Filey: Last of the Coble Fishermen

It's 4:00am on a July morning at Filey and there's a hustle and bustle on Coble Landing. Dave Pockley is about to launch his traditional coble to haul in 300 lobster pots in Filey Bay.
The coble is launched from the beach by a tractor towing it into the sea and it heads off to the Brigg to pick-up his partner, Neville, who has been putting out salmon nets.
Scenes like this were an everyday occurrence for centuries, not just at Filey, but up and down the coast at Staithes, Robin Hood's Bay, as well as Whitby, Scarborough and Bridlington.
This outing will be one of the last that Dave will make (he retired in 2016). It's not the hard work, the cold, or the early hours - and he's used to a fluctuating income - but the red tape: rules and regulations that are stacked against the small boats who earn their living from inshore fishing - unlike the large commercial beam trawlers who hoover everything and anything on the sea bed offshore.
Fishing still takes place at Filey, but these are seasonal part-time fishermen, not those like Dave, who fished in the dark stormy cold January seas.
Our Channel has an associated film: The knitting of fishermen's ganseys (jumpers). This was filmed at Robin Hood's Bay and also with Margaret Taylor, at Filey Museum, who shows how one is knit and what the patterns mean.

[@janetteno3]

I grew up in Filey and remember the cobbles so well wonderful memories

[@geofsharp658]

My wife’s 2nd great grandfather William Wiseman is mentioned on the stained glass window in St. Oswald’s Church, Filey. He perished at sea in the great storm of 28th Oct. 1880, fishing off Scarborough in the cobble ‘Elizabeth and Emma’. He was born in Cliffords yard, Filey in 1846.

[@davidscott4637]

Great memories of the coble boats on Filey landing. There were many boats and a smell which you can never forget. I went out on a coble a few times when my family would spend two months in the summer at a cottage down by the beach, during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Seems like a parallel universe now.

[@rexhake1]

Really lovely video , Thanks . I used to spend all of my paper round money on fishing trips in cobles out of Brid and around Flamborough Head in the 1960s , and it gave me along standing love of these wonderful work boats . Happy days

[@sas1uk185]

BRILLIANT FILM! More please?! Steph

[@johntooth1886]

That was great . Thank you.

[@paulshanks9196]

Amazing to watch. I remember as a child in the late 70s and 80s watching the cobbles come in with their catch. The landing was full of boats and it was a busy place. Such a shame to see only 4 left, but a great watch with some great memories of family holidays. Thank you.

[@fieldfullofthistles]

Great video. Just been there.

[@pauln2141]

Heartbreaking to see these beautiful coble disappearing.

[@marioflavin2141]

Nice to see Dave and Nev Graffting in a job they love.

[@blueocean2510]

Technology could help to reduce paperwork, a smartphone, tablet or laptop. As you are no longer in EU this will also reduce, paperwork. Good to see wooden clinker boats being used. Thank you, good fishing, stay safe & Strong. # HeroesAtSea.

[@swisstony662]

Spent all my childhood at Filey some fantastic times down where the boats were parked

[@xXTUCXx1]

Me too. Used to fish off the cobbles as a kid and spent far too much money in the amusements.

[@artisansportsman8950]

Done quiet a bit of fishing from Filey on a coble and enjoyed every minuet of it, even trying to launch the coble when tourists are stood in front of you on the coble ramp and they don't understand they will be squashed if they don't move.

[@colinwatkins2950]

well i used to fish from sunderland and the same is true for us too, a lot of boats either sold or laid idle and the government has a lot to answer for the decline in the british fishing industry.

[@090238burcher]

Great documentary

[@paulclarke267]

extremely interesting but sad

[@zulvalor7266]

Fileyside 🤣😂🤣 love it

[@KitsFishing]

I think 75 lobsters plus crabs and salmon for a coble that size is good going and will not leave you skint.

[@jimlepeu577]

Well spoken by someone who knows sweet FA about it.

[@chaddamp2894]

really sad that the era has gone ....who owns the landing area??

[@darthsk8ter480]

These niggas be doing the dam thing..props !! Mad fuck!ng Respect ..peace

[@robindeans1934]

is it muddy bottom at 25 fathom 5 mile from the beach there further up the coast they catch prawns off sheilds with prawn creels so im curius if youd get prawns there or not

[@colinwatkins2950]

well youve got to blame this government for the soft touch towards french boats fishing our waters and taking everything out of the british fishing industries.

[@RHR-221b]

💚🍻😎

[@thomas1144]

Leave the boat in gear when they try and bord you dives them mad

[@PaulBlundell-xf6mt]

Me an Steve Holland took our freada a brid an Whitby biult 40 foot cobble to Southwest Scotland to rebuild her , 20 years ago. , we got her thrw mca. , ,, good luck lads ..