swords life on the line

General Fishing Discussion
1

does anyone watch that show?

i find it pretty entertaining usually but does it portray an accurate view of commercial fishing?

i guess i just like fish coming over a rail regardless :stuck_out_tongue:

2
quote:
Originally posted by Ridgefisher

Yea, Chopper needs an attitude adjustment. Not sure about the realality of the show! Sure they ad-lib to make the ratings…

I think Chomper’s is under more stress than the other captains on that show. They are all on a boat that is owned by someone else. Their stress is keeping a job on the particular boat they are on. If they lose their job, they find another boat (yes, easy to say). Chompers isn’t on a million dollar, steal hulled long liner. He’s on a 100k (and I’m being generous there) wood hulled boat that belongs to him. His budget is probably 1/4 what the other guy’s is and every expense hits him harder than the bigger boats. Yes…his attitude can suck…but yours likely would too.

I’m just happy to see a North Carolina boat up there on the Banks.

3

I watch and I like the show. As far as accuracy, it’s just like any reality show, with creative editing they tell the story they want to tell. They also would have you believe that all they catch are swords, tuna and the occasional shark which is always released alive and well. But actually long-liners kill a lot of by-catch which wouldn’t play well on TV so that footage ends up on the cutting room floor. However the by-catch kill rate is greatly reduced now that they use circle hooks.
My biggest question about Chompers is why does he waste all that fuel sailing to the Grand Banks when he can fish the Georges Banks? Slick on the Frances Anne does pretty well there.
I loved the closing scene last week with “Tokyo Scotty” getting Chompers fired up on the radio. That was classic.

4

Chompers is who I relate to more than the other captains.

Linda is in a dif. league, obviously. Scotty as well. They make it look easy, but it’s from years of experience, really good equipment and great crews. Slick is like the up and coming dude that has to work hard or else fail. Chompers is the little man in the little boat. He has learn a lot from being humbled many times, but he keeps on going for it. It is not just that his margins are a bigger deal on the small boat. The dudes on his boat are desperate, and rarely the same crew each trip. He’s dealing with less than ideal equipment. He owes somebody for over half of what you see on his boat. That is why a foul up is such a big deal to him while others will just take it in stride as part of fishing.

It seems they stay away from Georges Bank sometimes because of the lobstermen and trawlers having to be worried about. Also seems to be more hit or miss with the fish. Grand Banks is where the big boys are, and I think if the sets are right with the moon and where they’re putting the lights, etc. they can really rake the fish in. Not as much conflict with other commercial dudes until the Japanese ship steams in and intentionally fouls everything to run the little guys off. I think if it wasn’t for editting you’d see a lot more dramatic stuff going on than what ends up on TV. Same with deadlist catch. How do you think crabbers can work 30 hours straight. Man, when I have fished offshore 3 days in a row (getting some sleep between trips) I will straight up fall asleep standing up in a boat running in rough water if someone isn’t talking to me. So how is a crabber on a boat for a month and working 24hr+ shifts with the kind of work they’re doing? I don’t think it’d be appropriate for TV to show everything those folks have to do thanks to the way fishing is and also in part to our wonderful federal agencies who decide to make everyone push it to the limit and race against their unknown season deadlines.

www.scmarine.org

www.joinrfa.com

5

good point on the crab fisherman. no one stays up for 3 days w/o the aid of a little somthin somthin

as far as reality shows go they both are pretty (**() good… far better than some stupid “wives” of whatever sort arguing about arbitrary topics (although that is entertaining sometimes :wink:)

6
quote:
Originally posted by Phin

Same with deadlist catch. How do you think crabbers can work 30 hours straight. Man, when I have fished offshore 3 days in a row (getting some sleep between trips) I will straight up fall asleep standing up in a boat running in rough water if someone isn’t talking to me. So how is a crabber on a boat for a month and working 24hr+ shifts with the kind of work they’re doing? I don’t think it’d be appropriate for TV to show everything those folks have to do thanks to the way fishing is and also in part to our wonderful federal agencies who decide to make everyone push it to the limit and race against their unknown season deadlines.

www.scmarine.org

www.joinrfa.com

Luke 8:22-25

Right on Phin. one deck boss said that almost every guy that works on crab boat in the bearing sea has an addition problem. Guess its a part of the job.

“I’d hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”
Hunter S. Thompson

7
quote:
Originally posted by shevlin
quote:
Originally posted by Phin

Same with deadlist catch. How do you think crabbers can work 30 hours straight. Man, when I have fished offshore 3 days in a row (getting some sleep between trips) I will straight up fall asleep standing up in a boat running in rough water if someone isn’t talking to me. So how is a crabber on a boat for a month and working 24hr+ shifts with the kind of work they’re doing? I don’t think it’d be appropriate for TV to show everything those folks have to do thanks to the way fishing is and also in part to our wonderful federal agencies who decide to make everyone push it to the limit and race against their unknown season deadlines.

www.scmarine.org

www.joinrfa.com

Luke 8:22-25

Right on Phin. one deck boss said that almost every guy that works on crab boat in the bearing sea has an addition problem. Guess its a part of the job.

“I’d hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”
Hunter S. Thompson

can't add?
8

That explains why the captains take it upon themselves to write down exactly how many crabs come up in each trap :smiley:

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