FitFabFun(f3): Commercial Fishing

Growing up my dad was a Commercial Fisherman. Most people had no idea what that was when I was a kid, and to be honest, what it meant to me was racking and baiting…but no one knew what that meant either.

Commercial Fisherman (Freshwater)- Any person who takes freshwater fish or frogs by any lawful method prescribed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for purpose of sale. A Commercial Fishing License is required even for use of trotlines of 25 hooks or less when fish are taken for purpose of sale. (our trotlines had 2,500 hooks)

As a fisherman, my dad would run trout lines for a living. He caught fish, mainly catfish, him and my brother would clean and skin the fish, and then my dad would sell them to a local fish market. As a family we would rack the lines and bait them. Most of the time we baited with shad or shrimp, but sometimes we used tin foil or soap. Back then it seemed completely normal because it was what our dad told us to do, but when I tell people we baited with tin foil and soap, I usually get an odd reaction. Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you have tried it, it works.

I loved going on the lake with my dad. Getting up really early, stopping at the store on the way…the smell of the water, and the engine as it started. On a few occasions, my dad would let me get out and go shrimping with him…not that kind of shrimping, I’m talking bait here. I am pretty sure he thought I was gator bait, so he really didn’t let me do it often. Then there were the cattails. Not sure why I was so fascinated with those, but it was really cool when dad would let me pick one and take it home. Going on the lake is probably one of my fondest memories of my dad and I as a kid.

I hated racking and baiting! Pretty sure my dad didn’t like me as a racker anyway, I put more knots in the lines than one person can imagine. I felt like my friends got to play while I was doing chores. (what kid wants to be home doing chores) I loved it when my friend Stacy would come over and help. I’m not sure why she thought it was fun or if she just did it so I got done quicker... but we probably did more talking than helping anyway. She was the best friend, so she probably just did it because I was. :)

I didn’t really realize at that age that I was actually helping support our family. My dad needed those lines racked and baited so he could catch fish and provide for our family. So although I kinda hated it back then, I am sure it was the foundation for my work ethic and responsibility as I got older.

This is my dad and Rick, but as you can see, our dad fished our whole lives. Talk about a boat load of fish!

What does a rack look like (easy fellas not that kind of rack):

Typically, for one line of hooks we used 5 or 6 racks…so imagine that ‘box’ 5 or 6 layers high. (using 2,500 hooks) Once all of the lines were racked then we could bait, so usually it was a 2 day process. Dad usually put 5 lines out each trip. My dad was a commercial fisherman for many years and fishing is still his favorite hobby. I’m thankful for my hard working dad, the time we spent together on the lake, the work ethic he instilled in me, and our continued love for fishing together.