For over 50 years, commercial fishermen have relied on a variety of tools to bring in the catch of the day, but few have proven as indispensable as the longline, tagline, and trolling setups. These methods—timeless in their reliability—have been used by seasoned fishers to haul in everything from tuna to swordfish, proving that despite the changing tides of technology, some techniques remain a staple in the industry.
Longline Fishing: The Silent Workhorse
Longlining is an art and a science. It involves a single, long line with baited hooks spaced at intervals, set at varying depths, designed to attract fish on the hunt for their next meal. This technique requires patience and precision—an investment of time that seasoned fishers know all too well. A well-set longline can stretch miles across the ocean, capturing fish with little more than the lure of fresh bait and a steel hook.
What makes longline fishing particularly effective is its ability to target specific species by depth. By adjusting the length of the line and the placement of the bait, a commercial fisher can optimize their catch, whether they’re fishing for bottom dwellers or surface feeders. Over five decades, many commercial fishers have become experts at reading the water, understanding where fish congregate, and using longlines to maximize their haul.
Taglines: Precision and Control in Every Set
While the longline is the workhorse, the tagline serves as the precise, responsive tool that ensures everything stays in check. Taglines are secondary lines attached to the primary longline, often used to help manage the load, ensure proper deployment, or retrieve lines in tricky conditions. They offer the flexibility to navigate the shifting currents and the unpredictable nature of the open sea, something that’s crucial when you’re pulling in hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds of fish.
For those who have worked with these tools for decades, the tagline becomes an extension of the hand, moving swiftly to assist in setting or retrieving the longline with minimal disruption to the rest of the operation. It’s this precision, developed over years of experience, that separates successful fishing operations from the rest.
Trolling: Patience and Timing in Action
Trolling has always been a hallmark of deep-sea fishing, but for commercial fishermen, it’s a method that requires both patience and quick reflexes. Trolling involves towing a baited line behind a moving vessel, using the boat’s speed and direction to mimic the natural movement of prey. This technique works exceptionally well for species like marlin, sailfish, and tuna, where precision timing and knowledge of migratory patterns can be the difference between a banner day and a quiet return.
For the seasoned fisherman, trolling is a dance with the ocean. The trick isn’t just to get the bait in the water—it’s to understand the rhythms of the sea, the shifts in current, and how the target species responds to the changing conditions. In the hands of an expert, trolling isn’t just a fishing method—it’s a time-honored tradition of patience, skill, and connection to the sea.
A Legacy of Craftsmanship and Innovation
For someone who’s been a commercial fisherman for over 50 years, the techniques of longlining, tagging, and trolling are more than just tools—they are a way of life. The years of experience accumulated on the open ocean have allowed fishers to perfect the craft, combining age-old methods with modern innovations to stay ahead of the competition. Whether using high-tech GPS systems to map prime fishing grounds or implementing sustainability practices to ensure future catches, the fundamentals of longline, tagline, and trolling fishing have never gone out of style.
At the heart of it all, the enduring success of these methods is built on a simple truth: the ocean doesn’t change overnight. The tools, the techniques, and the craftsmanship may evolve, but the fundamental principles of fishing—the patience, precision, and respect for nature—remain constant. And for those who have spent their lives at sea, there’s no greater feeling than hauling in a successful catch with methods that have stood the test of time.
