06/09/2026
I had someone once ask me long ago what type work I do, I told them I was a commercial fisherman. They said, "oh that's cool sounds like an awesome job". Well, it is, but its so much more than that. A fisherman's duty isn't just catching fish, seafood. You become a deck hand, an engineer, mechanic, electrician, a fitter, welder, painter, fiberglass tech, rigger, pilot/captain, meteorologist, book keeper. What we don't know we learn and we often learn it the hard way by trial and error. We spend 3x's more time working than someone with a 40 hour a week job and that's being modest. We eat when we can and most of time its on the fly all the time. Fisherman generally get maybe half the sleep someone with a 40 hour week job if we lucky. Fishermen spend a lot less time in their bed at home and a lot more time in the bunk on the boat when they can actually catch a nap. I'm not complaining, but when that fisherman pulls up or you go to his boat to purchase his shrimp, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that many if not most people don't know. That's just some of the inside scoop of being a fisherman. Many of us have spouses and they live the same life and if they don't always participate they do stand strong behind us when we need it. I left this industry nearly 11 years ago because I basically worked myself into the hospital almost to my death. I've since gotten my health better but I'm not 100% of what I once was. I'm not even sure I'm 75% of what I once was. Im currently on my boat trying to finish up some last minute details trying to make sure everything works smoothly because ill be by myself without a deckhand and less than 100%. What i do have is the experience and the determination to get out and start bringing in some fresh catch. I'm sure it won't be to the magnitude of what we once were bringing in during our history but it will be something and I feel fortunate that God has blessed me with the opportunity to get back out do what I love to do.
