I love the fishing industry for its freedom and the opportunity to reconnect with our primal roots. Back then, we were hunters and gatherers; we weren’t catered to by everything you see up and down the street. I feel more in touch with my human race out there; I’m paying my way in blood essentially and providing sustenance for people. Working outdoors allows me to witness the beauty of marine life and the last frontier of wilderness. I see pods of dolphins, whales, and all kinds of marine life.
However, the way the fishermen get paid by the buyers is unfair. Operating costs are $4000, covering fuel, filters, and food, yet the outdated pay structure echoes prices from the 1970s. After a week of strenuous work, I bring home a mere $300, a fraction of what I could earn elsewhere in a day. I spend time away from my family, friends, and loved ones, and it feels like I’m standing on my graveyard sometime. It’s disheartening.
My goal next year is to recover fully and return to fishing, either resuming full-time cutting or exploring the possibility of becoming a buyer. I aim to transition to a less physically demanding role while piecing my life back together. There’s a potential opportunity in Hawaii involving longline fishing that will get me back into fishing full-time, but waiting on my hand to recover is the one thing slowing me down.
If my hand isn’t yet recovered, I could still be captain in Hawaii, but I want the crew’s respect. Being actively involved in baiting, cutting, fishing, and pulling is crucial to maintaining a positive dynamic with the crew.
.
Interview & 📸by @mwatsonnyc official HOTK Reporter in San Diego 🌊
