Paul Martinis - The Salmon King

Among the many Komiža residents who set sail for distant seas, Paul Martinis stood out in particular. His name entered the history of American fishing thanks to the extraordinary salmon catches in Bristol Bay and the cold waters of the Bering Sea. However, Paul was not only a skilled fisherman in well-known fishing grounds. He was also the first American fisherman to discover the riches of salmon in the dangerous and uncharted waters of the Aleutian Islands. Where many were afraid to set sail because of storms, fog, and merciless waves, he found new fishing grounds. His courage and successes did not go unnoticed. In 1958, he received the official state recognition of the United States of America – the title King of Salmon. This recognition was given special weight by the fact that the award was personally presented to him by then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Thus, Paul Martinis, a fisherman from Komiža, became a legend of American fishing and a symbol of perseverance, courage, and skill. His name is still remembered today as the name of a man who knew how to tread where others dared not.