Tag Archives: Anthony Rhodes

So. You wanna be a “Wicked Tuna” Fisherman, eh? Stranded in Mattapoisett

t1200-westva2Anthony Rhodes has had a rough week. The 22-year-old West Virginian was left stranded in Mattapoisett with $60 to his name, a skateboard and a 31-foot fishing boat taking on water. After watching “Wicked Tuna,” a National Geographic Channel show about Gloucester blue fin fishermen, Rhodes knew that’s what he wanted to do. Bringing his uncle, a mechanic, with him, and using funds from an accident insurance settlement, Rhodes came to Massachusetts in search of a boat. He found a reasonably priced 1972 fishing boat in good condition, got his commercial fishing license and had Brownell Systems tow the boat to Mattapoisett. Then things started to tank. Rhodes said small amounts of money began to disappear, but he assumed his uncle, who he didn’t want to name, may have sent some of it home to his family. Not knowing how to use the bilge pumps, the boat began taking on water, something was draining the batteries and the starters weren’t working. “We have no idea about boats,” admitted Rhodes. Read the story here 13:35