Tag Archives: commercial fisherman
Obituary: Captain Michael Lee Lindgren of Ketchikan – Commercial Fisherman
Michael Lee Lindgren, 65, died April 26, 2021, peacefully at home after a short battle with cancer. He was born on Nov. 20, 1955, in Mason County, Washingon. “Mike had a lifelong passion for fishing that started at a young age when he would go shrimping with his beloved Grandpa Johnny in Hoodsport, Washington,” He moved to Ketchikan in 1979 to work at Whitman Lake Hatchery, where he met Jill, who would later become his wife. After working at the hatchery, he worked as a deckhand on a longliner, troller, seiner, tender and processor. In 1991, he bought the F/V Seven Seas, a wooden fishing vessel built in 1944,,, >click to read< 10:13
Obituary: Neil H. Brewer, of Freeman Twp, Maine, Commercial Fisherman
Neil “Pops” “Papa” Hugh Brewer, 71, of Freeman Twp., passed away April 25, 2021 at home with his family by his side after a long battle with cancer. He was born on June 27, 1949 a son of Carl “Bo” and Carrie Brewer in Boothbay Harbor. He attended school in Boothbay and became a commercial fisherman and a lobsterman after graduating high school. He worked many years on the boat side by side with his brothers and son, Keith. His heart was always on the water. He married Simone Cook on Nov. 6, 1971. In 1978 they moved to Freeman TWP on Cook Hill, where he lived the rest of his life. >click to read< 19:18
Commercial fisherman Devyn Campbell running for one-year Boothbay Harbor selectman’s term
Considering the position you are running for, what do you feel are the three most pressing issues? First, affordable housing is almost impossible to find in this town and year round rentals can take years to find. Second, year round employment – I’d like to find a way for people not to have to go elsewhere to find work in the winter after their summer job here is over. Third, working waterfront access and commercial maritime viability – Boothbay Harbor supports the commercial fishing fleets of Boothbay, Southport and Trevett. Protecting the interests of our fishermen and their families will be forefront during my service on the board. >click to read< 08:37
Obituary: Commercial Fisherman Anthony “Joe” Mattera, Jr
Anthony Joseph Mattera, Jr. “Joe”, 55, of North Kingstown, formerly of Cranston, passed away Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Philip Hulitar Hospice Inpatient Center in Providence surrounded by his loving family. Born in Providence, he was the devoted son of the late Anthony J. and Florence C. (DeRise) Mattera. Anthony was a commercial fisherman for many years and was a proud member of the fishing industry. A celebration of his life will take place at a later date. >click to read< 07:10
US Marine Corp Vet, Commercial Fisherman, Paul Bettencourt, Dies at 80
Paul “The Baitman” Bettencourt, 80, of Pawtucket, passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on Saturday, April 10, 2021. He was the beloved husband of Barbara R. (Stuart) Bettencourt for forty-three years. Born in Providence, Paul was one of twenty-one children of the late John and Emelia (Pacheco) Bettencourt. He resided the majority of his adult life in Pawtucket. Paul was a United States Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam Era and went on to a lifelong career in the commercial fishing industry, where he gained the nickname and call sign, “The Baitman”. Paul was totally devoted to God, his family, and his community. >click to read< 12:10
Obituary: Nevin Stanley May, Ketchikan, Alaska – Commercial Fisherman
Born in Prentice, WI, Nevin came to Ketchikan in 1967. In his words, “I thought it was the greatest place you could imagine. It was wide open, you could do just about anything you wanted.,,, Nevin began his storied career as a commercial troller soon thereafter and continued for more than 40 years, selling the F/V Cheryl in 2012. Through his years fishing, he made friends (and probably some enemies too!) with local, state, and federal politicians, and helped to shape some of today’s fishing regulations. He co-founded the Alaska Trollers Association and was a board member for several years. He was also a member of the Seafood Producers Co-Op, and served as chairman of the board from 2001-2002. Nevin was an avid hunter, both locally and nationally. >click to read< 10:05
Obituary: Captain Travis L. Thorbjornson, beloved husband, father, grandfather and son
Travis Lee Thorbjornson, beloved husband, father, grandfather and son, perished at sea tragically Friday, March 26, 2021 in Port Clyde. Born in Rockland, August 12, 1966, he was the son of Edward and Jacqueline (Kaler) Thorbjornson. Once you met Travis, it did not take long to realize that he was just as beautiful on the inside as he was on the outside. Travis met the love of his life, Renée Olsavick. They were married,,, Together, they would go on to raise three beautiful children in their Thomaston home. As a young man, Travis began his fishing career working with his brothers on the family owned fishing fleet. >click to read< Travis Thorbjornson Family Support Fund – The funds collected will be given to Renee for funeral and living expenses to support her and Travis’s family as they mourn the loss of such an amazing man. >click to read< and please give if you can. 07:49
Obituary: Commercial Fisherman Marvin Edward Tolonen in Sequim, Washington
Marvin Edward Tolonen, fisherman extraordinaire, boat builder, woodworker, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away March 17, 2021, after a brave battle with mantle cell lymphoma. Previous to his marriage, Marvin served two years with the U.S. Army. In 1980, the family moved to Prunedale, California, but eventually moved back to Astoria, where Marvin continued his commercial fishing career. He built his own fishing boats, the Olympia, the Seabreeze and the Seawind. He fished for tuna, salmon and swordfish on the Washington state, Oregon and California coasts. In 1999, Marvin moved to Sequim, Washington, where he lived until his death. >click to read< 11:09
Fisherman Nate Iszac caught a ‘Real-Life Sea Monster’ in Alaska, and they’ve become social media sensations!
A fisherman‘s unusual catch has been dubbed a ‘real-life sea monster’ by social media users after photos showed the beastly fish’s huge, gaping mouth and razor-sharp teeth. Fisherman Nate Iszac, 39, caught the bizarre fish in Alaskan waters earlier this month,,, Iszac, from Oregon in the US, poses in several images with the fish,,, He said: “When we saw it there was a nervous excitement in the air. After being found on 9 March in the Bering Sea off Akutan Island, Alaska, the animal has been identified as a wolf eel. Iszac confirmed he always puts his creatures from the deep back into the water, and that the wolf eel swam away unharmed. photos, >click to read< 08:36
Obituary: Reno Red Leaf
Reno Red Leaf, 31, our beloved son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend, was called home, to his eternal resting place on March 10, 2021, while living in Seattle Washington, just 1 week shy of his 32nd birthday. He entered this world on March 17, 1989, St. Patrick’s Day, in Ponca City, OK, born to Tony Red Leaf and Lynne Kitchell and he had 2 older brothers at the time of his birth, Toby and Roman. Reno will be truly missed by all who loved him and by those who have met him. Recently Reno was living in Seattle Washington working as a commercial fisherman out of Sitka, Alaska and Dutch Harbor during his untimely death. >click to read< 22:06
Commercial Fisherman Norwood Kline Frost, 77, of Salter Path N.C., has passed away
Norwood was born Dec. 10, 1943, in Morehead City to the late Floyd Staton Frost and Berna Marie Willis Frost. He spent his life on the water as a commercial fisherman and was the captain of the Frost fishing crew. It was through this he came to be the owner of Frost Seafood Market and Frost Seafood House Restaurant. He was proud of being able to serve fresh, local seafood to the Crystal Coast community for more than 50 years. >click to read< 17:55
Obituary – Scott Michael Kent of Nome, Alaska, has passed away
Scott Michael Kent, a resident of the Nome area for 20 years, and well known for his professional career, his community involvement, and his colorful personality, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021, of an unexpected heart attack. He was 45 years old. Scott grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on the shores of Lake Superior. Ultimately, he decided to make Nome his home and worked in commercial salmon and summer crab fisheries and spent time at various field projects and test fishing from southern Norton Sound to above the Artic Circle,,, >click to read< 19:21
Chase Dixon of Otway, N.C. has passed away
Chase Arline Dixon, 23, of Otway, passed away Friday, March 12, 2021, at his home. Chase loved working on the water as a commercial fisherman. He was a very loving person and had a very loving relationship with his mother and his sisters. He was an ambitious and helpful person who never knew a stranger. He loved hunting and spending time working in the garage with his father and in Texas with his cousins, Courtney and Cameron. His service is at 2 p.m. Thursday at Munden Funeral Home. >click to read< 12:51
Boat capsizes near Cape Kiwanda due to rough conditions
Despite being cautioned by fellow dory fishermen due to adverse conditions, a commercial fisherman launched his 21-foot wooden dory boat into the surf to retrieve his crab gear. According to Marine Deputy Dennis Greiner’s investigation and interview with the captain, the captain and one observer occupied the boat. The two men were making their third attempt to get through the surf when they took water over the bow. The captain then decided it was too rough and turned around to head back to the beach. >photos, click to read< 09:03
Obituary: Fred W. Bayley
Fred W. Bayley, 83, passed away on Feb. 26, 2021. Born on Nov. 17, 1937, Fred was the son of Russ and Bessie Bayley. Fred started clamming at the age of 7, lobstering by the age of 10. After lobstering, Fred went to Commercial Dragging for all types of fish and fished aboard the fishing vessels Kathleen M., Kathleen and Julie 11, and Kathleen and Julie 111. These were the state of the art high-liners on the East Coast. He owned various lobster boats, tuna boats and trawlers all of his life. Fred and Kathleen built and established the Bayley’s Campground in 1970, which became one of the largest camping resorts on the East Coast. Later on, they developed the Bayley Hill Deer and Elk Farm, with one of the finest herds in the country. >click to read< 08:55
Remembering John Picinich, 1949-2021
John Picinich, 71, a longtime resident of West Seattle who retired to Las Vegas, passed away on February 23, 2021. He was born December 19, 1949 in Tacoma to John and Johanna Picinich. He found the love of his life at the age of 20 in West Seattle, when he married Carol Ewing. John attended West Seattle High School. He went on to become a marine pipefitter and commercial fisherman. John was a member of Local 32 Plumbers & Pipefitters Union and worked at various shipyards in Seattle for many years. He fished for salmon in Alaska and the San Juans. and was the co-owner of the F/V Joanna. >click to read< 14:50
Obituary: Todd Arlen Chase
Todd Chase, 51, passed away Feb. 20, 2021, in a tragic commercial boating accident, aboard the F/V Coastal Reign, on the bar of Tillamook Bay and Garibaldi. Todd was born in Portland on Jan. 9, 1970. He spent his teenage years in Tillamook County. His surviving parents are Frank and Charlotte Chase, of Warrenton. Todd was always known for his strong work ethic and a love and appreciation of the water. From the age of 14, Todd was working on commercial fishing boats, in canneries and in construction. At the age of 21, he met Angeline Steinman at a Christian event. From that moment the chase was on. In August 1991, they married. There will be a funeral service to honor his life and what it stood for. >click to read< 22:43
Alaskans pursue permanent protections for Bristol Bay
Robin Samuelsen still recalls his first meeting about the prospective Bristol Bay. It was around 2005 or 2006, in Dillingham, Alaska. Listening to an early plan for developing a copper and gold mine in the spawning grounds of Bristol Bay’s abundant salmon, this Curyung tribal chief and commercial fisherman quickly made up his mind. “You’ll kill off our salmon,” Samuelsen remembers saying, adding: “I’ll be up there to stop you.” >click to read< 09:25
A Fundraiser by Lawauna Cappa – Westport Fisherman loses livelihood & home at sea
This morning my brother Matt Finley and his crew left the Westport dock with f/v Terry F loaded with crab pots to finally begin the crab season.,, The fishing vessel began taking on water and sinking.,,, I am tearful writing this with the thoughts of how things could have gone. I am thankful that my brother, his two crewmen, and his dog were all rescued. The fishing vessel is a loss…it was Matt’s livelihood and his home. >>click to read< and please, donate if you can! 11:30
Maine Commercial Fisherman Paul G. Johnson of Waldoboro has passed away
Paul G. Johnson, 60, died unexpectedly on February 8, 2021 at his home in Waldoboro. He was born September 8, 1960 in Rockland to Jesse Johnson and Winona Miller Johnson. After high school he worked for the Poiriers of Massachusetts in the salt factory at Upton Fuel Company for a short time. Soon after, Paul returned to work on the water as a fisherman back home. He dug clams, built traps and lobstered with his father and brothers, even hauled his own gear by hand out of a wooden flat bottom skiff built by his father, Jesse, and Fernald Carter. Paul was an elver fisherman, went pogie seining, was an urchin tender for many cold winters,,, He had a big heart, and he would give you the shirt off his back, a place to stay, and his last dollar if you needed it. >click to read< 13:43
Video Interview: Life for a Mainer fishing in the Bering Sea
Taylor Strout is the son of a fisherman; fishing simply runs in his blood. He is on a boat that fishes out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska,,, Taylor is a mate aboard the Fishing Vessel Northern Defender which, when we talked, was tied up at the dock in Dutch Harbor. The Aleutian Islands split the Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea, and they fish the Bering Sea. As the crow flies, he is more than 4000 miles away from home. “It’s kind of a different level of 
fishing out here.,, “You’re basically towing a football field behind you. You’re taking everything up to a bigger scale when you’re on some of these boats. Bigger weather, there’s bigger seas, sometimes we fish in 15 foot waves to 25 foot waves.” >click to read< 14:44
Peterhead community and famed fishing family mourn loss of ex-skipper James West
James West, a father-of-five, was born, raised and married into fishing families, leaving little surprise that he went straight to sea aged 15,, Mr. West, who died suddenly aged 70, will be remembered for his wealth of knowledge and passion for the North Sea and its fishing industry and for his dedication to his family. The youngest son of Alex and Elsie West, of Gamrie, he was born with fishing in his blood as his father was skipper of Be Ready then Golden Sceptre, making it little surprise that he too began a career at sea after leaving Bracoden School, aged 15. >click to read< 08:38
Commercial Fisherman Scott Landis has passed away
Scott grew up in Saratoga, California. After attending college at Chico State and having a life-altering experience in Mexico, he headed north to Alaska in 1973. He wanted to get a mining claim and become a gold miner, but with a baby on the way and the cohos running, he quickly changed career paths and became a commercial fisherman, something he had great passion for. Scott and his partner, Amy Limber, settled in the small fishing village of Port Alexander and had two children, Lael and Sasha. Scott quickly outgrew his 16-foot Poulsbo skiff and upgraded to larger boats. >click to read< 08:34
Stanley Clarence Hasbrouck of Tillamook, Oregon, has passed away
Stanley C. Hasbrouck, loving father of six, passed away on Jan. 7, 2021 at the age of 88. Stan was born on May 3, 1932 to Fred and May Hasbrouck, he was the youngest of 5 children. He joined the army in 1952 and served his country during the Korean War. Stanley was a commercial fisherman most of his life. He was also a mechanic, heavy equipment operator and the airport manager in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. >click to read< 09:55
Capt. Douglas M. Swain, 78, of New Bedford has passed away
Captain Douglas M. Swain, 78, of New Bedford died January 12, 2021 peacefully at home. He was the husband of Claudette E. (Verville) Swain. Born in New Bedford, son of the late Robert J. and Helen F. (Goss) Swain, he lived in New Bedford all of his life. He was formerly employed as a fisherman for many years retiring as captain of F/V Ambassador. Doug had a great relationship with his crew and the owner Geir Tonnessen. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Doug received the Purple Heart and the Vietnam Service Medal with 2 bronze stars. >click to read< 10:40
Commercial Fisherman Larry H. Robbins has passed away
Larry Harold Robbins, 45, left this world too soon Dec. 21, 2020. Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not; Heaven has gained an amazing soul and we love you big, big. He spent his entire life fishing, scalloping and spent this previous summer on a lobster boat with his son, Larry, who he loved more than life itself and took such great pride in him. Larry was able to share his love for the sea with Little Larry, which is now instilled in him. Larry has spent his adult life on many different boats, from Maine to Alaska, which was his love of life at sea. >click to read< 08:02
Nick McGlashan, ‘Deadliest Catch’ Fisherman Dead at 33
According to the Discovery website, McGlashan was a 7th generation fisherman who grew up in Akutan, Alaska. He started crabbing at the age of 13 on his father Bruce’s boat. His father was a longtime friend of Deadliest Catch star “Wild” Bill Wichrowski and in 2011, McGlashan was hired by Wichrowski to work on the Kodiak. He went on to head the crew on Wichrowski’s Cape Caution and then later the Summer Bay. >click to read< 11:15
An Fundraiser – Help for the Family of Mike Drake of Fortune, NL
Mike Drake at the age of 48 from Fortune, NL was among the crew of six on the Chief William Saulis, a scallop dragger, that sank in the Bay of Fundy this past Tuesday, December 15, 2020. Mike’s body was recovered late Tuesday from the frigid waters off the coast of southwestern Nova Scotia. At this time Mike remains at a funeral home in Nova Scotia while he awaits a flight home to Newfoundland to be returned to his family who are all anxiously awaiting for his arrival back home to give him a proper burial and hopefully give the family some closure to this great tragedy and loss. >click to read the rest<, and, please! Donate if you can. Thank you Joan Caines 20:56
New Bedford fisherman reflects on September battle with Coronavirus
The fishing industry, like most sectors, has not been immune to the pandemic. Tony Borges was catching fluke with his crew off the New Jersey coast in September when he developed a fever. The 63-year-old veteran fisherman, aware a crew member tested positive for coronavirus, took some Tylenol and got back to work for another tow. About two weeks later, he was in a hospital bed asking his doctor if he was going to die. >click to read< 07:44
Obituary: Commercial Fisherman Michael John Porper Jr.,
Michael John Porper Jr., was born Feb. 12, 1982, in Gloucester, Mass., and was living with his fianceé and daughter, Grace, in North Berwick when Mike was lost at sea On the morning of Nov. 23, 2020, Mike was on his way home from a fishing trip, when tragically the boat sank. Mike was a loving father to two beautiful daughters, Myiah Olivia Porper and Grace Ann Porper. Michael loved what he did he was always proud to be known as a fisherman. >click to read< 12:05
