A World Of Commercial Fishing That Very Few People Know Exists
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- Interesting Fact: This is how the main ingredient in your fish dip is caught!
In a world of commercial fishing that is so unknown to most of us, I couldn't find any in depth videos on what it's really like working on a king mackerel gill netting boat. So, lucky for me, I was given the opportunity to film EVERYTHING and share with you the reality of what it's like catching tens of thousands of pounds of king mackerel in a highly regulated and sustainable fishery. If you watched my Florida lobster video, you may recognize the boat I'm on. What I learned is that lobster boats double as gill net boats.
Huge thanks to the G&D crew for giving me this incredible opportunity and for taking the time to explain every little detail to me about this industry. You all really helped make this video shine!
The music that was played during the morning shots was recorded by one of my favorite Key West musicians, Chris Rehm. I'm so glad I got to use his music and thanks Chris for allowing me to do so! Check him out here: www.keywestchr...
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#commercialfishing #dayinthelife #fishingvideo
Part 2! th-cam.com/video/L2Qbd6TlWbw/w-d-xo.html
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Thanks for watching and cheers to learning something new!
Great video, information! Really enjoyed watching!
I subscribed.
@@bradleytenderholt5135 thanks a bunch!
You better bet the Chinese are getting most of the Quota shipped to there markets
Joebama ĝuarantees it.
The only way you can get Gulf seafood is if a local market has or knows someone with a day boat that has a very small Quota somehow.
@@jimmyfumbanks6081 a lot of these fish make their way to Canada and Puerto Rico. Nothing was ever said about the Chinese market.
Credit for any crew that takes on a complete stranger with no experience fishing commercial to film their lives. I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn what it takes.You definitely earned my subscription
While a was a complete stranger to this line of work, I did do a spiny lobster video with them the year before this video. Though, I had no idea I'd end up becoming a crew member! I'm glad you enjoy and thanks for stopping by 🙌🙏
It’s great to see them helping each other like untangling the nets instead of viewing themselves as business competitors. It’s still a family, a family of commercial fishermen.
I’ve been a captain of a commercial fishing vessel in the North Sea most of my life so I love to watch other guys around the world do a similar job. Great content. 👍
very cool, thanks for stopping by and fair winds and following seas to ya!
I could only imagine the things you see up there
Persein fishing here Florida and fish spotted pilot
i don’t usually post sincere comments, but your channel is a hidden gem. great documentation of important things we usually don’t get a look into
Thank you so much, Rilxy!
i agree just binged a few of the videos. they are so good
It was my childhood dream to be a commercial fisherman, but here I am, renewing extended warranties for people's automobiles.
It a hard living. I commercial fished in the gulf . But still miss it everyday
Please stop calling me!
So that was you out there in the helicopter dropping down warranty contract forms to all the boats?!?!
@@johnelkins4250 it's definitely something that's gotta run through your blood
@Scott Gerke yes I love it nothing like it . Would still be doing it if I didn't start a family. Being gone weeks at the time 0 contact no good. My kids are my world. They are grown now so might get back in
I was genuinely not able to stop watching. Had to see them catch the fish! Loved all the behind the scenes, and your authenticity of showing the snafus filming and on the boat made it feel like a friend sharing an adventure not a polished perfect glossed over story. Loved it!
Wow, that was just a wonderfully detailed review that put a big ol' smile on my face 😊 A friend sharing an adventure was exactly what I was going for!
Thanks so much, Karrie!
Another excellent video letting us get a glimpse of how much work it takes to catch the fish we cook for our family. The best part was the teamwork and camaraderie, not only among the crew but the other boats helping each other out.
No man left behind
Awesome! I once went out with the oyster dredgers on Skipjack sailing boat. It was fantastic. Do glad this is sustainable fishing!
Wow that,was really salty and truly appreciated. I've been to KeyWest so many times what a great time you have. I'm ready for more please.
Competition is fierce... Amazingly no fist fight but cooperation... Truly amazing... 😊
As a commercial fishermen part of it is dog eat dog but when it comes down to helping one another you never refuse to help anyone because you never know the day you may need that person’s help
This was an absolutely awesome story you captured and communicated. Can’t wait for part 2! Hope you get a chance to tell the story about the crab pots he mentioned too.
Woo hoo, thank you so much for saying that! Hmm, I don't remember the crab pots part though. What was said?
Had to watch it again to get the time stamp. :Check 16:30 for mention of the crab pots. I’ve been binge watching your channel. Love your style, keep it up!
@@ChuckDoingChuckThings 😁 thanks! What I totally forgot to mention is that these guy's boats double as crab/trap boats, where they just change some gear out when it's king mackerel season. I don't have any more footage other than what you saw, but just in case you didn't see the lobster video I did with this crew, here's that one: th-cam.com/video/v9EusDn6RCY/w-d-xo.html
I’m a USMC vet going through some stuff and an avid fisherman since I was a 10y/o and have always been curious about commercial fishing and this video right here was a random find and gave me a damn good 31mins that I needed. Definitely subscribed and thank you
I'm really glad you found this video and enjoyed it all :)
@@ScottGerke you haven’t posted a vid in 6mo dude! Listen I get it. Life gets in the way, other things take priority etc etc I’m not mad at it I know it all too well. I post on my channel as well about some kayak fishing mainly but I haven’t posted in ages for the same reason but I just wanted to let you know that I found this video during a rough time, really rough. And you videos are almost therapeutic so if you find the time again or are wondering whether or not you should make a video, remember me telling you, the answer is Yes! Great job man respect from the 757/VA
@@Mespana757 Hey Manolo, it's nice to hear how much you've enjoyed my channel and I'd have to say it's been therapeutic for me to experience these lifestyles and share them with you and the rest of the world. What made these videos so challenging to create was how involved the planning, executing, and editing was and I felt like I was always playing catch up juggling my full-time job (private event DJ) and just life in general. I'm in the middle of coming up with a better way to manage my time and in contact with some people to make new videos with. The series is definitely not over, just a pause :)
incredible. I am a lifelong fisherman, and most often for the last year I am the pier mackerel fisherman, but have never had the opportunity to fish a purse net commercially. Very cool. I watch them from a distance on the pier where they purse net mackerel not nearly this big, and have always wanted this perspective. More videos please.
The purse ring technique is pretty sweet and definitely works after working at sea nice to see it on TH-cam thank you for the content and the nostalgia
Amazing content and great work! You missed the opportunity to say "Holy Mackeral!"..lol
Haha I know I know. Looks like I’ll need to make a part 3 and add that in there.
The weekend angler is getting out Lobied in the DC
Hell just net all you want. Recreation fishing will soon be lost and these fools have no clue of what
They are creating.
Once you go commercial, you never go back recreational !
Awesome. Good to see the fishermen helping each other out.
No wonder recreational king fishing is nothing like it used to be. A real eye opener you’ve got here.
When they don't have a camera on them, they slaughter everything in sight ! They should send them all back to Cuba !
they suck
As a kid I used to see a lot of big fish under Jerry's / piers. Now there's nothing there.all fished out by commercial fishing and foreigners taking under sized fish by the bucket load
@@EbJaybroGeoI call BS fish have just moved due to rising sea temps clown go learn something.
50 plus years ago when I was a kid the kingfish schools would migrate past and would be 50 miles long that ended with purse seiners and spotter planes would go out and just see some floaters. Before that the whole town would close down gone fishing until the school's past sometimes a week-long I did not realize they made purse and spotter planes legal again but it looks like they have good regulation and keeping an eye on the fishery
We fished Kings rod and reel back in the 80s to pay for our winters in Key West!! Sat at Smith Shoal many a night!! The old 39' number 1 boat caught a bunch
cheers from new zealand. this was great viewing i really enjoyed i'm off to watch part 2. thanks guys
wow AWESOME CONTENT, loving the VERY little ByCatch.. truely sorted out the Men from the Boys.. loving the Mateship on the Seas... looking forward to Part 02..
Living on Aruba in the Caribbean, I’ve never seen such calm seas
as a retired commercial hook and line kingfish fisherman, i really enjoyed this. by the way, your engine sounds great.
I worked on boats just like it in my 20s. Almost exactly the same. Thanks so much! And thanks to Captain Harold Barfeild of Panama City Florida. Best Captain I every went to sea with. ✌️
I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Great production.
Thanks, Tx :)
Hey man.. Good stuff.. You still replying a Yr on.. Brilliant vid.. Exciting at last.. The STRIKE is on.. C'mon.. Whoop whoop.. @@ScottGerke
@@jc301-OTECH thanks! Yea, and a year later I still enjoy reading the comments :) How cool is it that my videos can reach people all over the world and help us all learn a little more about each other?!
This was a grate help for my school project, thanks :)
awesome!!! you're very welcome
I have grown up catching kingfish my entire life. 51 years so far. 20 or 30 trips every year. I get in schools so thick and Freeport Texas 10 miles off shore that we don't even troll anymore, you just send a bait down there and two or three guys will be hooked up at once. This is actually one of my favorite fish to eat
All of my work was done in Bristol Bay thank you for the opportunity to see how it’s done in the Gulf 😮
The fishing is amazing, watching competitors work together helping each other is EPIC! 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
This was a very well made video brother. Really enjoyed this. Tomorrow I'll watch part 2.
thanks a bunch!!
In Australia these fish are called Spanish. This type of fishing was used here as well snd completely wiped out some fisheries to the pint where these migrating fish have never returned.
Was the industry ever federally managed or had some environmental group studying the population? Since they are migratory fish, it's hard to put the same regulations on other countries. Even if one country is doing the right thing, it doesn't mean the neighboring country will follow suit :/
The US also has spanish mack’s, these are a separate species.
The US also has spanish mack’s, these are a separate species.
Spot on Mike👍 same happened in the north sea off of the U.K. It got so bad that cod was declared an endangered species & the feking reprebaits kept on fishing.
Im not even surprised, its the fucking Chinese
Be the best form of you and take pride in what you do! Respect!!💯
Subscribed! Loved the video and the fishery! I live in big pine key, and have been out in the gulf with the hook and line guys king fishing. Never saw the nets. The hook and line fishing is off the charts good!
Watching this stuff never gets old!
nothing quite like fishing a north line in ugashik. but props to the crew letting these dudes on board.
These videos are awesome. Thanks for giving us an inside look at the hardworking folks of the U.S. fisheries.
I got chu 🙌
The water is so beautiful and smooth with your drone shots. Wow
right?! I got lucky with that!
I'd say you owed that one fella a case of beer for watching out for you and that rope!! Lol
ha, right?!? I tried giving him a case but then found out he doesn't drink!
NICE!! Experience of a lifetime bud! ;)
I haven't seen much of this industry other than the shows on tv that are filled with drama and hardship. This video appeared to show the exact opposite and the captain and his crew in this video looked to be a good team. Perhaps you could take us on the mentioned crab pot trip too ;)
Absolutely epic work man! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Thanks, Conrad!
The by catch number is insanely impressive !
Great content! Not easy to film/edit just one person. Never knew this fishing existed, learned something new!
Thanks for noticing that part! Whew, I had three action cameras, a locked off camcorder, and drone up while filming the strike. I didn’t want to miss any of it!
And great to hear that you learned something new! When I got the green light to film, I couldn’t wait to share this industry with the world. Pretty much nothing on TH-cam showcases this fishery in it’s entirety. I was really surprised.
Thanks for stopping by 🙌
Ur captured some good shots with the drone like a picture wall💪😎🕶️
Now that was an awesome story and of course round two would be very nice thanks well done...
Whoo hoo, thanks! Round two can't come soon enough because there's a few more fisheries I hope to film after this one :)
Welcome to fishing, long tedious work with little excitement and heavy work. But one thing most fisherman understand, help when needed if you can because someday you may need the help. If more sailors and recreational boaters still lived this way on the water things would be better and less complicated.
It was really cool to watch how much this boat was willing to help others 😊 Most of what they gave actually costed them money, but they understand the value in helping others. 👏
Gillnetting is the most end of marine life, quickest! Mankind at its finest!
Absolutely correct but people don’t manage our resources very thoughtfully.
Not a gillnet it’s a seine
Way to much over fishing being going for a long time the US, Canada and to many to list legal and outlaw's don't forget all the other fish and sea life killed.
Any type of net fishing is terrible
@@lukawilliams4822 really @luka I know a bit about this subject being a fisherman and an older man fishing streams, lakes and saltwater, here is my take on this topic,,, first over fishing , just take enough for a couple meals, that is enough. When it comes to net fishing, which I personally don’t approve of, I have witnessed first hand 2 large ships using huge nets which drag the bottom and scoops up everything. This is the worst of all,,,,giant nets and mile long trot lines. Our waterways,lakes,and oceans must be managed much better than they are. Also during nesting season I would close down catching fish full of eggs.
,
Great job on this video, you should re-edit this video as a short film for a festival submission. Tip: watch for black lite shots. Question: How did you get such good sound? Did the crew members wear mics? Thx …Again excellent film..great story telling and production!!!
Good job on the video editing and content. Learned a lot and found it very interesting and educational.
I was a long line fisherman on the Miss Marie out of Dunedin Marina Dunedin Fl back in the early 80's before the massive regulations set in. 62 now, in Carolina.... But still dreaming about returning to South FL and bandit fishing on my own small boat...
I went netting straight out of school loved it mostly apart from bad weather low wages away from friends and family week at a time, yeah i dont miss it, liked seeing the big shot
you def sacrifice a lot being out at sea
That is not real fishing. Using a net
Boy, Rick lair would be proud of that one fisherman screaming "whoooo",
That was fun . Thanks for sharing
Seems like fun...great vid..stay safe.
Seems like a Good bunch of Guys.
they were great to work with and def comfortable in front of the camera!
First time watching. Killer video!
thank you!
nice video! excited for #2
Very cool and brings back memories. I spent more of my life on the ocean than I did on land for a few decades. At 60 years old now, I regret none of it. Commercial fishing just gets in your blood after a while, and no matter how hard the work is during a set and haul, what you remember most is the teamwork and friendships that develop. A crew is like a family. We yell and argue a lot, some guys you’ll never like much, but on payday everyone is friends again. What brings the crew together is the common danger. Bouts of utter chaos and blood on the deck, blend seamlessly with hours or days of boredom. Then a happy dance for everyone once the quota is hit. It’s a hard life but one I wouldn’t trade for a different one.
There would definitely be a " smoke on the water" session 😂 definitely a Good documentary on this type of Work! Props to ya!
thanks a bunch!
What type of boat is this /. Where can i purchase it ? 😊
We caught a king while bareboat chartering in the BVI. One of the best tasting fishes I have had. And I eat a lot of fish. I live on the west coast an never see this fish in markets or restaurants. Where does it all go?
Great VIDEO .. and Edutainment Scott! I’m forever expanded in my understanding of why this type of fish is so expensive.
Stay 💪🏼🎣🤲🏼🙌🏼👊🏼🙏🏼BlessedandenCOURAGEd!
thank you :)
Quite a few years ago I went out fishing in Nova Scotia on the Northumberland Straight that borders Prince Edward Island as I was up from the States visiting relatives. The boat was of similar size fishing in 150 feet of water about 3-5 miles off shore with a very large trawling net. These boats come out of little harbors on the north shore of Nova Scotia with generally a Captain and a mate fishing for various species that are in season. In this case it was hake they were mating and 6, 000 lbs was brought in to the boat, which was a very good haul for the day. We ate lobsters down below as they were caught in the net but what we did not eat was thrown back in to the ocean.
Exciting and fun to watch, AND I learned a LOT!
GREAT JOB!
Woo hoo, now that's what I like to hear! Thanks for stopping by the share that with me. Means a lot 🙏
I have commercial fished in the gulf for shrimp and snapper . It’s tough hard work. It’s also dangerous
Best sleep ever of the diesel fumes don’t get you. Slept many nights as a child in the deck of my fathers fishing boat.
No wonder Miami’s recreational king fish died decades ago.
I remember they caught so many they dumped the excess in the Miami River., prices had dropped so low they couldn't even sell them for cat food. Ruined the king mack sportsfishing industry for years. Screw the net boats. One man, one pole, one fish, is the most sustainable fishing
Maybe other people in the country would like some smoked king mackerel not just you
@@EdwardReed-qr7bj you’re missing the point
@@strictlyoutdoorschannel8716 Agreed.. the point they over fished it so badly (and wasted parts too) ...hurt that local fishery going forward forever! Also first thought "then get a fkn pole"! It's one thing if you're old, but otherwise get out of that chair and do it yourself! I'm 70 and we're losing the MEN in the world and it's irritating to watch. :/
@@douglasbeachler3890than fish in your grocery store would not exist
Great video... any idea of the price the fish house pays the boat per pound for king mack?
Gerke? Any relationship to the Gerke’s from Rio Linda, CA?
don't know about any family over there, but it's not a common name at all so maybe we're related somehow!
That s a proper moka italian coffee machine there!!! The secret of any good italian fisherman!!
I wish this guy was as interesting as the contents he post. 🙃
Great documentary on a fishery few people even know about. Can't wait for more.👍
thanks a bunch, Dennis! All so fascinating and can't believe I haven't been able to find anything on TH-cam that tells people what it's really like out there! That was a big motivation for this video. Part 2 will come out after out last trip out and hopefully I'll have some fish to film! 🤞
HI ALL
Great video crazy to think that boat could make millions $$$ per yr happy happy happy boi
Fascinating video!
When does king market season start
There are a lot of similarities between this fishery and gillnetting for salmon in the Pacific Northwest which I have done for years. People have a lot of misconceptions about gillnet fisheries. The Skipper made a good point about the selective nature of the fishery, I tell people the same thing all the time.
Great work. Subscribed!👍
thanks for stopping by!
Back in the 80’s and 90’s we always hired private planes to spot tuna. It’s illegal now here in Massachusettes to use planes to spot tuna breaking water and sunning before they go deep for the night. Anyway we’d get radio contact that the tuna are at this location we’d go there get on the pulpit with a spear that’s attached to a electrical lead We’d spear the fish zap it and bring it in the boat. That’s the best way to fish tuna IMO because the tuna doesn’t fight and lose all it body fat in that two hours of fighting. You always got paid the best for that style of tuna being caught.
Boat food is always so much better! Best burger ive ever had is aboard a offshore fishing boat
You got a subscription from me man. Great job capturing this unique fishery!!
Thanks, Canin!
I loved your video! I watched every second of it. Wow what an adventure you had. Total envy. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Woo hoo, glad you enjoyed it!
@@ScottGerke I really did. Thanks for sharing.
Fish are so scarce but they keep using nets. I worked on a snapper boat where we used hooks and bait. Two hooks per line.
I thought that Gill nets were illegal? Or is it in only some waters?
illegal in Florida state waters. This is in federal waters.
That captain is a good guy make you part of the crew. Nice to see good captains ty
Yea, and great guys all around. They are so comfortable on camera, too!
I spend days on end king-rigging from the end of a pier for the elusive king mackerel. I may be lucky if I caught one a year.
They’ll set limits on recreational fishermen , yet they catch whole schools and “ bycatch “ .
Great video, love your work!
thank you!
Commercial fisherman here it’s a wonderful life
40 years fishing the grand banks. Born in St petersburg FL learned longlining in the gulf before I moved over to the Atlantic. Would not have done anything else
Beautiful boats!
Great video. I've seen similar net boats heading out offshore in the Keys. Gill nets catch a lot of fish. I recall the "successful" drive for and implementation of, in Florida, of a constitutional amendment to ban them in near shore and in-shore waters in Florida back in '94. I think it runs to 9 miles out on the Gulf side and 3 miles out on the Atlantic side. Back then "responsibly harvested" didn't seem to mean as much as it does today. The ban certainly destroyed a bunch of family businesses and communities alike. It will soon be 30 years since it was put into law. Commercial fishermen are a resilient bunch but constant regulation and environmental conditions make it a tough way to make a living for sure. As far as the gill net ban goes, I don't think scientists have really ever determined if the ban helped or not.
At some point I'll have to make a video asking fishermen about the net ban. Whew it's a heated topic.
Yes it helped with inshore fish they actually had a chance to spawn and grow up to be full-size adults now. Now the problem is the polluters killing off the grass Flats and poisoning the water
U need to get with Ronnie barrin ben there done that its awesome n you better be in shape we fished out if Everglades city fl great memories
Sucks! No wonder why the kingfish numbers here in the Gulf are down with recreational anglers and has been getting harder and harder to catch them.
Learn how to catch em don't blame us
@@shrimp8004 I've been catching them for decades! But the numbers are way down! They are overfished by the commercial guys that are only looking at what their wallet looks like today, instead of the fishery having sustainability for years and generations to come.
Must be talking about the com. guys that target them. I Know big fish can out swim are nets an ant had any very r very few n the bi catch between the Ted an fish eye we lose most all r shit talk bout strav a motherfu_ _ to death
Where did Yank come up with weigh station ?
huh?
I thought CCA got a gill net ban back in 1992? Sad to see Kind Fish stock depleted.
Did you notice the man at 12:52 hauling up the anchor rope WITH the anchor attached, and haul it onboard without straining??
ha, that has become one of the most talked about scenes in the video! He's a beast! And then went back to bed 😆
I'm starting work as a observer soon, interesting to see her at work!
very cool! That job in of itself is really fascinating and I wish you all the best in your new venture!
commercial fishing decimated the king crab around kodiak island, and is primarily responsible for the sockeye disappearances, if you want to eat fish, go catch one yourself!
Agreed Cape Hatteras Island fishing too. We used to go out catch our limit 4per person on the boat. Maybe 3-4 time's a week on fall fishing vacation... Not anymore, lucky to catch 2-3 for the week. Useing the same everything we used to use plus always trying something new when they're not biting.
We used Seawitchs with down planners trolling the wrecks in the Gulf stream which is only an hour or so off Hatteras Inlet. We dock at #TeachesLairMarina Hatteras village since 1976.