Just like every tourist that comes to Seattle, I wanted to see the guys throwing fish at the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market.
The Fish Market has been a mainstay at the Pike Place Market for almost 80 years. But it hasn’t always been “World Famous.”
The idea of throwing fish started as a marketing ploy in the mid 80’s to drum up business. John Yokoyama hired a consultant to help the near bankrupt business to survive. Throwing fish was one of the ideas that came out of that consultation.
After a few years, word spread about the “World Famous” fish market. It was featured on television news casts, newspaper articles and even an appearance on Good Morning America.
Soon every tourist coming to Seattle was visiting the market just to see a fish without wings sail through the air.
With their point and shoots and cell phone cameras, visitors gather around the fishmonger, waiting for that “someone” in the group to buy a little piece of Seattle to take home. The whole market seems to stand still as he yells the order to his coworkers, who reply in unison, repeating the order. Then, with the precision of a major leaguer, the fish is tossed to the back to be wrapped and packed.
But it’s not all work and no play.
For the next order, the fishmonger pulls a woman from the crowd. He positions her halfway between him and the back counter, convincing her to raise her arms like a goalpost.
As she closes her eyes, the countdown commences. With each beat, he rocks the fish back and forth.
Three
Two
One
And the release.
Like a last second field goal attempt for the win, the crowd stands silently on edge as the salmon flies through the air, erupting in cheers as it splits the uprights.
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