Tag Archives: commercial fisherman
Elda Curtis Henry, followed in his Commercial Fisherman fathers footsteps, has passed away
Family and friends are mourning the loss of “Curt,” since he passed away in Eureka in the presence of his family.,, After graduating Arcata High School in 1964, he married Eloise Henriksen of Fortuna. Curt followed in his father’s footsteps to become a commercial fisherman, and when his father retired, he and Eloise also took over the family business of Henry’s Crab Traps. Curt continued to fish for Dungeness crab, salmon and tuna along the entire West Coast from as far as Tahiti to Alaska. Over the many years of his career, he owned and operated the Cavalier, Early Dawn, Compass Rose and The Jewel. He taught his older sons, Rodney and Jeffrey, along with his nephew, Raymond, to fish when they were in their teenage years. In 1991 Curt met his second wife, Carolyn. Together they ran a successful bed and breakfast at East Brother Light station in Point Richmond, Calif. After some time, he returned to fishing, and they also divorced. >click to read< 17:02
Home in Maine, Fisherman Taylor Strout reflects on the Alaska commercial fishing industry during the pandemic
From Maine, it takes him a good 24 hours and four airports to get where he is going. Taylor Strout is a mate aboard the Fishing Vessel F/V Northern Defender which was tied up at the dock in Dutch Harbor. As the crow flies, he is more than 4000 miles away from home. What is the draw? “It’s kind of a different level of fishing out here. And it was something that I’ve always wanted to do and try back when I first got into it. I had the opportunity to do it, and to try it, and I didn’t just try it, I ended up kind of falling in love with it. And continue to do it since. I love the rotation of it. You know, you go to work, you work hard, you put it in there, and then when it’s time to go home and focus on your family you get to come home and just be Dad and take care of the family that way too,” says Taylor. >Video, click to read< 12:50
Sanford “Sandy” Twitchell, Santa Rosa – WWII Marine Vet, teacher and commercial fisherman has passed away
Sanford “Sandy” Twitchell passed away on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at the age of 96, 17 days before his 97th birthday. He is now with the love of his life, Lois, and his middle son, Bob. Sandy, a man of God, was an amazing son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, Marine, teacher and commercial fisherman. During summers he was a carpenter and pursued commercial salmon fishing. He had a 38 foot boat named the ‘Tomina Mae.’ Later, he built the first cement commercial fishing boat on the West Coast, a 42 foot vessel built from government plans that he modified to make it stronger and more seaworthy. These mods were so superior, the government bought the plans. >click to read< 09:27
Obituary: William G. Englehardt of Salem, Ma., WWII-Korean War Navy Veteran, Commercial Fisherman
William G. Englehardt, 96, died May 10, 2021 after a brief illness. He was the husband of Maria C. (Constantino) Englehardt. He was born in Salem to the late Albert and Agnes (Buckley) Englehardt. William was an honorary discharged veteran of the United States Navy, who served our country from the Navy’s submarines during WWII & Korean War. He worked on assembly at the United Shoe for many years. William retired at the age of 62 he loved fishing so much that he became a commercial fisherman which he continued until the age of 88. >click to read< 13:25
Commercial Fisherman Thomas Allen Hoxsie of the Point Judith Fishing community, has passed away
Thomas A. Hoxsie,64, passed away Sunday May, 9, 2021. A lifelong resident of Narragansett, Tom was the son of the late Samuel Bailey and Anne Nichols Hoxsie. He was the beloved husband of Doris Aschman and devoted father of Sarah and Benjamin Hoxsie Tom was a fixture of the Point Judith Fishing community, spending over 30 years tending floating fish traps, lobstering on his boat, the North Star, and raising Point Judith Salts oysters. Tom was unique in his ability to see forward and backwards in time. He saw the fishing industry in its entirety – as a business, a way of life and as a part of a whole. >click to read< 07:15
James Farrell Styron, 89 of Davis, Commercial Fisherman, James Styron Fish Co., has passed away
James Farrell Styron, 89 of Davis, passed away Friday, May 7, 2021, at his home with family at his side. The eldest of four, James was born to Alice and Virgil Styron Aug. 2, 1931. James met the love of his life, Nadine, at Smyrna High School and they were married Oct. 21, 1950. Soon after, James served in the U.S. Navy. James returned to Davis to start his more than 40-year career in the commercial fishing seafood industry. In his lifetime, he fished several vessels, including the Lorraine, Gulf Stream, Ken-Pat and Dickie Boy, from the waters of Virginia south to Key West before later focusing on seafood sales. Beginning in Beaufort in the mid-1960s with his father Virgil, his business later migrated to Davis. James Styron Fish Co. was a thriving seafood venture with clients all over the country, >click to read< 09:59
Fishermen support local legislator’s bill that would ban offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Maine
The bill, LD 101, was introduced by Rep. William “Billy Bob” Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) who is also a commercial fisherman. “It is time to put a permanent halt to offshore wind development,” Faulkingham said during a hearing with the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Dozens of fishermen submitted testimony,,, Lobsterman Jason Joyce said the push by foreign wind companies seeking to industrialize the Gulf of Maine is an “unprecedented attack” on the fishery. “There are many other options of renewable green energy that don’t require the destruction of a hard-working industry,” wrote Nathaniel Snow, a Tremont lobsterman. “Nuclear power, hydroelectric and solar are all much more viable options. >click to read< 16:50
Shorefire fisherman Mark Rochfort feeds Christmas Island with a rod and a reel
For the past 25 years, commercial fisherman Mark Rochfort has navigated open sea off Flying Fish Cove. His company Shorefire has operated since 1994,,, Rochfort, who is nearly 60, says he still reels in fish weighing up to 200 kilograms. “I get out there in my open centre console with just a rod and reel. “People always ask me, ‘How do you do it?’ “But it’s alright — there are worse ways to make a living.” Old men and the sea – Mr Rochfort’s 83-year-old father helps him put the boat in the water every morning at 5.30am., photos, >click to read< 12:51
Fishery advocate Robert E. Best Sr. of Belford N.J. commercial fisherman/lobsterman/dealer, has passed away
Robert E. Best Sr., 78, of Belford, passed away April 20, 2021. Robert was born Sept. 20, 1942, in Long Branch, a son of the late Madlyn (Truax) and Frederick Best Sr. He lived in the Bayshore area all his life. Bob proudly served his country in the early 1960s as a part of the U.S. Navy’s construction force, the Seabees. In 1975 he found his true calling and became an independent commercial fisherman/ lobsterman. He and his partner, Jack Baker, opened the Shoal Harbor Lobster Co. in 1975 and ran it for 45 years until Hurricane Sandy destroyed the building. Bob was an advocate for local fishermen and the fishing industry in New Jersey. He worked with marine fisheries and senators. He was also the fisherman responsible for bringing black fish into the New Jersey fish markets. >click to read< 08:36
Tributes to Cove Fisherman Peter Gray, 64, who died at sea ‘doing the job he loved’
Lifeboat crews from Dunbar and St Abbs, a rescue helicopter from Prestwick and local fishing vessels joined the search for Peter Gray, of Cove, south-east of Dunbar. The 64-year-old dad-of-two and grandfather-of-two was located in the sea,,, His wife of 42 years Betty was very grateful to all the fishermen and volunteers who had joined the search for her husband. She told the Courier “he loved a holiday in the sun” but, as a fisherman, had “no time for hobbies”. Rev Dr. Suzie Fletcher said, “Peter Gray was one of the fifth generation of his family to fish from Cove, and had been out to sea doing the job he loved day in and day out for decades. His loss has left his family, the local community, many circles of fishermen and countless friends in shock. >click to read< 20:06
Kona fisherman snagged by large hook credits Coast Guard with saving his life, shows his gratitude
Kenton Geer says he was hauling gear aboard his boat the F/V Vicious Cycle last Tuesday when he was snagged by a massive hook and dragged across the deck. The 39-year-old commercial fisherman has worked on the water more than two decades. He says without the help of the Coast Guard he might not have made it back to shore alive. “I think that there was a real possibility, I could have bled to death,” Geer said. “Or be talking about not having a hand.” A helicopter trip to the hospital is a ride no fisherman ever wants to take. After five days at Honolulu’s Queen’s Medical Center 
and two surgeries, the fisherman is back in Kona and on the mend. But before going home, he made an important stop to thank the Coast Guard crew who saved him. >video, click to read< 14:50
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
