National Fisherman

Paul Molyneaux

Editor

Paul Molyneaux is the Boats & Gear editor for National Fisherman.

Author Archive

Jeremy Zirlott had to drop his price on 21-25 headless shrimp from $7 to $4.90 in order to compete in a market flooded with subsidized farmed shrimp. “I don’t know if we can stand another year of this,” he says. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Imports killing shrimp prices

While Mike Vernese sells the Slayer with power options including a Honda engine and a Porta bracket, Tohatsu engines also seem to be popular. All in all the hull, trailer and engine can cost fishermen around $45,000. Ugly Boats photo.

Slayer Skiffs: Multi-role boats for Gulf fishermen

A Carsoe autofreezer, a fully automated freezer line that produces precision-weighed fillet or surimi blocks. Carsoe photo.

Follow the leader

It’s always raining when a seine is coming through the block. Deck hands on the Silver Wave, test the Vallation Dark Rain series, while landing salmon from a set in Puget Sound in autumn 2021. Taylor Jackson photo.

Vallation outerwear offers a new ‘best defense’

Fishing one of the most challenging environments in Washington, Leeroy Courville shares the waters with tugs and barges that maneuver around his 32-foot boat while he works. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Fishing Washington's urban wilderness

James Langer, US sales manager for Castoldi demonstrates the easy access for cleaning the jet. The Castoldi jet is built for shallow water operation and has an automated system for clearing debris from the intake. Paul Molyneaux photo.

The Jet Set

Ted Teske is part of the NIOSH team administering $6 million dollars in research and training grants aimed at projects that will improve the safety and health of commercial fishermen. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Coast Guard, NIOSH offering $6 million in safety funding

Shaun Vary’s family fished the Great Lakes for seven generations, moving from wood and sail to steel and diesel. Vary bought the 59-foot fish tug Harry Purvis in 2009 and converted it into a pleasure boat. Credit: Shaun Vary

The fish tugs survive

Just like the Terminator landed in dark city from the future, the Battleship appeared in Seattle, looking like it took a beating on the way. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Survival of the fittest

The Irene Alton’s lines came from a half-model carved by Alton Raynes; Bernard Raynes named the boat after his father and mother, Irene. Raynes painted the hard-working boat every year, and NF writer Paul Molyneaux tarred the rigging. Maynard Bray photo.

A death in the family