiving records and fish tickets. The specifics depend on the species and program — so the real answer is always a direct conversation.

Part of our guide for Cook Inlet fishermen & tenders.

Considering AFF for a landing? Talk to us →