National Fisherman

Boats & Gear

At Rockland’s last race of the day, the Fastest Lobster Boat, La Bella Vita and Witching Hour are bow-to-bow. Maria’s Nightmare II (not shown) won the race at 49 mph. La Bella Vita took second at 41 mph and Witching Hour was third. Jon Johansen photo.

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Maine Lobster Boat Racing kicks off 2023 season

Michael Crowley

The 40' x 16.5' Capt. William was launched in May for planting oyster shells and spat on Virginia leased oyster grounds. Larry Chowning photo.

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Virginia oysterman builds himself a new planter vessel

Larry Chowning

An Atlas Meridan camera system in the net enables Danish fishermen to know when they are catching nephrops, a valuable small lobster harvested in northern Europe. Ludvig Ahm Krag photo.

Artificial intelligence joins the crew

Paul Molyneaux

The best waterproof cases of 2023

Jose Antunes

Living aboard for up to five days, Shane Slaughter rebuilt the fo’c’sle of his Nova Scotia-built Dixon 42 and extended the wheel house aft so that he and his crewman could add a hot shower, a step up from the deck hose. Shane Slaughter photo.

Cross country

Paul Molyneaux

MacGregor’s electric net reels aboard the Norwegian trawler, Libas. Like the company’s winches, the net reels are powered by four electric motors. MacGregor photos.

The Buzz on Electric Deck Machinery

Paul Molyneaux

Lobster buoys made of fungi and coated with a soy-based paint may replace the styrofoam buoys that are known to shed microplastics into the sea. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Make room for 'shrooms

Paul Molyneaux

Peregrine Boats launched this 32’ x 16’ 6’ Bristol Bay gillnetter at the end of May. She should be able to plane with 12,000 pounds and work in 20 inches of water. Peregrine Boats photo.

Michael_Crowley

Design tweaks pack more horsepower, fish in a Bristol Bay gillnetter

Michael Crowley

Chris Johnson, aboard the 35-foot Reel Easy, has just hooked up with a bluefin in the Gulf of Maine. He is using a Trident 80-130, and the Alutecnos 130 2-speed reel. Reel Easy photo.

Going Big for Bluefin: Top-Notch Rod and Reel Key to Success

Paul Molyneaux

The lifting operation began carefully May 12 as the Rebecca T. Ruark was hauled out to repair damage inflicted by a pickup truck driven over a dock bulkhead in December 2022. Photo courtesy of Wade Murphy III.

Larry_Chowning

Historic Chesapeake Bay skipjack, hit by a truck, is under repair

Larry Chowning

This 27’ x 10’ garvey is going to Scotty George of Lancaster County, Va., to fish gill-nets in the Rappahannock River and Chesapeake Bay. Larry Chowning photo.

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Garveys and more garveys

Larry Chowning