Unalaska, AK – The first red king crab of the season arrived in Unalaska over the weekend. The F/V Bering Star delivered about 14,000 pounds to Unisea when they returned to pick up more pots. Crew member Chris Eicher stood on deck as workers unloaded the catch.

"We had 116 pots on board and we spread each pot a mile apart," Eicher said. "We figured out where the crab are and then we narrowed our strings a little closer together. And we've been getting 50 average [with shorter soaks], 50 king crab a pot."

Most processors are offering $5 per pound of red king this season, 57 cents more than last year. With a total allowable catch of almost 20.4 million pounds, that puts the ex-vessel price at least $101.8 million. Greg White with ICE, the Intercooperative Exchange, said he thinks prices are higher than last year because the Japanese yen is strong in comparison to the U.S dollar. He also says the crack down on illegal fishing in Russia makes Alaska's market stronger.