Clean pata and slit skin (3-4 slits on both sides) without cutting bone. Place in a deep pan with a tight cover. Add water, 7 Up and salt. Bring to a boil after 15 minutes, add baking soda. Baking soda will hasten the softening of the pata's skin.
Hook 4 to 7 pound sockeye salmon from June 10 to August 1, with a peak from July 1 to August 1. Take your pick from 50,000 three to five pound pink salmon from July 20 to August 20. Silver salmon runs of 150,000 strong stop to bite from mid-August to their peak in late September.
Crab fishing season on the Pacific coast extends from December to October, although up to 80 percent of the catch occurs within the first two months of the season. As of 2012, certain types of blue king crab sell for close to $5 per pound, meaning many boats generate $500,000 or more per season.