National Fisherman

March Spotlight:

Gear and Apparel

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Boats & Gear

A Maine lobster boat is equipped with the Hondex HDX combination chartplotter/echosounder and the HE-7300 sounder. Hondex electronics are popular in small boat fisheries in the Northeast due to their simplicity, capabilities, and durability. Jason Philbro

No bells, no whistles

Paul Molyneaux

Sage Catherine Lane aground on the St. Marys Entrance north jetty. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Overreliance on autopilot linked to multiple fishing vessel accidents

Eric Haun

The Hotspur was fortunate to have a handheld VHF for transmitting a distress call when it sank off Alaska in 2022. Most Marine Supply stores have a variety of handheld VHFs ready for fishermen to compare and buy. NTSB photo.

The handy VHF

Paul Molyneaux

F/V Guillemot owned by Christian LaMontagne. Photo by Carli Stewart

Maine fisherman looks ahead to clean energy options

Carli Stewart

The crab boat Tarka II did not have a smoke or fire detector in the engine room while a fire smoldered as the boat was transiting near Tatoosh Island, Wash. Coast Guard photo via NTSB.

Smoke detectors at sea

Kirk Moore

The free Net Gain seminar will explore how latest technology can boost fleet efficiency, simplify reporting, and keep your crew connected. Shutterstock photo.

Get connected: National Fisherman is heading to Seattle

Eric Haun

This 1982 aluminum 42-footer was one of the first aluminum deadrise boats built on Chesapeake Bay in Deltaville, Va by Delta Marine. It is still working in Virginia's crab pot fishery today. Larry Chowning photo.

Larry_Chowning

Maryland’s aluminum deadrise pioneers

Larry Chowning

Paddy O’Donnell’s Caravelle is an 85-foot catcher vessel. Paddy O’Donnell photo.

Electronic monitoring embraced by Gulf of Alaska trawlers

Margaret Bauman

At Saturday’s Long Island race, Obsession and Natalie E appear to be bow-to-bow. Obsession won the Class N(A) race (40 feet and over, 751 to 1,000 hp) at 43.5 mph. Jon Johansen photo.

Michael_Crowley

Maine’s 2025 lobster boat racing wraps up

Michael Crowley

Fisherman Joel Kawahara’s boat being towed empty into Eureka, Calif. Many small-scale fishermen work single-handed. The OLAS Guardian Pro kill switch can reduce the risk and give them a chance if they go overboard. Coast Guard photo.

MOB kill switch can save solo fishermen

Paul Molyneaux

The Black Eagle is a 65-foot, highly versatile fishing platform for the North Atlantic. The vessel can be rigged for sealing, crabbing, shrimping, trawling for turbot and redfish, and longlining cod. Jake Payne photo.

Boat of the Month: The Black Eagle

Paul Molyneaux