National Fisherman

Boats & Gear

Dungeness crab fishermen in Puget Sound try out Vallation Outerwear’s Ocean Rein Pullover. Made of PU Foam, the Ocean Rein is more flexible than PVC, and features designed to reduce snags, especially when handling nets. Photo by Bri Dwyer

Vallation Outerwear gains ground with fishermen

Paul Molyneaux

Here the Peggy is spit shined up on the hard at Deltaville Boat Yard in 2018. She will be doubly spit shined for her 100th birthday party in September. Larry Chowning photo.

Larry_Chowning

Charmed life for a Chesapeake buyboat

Larry Chowning

The 34’ tuna boat Lea Katherine is the 78th wooden boat being built at John’s Bay Boat in South Bristol, Maine, since Peter Kass opened the shop in 1983. A majority of the boats were fishing boats. Jon Johansen photo.

Michael_Crowley

Last newbuilds at John’s Bay Boat, but the work carries on

Michael Crowley

Maritime Fabrication modified the Starship from a strictly Bristol Bay gillnetter for fishing Southeast Alaska salmon and halibut. with a new deck drum and stern roller making hauling and setting longline gear easier. Maritime Fabrication photo.

Michael_Crowley

Conversion broadens horizons for an Alaska gillnetter

Michael Crowley

The plum bow, relatively flat run aft, and other features made Allswater’s Opus 42 a finalist in the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency efficient hull contest. Photo by Allswater

Nova Scotia lobster fleet goes electric

Paul Molyneaux

According to Carl Huffman, a pair of Pacific fishermen came east to fish giants and landed this 893-pound monster using a Hydraulic Brute H15 reel. Photos by Electric Fishing Reel Systems

Electric fishing reel systems hooks success

Paul Molyneaux

Konrad Marine has put stern drives on many small crabbers and other types of fishing vessels. The company’s dual prop 680B stern drive is often paired with the Cummins QSB 6.7 engine and is approved for up to 550 hp at a 3,300 RPM rating. Photo by Shane B

Outside the box stern drive

Paul Molyneaux

Members of the fishing industry itself will lead a Transition to a Low Carbon Fishing Fleet. Photo by Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign/ Shutterstock

Guiding the shift to low-carbon fishing

NF Staff

The 59’ longliner Evening Star was one of 140 boats that was hauled out and overhauled in 2024 at Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op. Port Townsend Shipwrights Co-Op photo.

Michael_Crowley

That’s a wrap for 2024 at Port Townsend

Michael Crowley

Pullmaster’s largest winch, the H30 rapid reverse winch—seen here on the New Bedford-based scalloper/trawler Ocean Pride—does not freewheel but lets wire out at 4.3 times the speed that it hauls it in. Paul Molyneaux photo.

The Cadillac of winches powering commercial fishing

Paul Molyneaux

Josh Dunham, left, helps test the new Mustad Autoline pot/longline hauler while fishing golden king crab in Southeast Alaska. “He liked it,” Dunham says of the skipper who tried out the hauler. “He bought the first one.” Mustad Autoline photo.

Mustad Autoline’s latest enhances fishing efficiency

Paul Molyneaux