Life of a Small Boat Fisherman in Guernsey, Channel Islands

[@jamesdavies2874]

What a wonderful crab troi,you can't beat the life of a fisherman.ive been fishing for 30+ years and will fish to the end mate,all the best and good luck!

[@Trojwaterman]

An old fisherman here once said to me he would be happy if he could just keep doing his bit of fishing till the end and he did.

[@tonyowen570]

Hi Troy, I am currently on 3 week quarantine in Singapore, and watching your programme helps pass the time, love it. I have been watching The Fish Locker the past 12 months and only found your site today. It's nice to watch both you and John Locker ( Out on the boat!!) Keep it up and help me while away my days in quarantine.. Great stuff...

[@hwood9783]

I love the thought of an erratic prawn!!!

[@joycehennequin8469]

Morning Troy,well the hauler seems to be doing the job....money well spent.Looks like a glorious day out there 🌱🌱🌱💕

[@Trojwaterman]

Morning. It certainly makes light work. Yes we had a few superb days hopefully many more to come.

[@joshkelley8102]

Man oh man beautiful country side you should go on a little walk about and show us more of your beautiful country side

[@joycehennequin8469]

My goodness what a stunning village you live in,lovely houses and country lanes.

[@Trojwaterman]

Some parts are hanging in there but unfortunately its not all like that and there is a lot of overdevelopment happening

[@bigmoncrief6071]

Same everywhere Troj. The pretty little village I grew up in has been swamped by two vast identikit housing estates bolted on either side over the last 20 years. The result is the local services are completely overrun, the quiet lane through the village centre is now a busy road and we have increasing problems with crime and substance abuse. I don't like to be moaning old git on a Sunday morning but it does make me sad to see how everywhere is starting to look the same.

[@ianmoore5498]

That grease certainly made a different to the winch. Good to see out in your in our new boat and as ever you provide excellent practical advice (mooring setup). Another quality video.

[@SMASHFISHING]

That’s a lovely crab to get inside , we’ve been finding bigger ones more often lately , maybe time of year , nice to see you back on the water Troy

[@Trojwaterman]

Hopefully it will be a better year for them last few have been terrible

[@SMASHFISHING]

@@Trojwaterman yeah for sure ! Lots of big spiders on the east coast atm and wells so they will be with you soon 👍

[@colinbishop2329]

Hi troy what lovely crab you get some crab sandwiches out that one nice see you back 🦀👍

[@Trojwaterman]

Thanks

[@paulallum6738]

Must be a Sunday. A video of the musings of a small boat fisherman of Guernsey. Great vid Troy, hope the fish turn up soon.

[@josephcarol6194]

great show just love it jo

[@timothyjohnston6314]

Hell of a brown crab. Great to see you out fishing. Hope your weather has gotten better.👍🇨🇦

[@josealbertorodriguezgonzal1590]

me parecen preciosos estos videos de una pesca tradiconal y sostenible cuiden sus aguas por que en mi pais era asi y los grandes barcos yotras conciencias han exterminado todo

[@Trojwaterman]

The governments need to start stopping the destruction

[@bigfoot-g4i]

you do a great job of fishing and videoing at the same time,well done my friend.

[@Trojwaterman]

Thanks, it can be tricky with the weather and not looking at what you are filming sometimes :)

[@cortoolei-pearson7702]

I miss the squeak 😆 Enjoyed the video though Troj, thanks 👍

[@trampster7306]

Great update thanks Troy! Glad you evicted that Squeaky mouse from the Pot hauler! Lovely Crab and a nice brace of Lobster but shame the salty larder didn't produce any 🐟🐟. I enjoyed the drive over to the coast - the lanes remind me of the village in France where we have a 'renovation shack' which, thanks to Covid we haven't seen since July 2019. Stay safe & well mate! 👍👍

[@loristime6607]

OMG!!! The CHICKENS crossing the road. 😂 This is what KZbin viewers like to see. We like to see how other people experience living! (I grew up on a farm in the US, in South Dakota and I can appreciate having to yield to the random animal (domesticated or otherwise) crossing the road. You are doing a GREAT job of expanding your channel with broader content! Enjoyed watching you re-mod your current vessel.

[@MarkOffski]

The winch seems to be working well mate, i can almost hear your back thanking you when you fetch em in haha.

[@Trojwaterman]

It certainly makes life easier

[@pompeymik]

I've had a slipped disc and had an operation, I've seen a woman on grand designs state to hat giving birth to her two children, without anesthesia, compared from when she slipped a disc, it was the worst pain she ever experienced! I've slipped a disc and I can't think of any worse a pain than the feeling of being snapped in half over somebody's knee!

[@wayneboyton3332]

Troy, how about letting your rope from the pots reel in to a 5 gallon bucket. will help keep your lines nicely coiled. that is how I used to keep mine straight!!good luck in the new season

[@SussexBricklayer]

Good to see you back at it. I have the same hauler, very useful bit of kit, 👍

[@Trojwaterman]

They work well

[@lizwallace9672]

This is worth getting up on a Sunday morning what a way to start my day. What is the legal size for a spider crab and how do you measure them. Would not worry about not catching fish just now it’s like all over there’s not much out there. I do like your ideas for the pots, love a drive around Gurneys it’s beautifully, well enjoyed the video as always tight lines till the next one

[@Trojwaterman]

I believe its 13cm from between the horns to the back of the shell but I would never take anything that small. That's why you never see me gauge them as the ones I take are much bigger than the legal size. The fishing often starts slow so hopefully it will improve.

[@Martinitsme]

Great to see you again

[@darrylmcleman6456]

Boat moves along right smartly!

[@Trojwaterman]

Its not bad

[@freddimble7024]

Hi Troj hope that winch is saving your back some, stay safe stay well Manchester UK.

[@freeform33]

The last time we came to the island we asked for a small car 🚗 but still spent a lot of time squeezing past others in the narrow lanes I bet you love it when all the visitors arrive. The boat seems stable but those guards for the gunnels are a bit sketchy but you will work it up I’m sure . best wishes from north Devon

[@Trojwaterman]

Well the roads used to fill up with the hire cars in the summer but now the roads are just full of cars all the time. Part of why I go fishing very early. The black one guard is fine as it snaps around good but the other one is on a double skin so need to change it a bit

[@brucelightfoot582]

Yes add some pipe to raise it up further to save ur back.and a bit to take it out from the boat if u want.but could put so Ali sheet on the out side of the vessel to do that. Good fishing

[@jerseyroyal9427]

Nice day out and video Troy. Thinking about your back, and rewinding back to mid 1980’s when I did lob and crab pots with my dad. When the spider are in do they still cram up the pot, like there is hardly any room left these years? Thinking about how to hawl it over the edge of the boat as I recall they were very heavy even in my young 20,s and weight lifting gym head days. Half a scaffold plank using leverage or you have this sorted? Good luck with the fishing this season.

[@Trojwaterman]

I remember seeing pots on my dads boat full to the neck you had to empty a few before you could lift it, unfortunately I have not seen this since those days. They are not to bad lifting in, inkwell pots are far worse.

[@jerseyroyal9427]

@@Trojwaterman yup the ink wells with spider hanging off the sides too, bloody heavy. Sadly not the case these days then :( Better for the old boy back ay Going to make some.... we called them “Libby nets” bike crab wheel. Watched yours and smash wheel making vids earlier as was 40 plus years since last had a bash :) Been stupidly over fished in Jsy. You guys can still get ormers. Last huge spring I never found even a small one. 4 lobsters though so chuffed with that. Best wishes Troy.

[@johnsavage1109]

Thank you for sharing...... May I ask, why do you not have a "Tipper" on the side of the boat. The winch appears to only do half the job and still leaves the hardest part to you. When we start winching we do not stop till the pot is sitting at working height in front of you. I am sure there is a reason I just don't know it. Cheers from the bottom of Australia.

[@Trojwaterman]

It would be more clutter on a small boat as the boat has to be diverse and is used for different types of fishing. also I would want to keep any extra weight off the boat having such strong tides and very changeable weather here. Its interesting though as I dont think I have seen a boat here with one, Pots are usually pulled onto gunnel then slid down the deck then fed out the stern.

[@himderfella]

The winch is rigged for silent running! It seems to be doing a great job & is saving your back. It will be interesting to see how your innovative pot design pans out & how their yields go. The video of your road trip was interesting. White homes are warmer? Thanks for taking the time to share.

[@Trojwaterman]

Someone painted their house black once here not sure how that went in the summer but it got changed after a while

[@kennethmulcahy5939]

Hi Troy.just started watching your videos and they are fantastic. Just wondering what type pot hauler that one is and dose the engin repower the battery. Thank you

[@Trojwaterman]

Welcome, Its a North lift hauler works really well, Yes the engine keeps the battery charged

[@kennethmulcahy5939]

@@Trojwaterman thank you so much. I'm in South West Ireland equally as beautiful but not as calm .I only fish lobster pots for leisure but I also fish about 20 prawn pots and they can be a bit of a lift sometimes from deeper water .thanks again love the show

[@Southpaw.m]

Nice to know you've still got elecky down there mate 😉

[@Trojwaterman]

We still have Generators here if needed

[@Southpaw.m]

@@Trojwaterman it's a travesty we are reliant on foreign nations for our energy needs, but in the interest of sanity I promise not to bring politics into a friendly fisherman thread in future 😉

[@looneygooner1960]

WOW that crab what a size Troy biggest I've seen in any pots of the several channels i follow worth the trip just for that alone, bit strange no fish around but i guess thats fishing for ya

[@Trojwaterman]

My record stands at a 7.5lb crab with a bit of luck we will see a few nearer this size this year :) Hopefully the fishing will improve but its a sign of the times with the oceans being hammered with giant industrial ships with miles and miles of nets killing anything that gets in the way

[@kerrypitt9789]

Really good video! Hopefully your Hauler is saving your back at least a little! I really enjoyed the drive you took us on, the Architecture of the pre war buildings is both beautiful and simple. There is a movie I watched titled "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peal Pie Society," that was such a good bit of directing and writing, have you seen it? More little Brown Crabs showing up this season? Is that promising? That big guy is a great catch! Is a large Brown Crab worth as much or more than a lobster of equivalent weight? I like how your new craft sits in the water, so far so good? I haven't commented on the building or outfitting of your boat, every time I thought of something you were already doing it, so I figured really that actually using the boat as rigged, was the only way to decide how right you were, I think it is brilliant!

[@Trojwaterman]

The hauler makes it a lot easier and I'm really pleased how balanced it all is considering it was all done on the land. Yes I know of the film it was a big thing when they were talking about making it. So far the boat is doing really well and far more stable than I thought it would be comparing it to the old boat.

[@breakingwavespictures9553]

Hi Troy, I am a filmmaker here on Guernsey, watching your videos was a big reason I came here! Do you need any shots done or help with filming, no charge.

[@Trojwaterman]

Hi perhaps sometime, at the moment its proving difficult just to get out there.

[@breakingwavespictures9553]

@@Trojwaterman Thanks Troy. Hope weather improves soon. Would be happy to help.

[@kildee0170]

Wow, those roads are so narrow, how do you pass anyone? I know all the cars are small looking but just doesn't look wide enough to pass if you were to meet someone...

[@Trojwaterman]

No problem you have a good few inches to pass only really need to brush the hedges when passing busses or lorries :)

[@hooked-gsy]

Bow cleats on Orkneys are pretty good,mines been fine over the last 5 years,I use a second mooring line as a backup witch I attach to the trailer eye on the bow with a carabiner 👍🏻

[@Trojwaterman]

I thought about attaching to the trailer eye but I would probably forget to detach it and end up going around in circles wondering what's going on :)

[@hooked-gsy]

@@Trojwaterman lol, at first I use to curse as I'd be in the boat release the mooring ect and then remember the lower rope on the eye,have to get in the dinghy pull myself to the bow ect,but now my routine is to release the lower rope as soon as I get to the boat..😁

[@rww805]

I'm glad you greased that wheel.

[@johnbiff3100]

3.5lb crab thats a lovely meal ... so is the pot lifter making your life any easier troj .do you wish you had one a long time ago ... hope this wind clears up for you to get out and do a trip or two .. keep well and stay safe

[@Trojwaterman]

Certainly makes life easier it would have been nice to have had one earlier but I just could not afford one with all the costs involved in the licences, I was still recovering from that plus an engine change in-between but finally I had no choice.

[@johnbiff3100]

@@Trojwaterman well lets hope 2021 is a good year for fishing and the pot lifter pays for its self ..... tight lines troj

[@pompeymik]

Still not received any adoption paperwork 🤷😄 I'll change I promise! 😂 Loving your work, long may you continue ✊

[@alantipple3684]

Great watch as always keep them coming 🎣 Can I ask why you don't use doors on your pots I make my own pots and make make few for other people and make my own door using the water pipe and broom handles at the bottom, we don't get anywhere as much tide as you have there

[@Trojwaterman]

I do have on some but in general it drives the cost of the build up and makes more work also makes it easier for thieves to rob them above and below the water.

[@alantipple3684]

@@Trojwaterman yes that's true I forget you have trouble with people going through your pots (low life's scumbags) loving your new boat set up 🎣 🦞

[@solarfunction1847]

@Trojs Fishing Hey Troj I've been playing around with my new camera for the boat, it's very good, it's a BOBLOV F1 2K Police Body Worn Cameras GPS WiFi Version 64G Audio Night Vision. So if I'm ever out night fishing I can see in black & white through the WiFi into my tablet so I don't run over buoy's or floating logs etc plus it has 10 hours recording to internal 64gb memory. It has very nice color during daylight & would set you back about 103 pounds if you are ever interested in buying one for fishing. They're a tiny bit bigger than a action camera but they are very sturdy built compared to these plastic action cameras.

[@Trojwaterman]

Looks good. My only concerns would be how stable the picture is on a boat and what the sound quality is like

[@solarfunction1847]

@@Trojwaterman Yeah I haven't tried that out yet but I've seen video's of them online where people were using them walking through shopping centres & they seemed fine.

[@glencronin1592]

Great video, could a foot switch work on the pot hauler Troj? 👍👍👍🎣🎣🎣

[@Trojwaterman]

Possibly but would have to customize the switch area.

[@keegan773]

What’s your verdict on the pot hauler?

[@Trojwaterman]

Its seems Ideal for what Im doing on a smaller boat. I probably would not want to lift anymore than a couple of pots a line at a time at, least the size ones I do. Although there is a larger stronger model I believe

[@markjarvis7637]

Pot pirates are out early this season, you motioned the pot hauler was causing the ropes to rub, what if you extended the arm by about 18 inches??? also the controls are round the back, your arm is close to the wheel, bring them up on top of the arm, safety and more convenient

[@Trojwaterman]

Im just late in the water this year. Its because the pots are so close and it was very calm they are pulling straight up. a piece of pipe would sort it. When I go a bit further out the line will angle out with wind and tide

[@stephenbrammall2565]

Just as you were talking about adding something to keep the rope off the edge of the boat, I was thinking how would a small roller fixed on the top edge work, keeping the rope from rubbing..

[@Trojwaterman]

Did cross my mind but I don't think it will be a problem when I go further out into the tide & wind, pots were lifting straight up so close in

[@Shnookie3.14]

Im liking the camera angle gives more to see. Im betting you're enjoying the pot puller, will definitely help on the back.

[@derrillbalshaw1199]

How are you liking the new boat? Looks like you need to have the drain pipe cover the gunwale completely from the winch down to the transom, and fix it in place to stop it coming off.

[@Trojwaterman]

Boats great so far. I need to change the pipes along there sometime. I just used what I had for now

[@mueshow]

Hi, I enjoy the video so much. Do you make your living this way?

[@Trojwaterman]

Yes I do

[@bigmoncrief6071]

Lovely big crab. How much could you sell one like that for?

[@Trojwaterman]

I would probably only sell it for about £5 if I did not eat it :)

[@versatec1]

The first i knew my boat had broken loose and grounded was seeing it on the front page of the local rag in a shop whilst getting milk!!😨😅😅😅

[@Trojwaterman]

Wow! bet that was a shock

[@versatec1]

@@Trojwaterman yeah...it woke me up alright !!! 😅😅😅

[@jonnywishbone3300]

Just subscribed cos love to see anyone living off nature..may I ask,what would you be suspicious of having 2 empty pots in the same place??

[@Trojwaterman]

Its very unusual to have 2 completely empty pots especially if they have been down for several days. However empty pots are becoming more common these days. The small things make me suspicious if out of position the way they have been laid, knots in ropes that kind of thing. Along with that just experience knowing how you catch in that area or have caught over the last few days.

[@paulboucher806]

Nice to see you're using a winch for the pots but why isn't it on a boom because you still have to force instead of just swinging it onboard?

[@Trojwaterman]

Pulling them over the gunnel is no problem. I could run into stability issues with a boom on a small boat

[@paulboucher806]

@@Trojwaterman from the angle it looked like you forced a bit to get them into the boat at the last minute. I only thought a boom of say 50 or 60 cms may allow you to swing the cage inboard once clear of the gunwale.

[@karltipping4150]

great to see you out catching,but who has been emptying your pots again

[@Trojwaterman]

It may just have been an unlucky lay along with the storm we shall see over the next few weeks

[@karltipping4150]

@@Trojwaterman same as last year and no bait left in pots

[@williamnomates1456]

Do you think a length of rubber window beading bith edges that pipe might help?

[@Trojwaterman]

Maybe, I do need to make a change there as I put that on last minute as it was all I had at the time

[@williamnomates1456]

@@Trojwaterman You'll know better than I do for sure. Good to see you saving the back a bit of stress on the pot haul, quality video as always. Thankyou.

[@grantmcm]

Great video as per. and 40 mins long i think you are spoiling us lol. glad u got rid of the mouse in the wheel Ha nice crab

[@tonyowen570]

Hi Troy, one more thing. Where do you get your pot entrancs from please..cheers

[@Trojwaterman]

I get mine from a local boat part shop or the tackle shop but you can find them on the internet from places like Coastal Nets

[@Crabman7619]

Nice Crab:)

[@paulcrowe5392]

Yellow Gas pipr works etter than grey plastic and being larger in diameter catchs under the inwhale and gunwhale

[@lefty940]

why did the chicken cross the road cracking crab that. How are you finding the new boat?

[@Trojwaterman]

So far the boat is exceeding my expectations but the real test will be when we venture further out and around the coast

[@JackPhillipsBraunton]

Just a thought. Are you still running the high thrust on your Honda? Maybe the standard prop would match the boat better or maybe not.

[@Trojwaterman]

I don't think it would make a big difference on the 10hp the High thrust just helps a bit more against tide

[@billcrowley2661]

Nice video hope you have a generator to keep the good videos coming

[@Trojwaterman]

Yes Guernsey has its own generators if needed

[@waynepebler6833]

Can you extend the arm higher to get pots up so you dont have to bend over to pull them?

[@Trojwaterman]

I have tried to keep everything low for stability. To be honest pulling the pots into the boat is the easy part

[@crashbang756]

Troj what is that dark thing floating past your boat at 4.06

[@Trojwaterman]

Its probably a piece of kelp from the rope pulled along by the tide

[@cedricgreen8460]

What I would give for a crab like that👍👍🦀🦀🦀🦀nice one

[@vlf126]

Hi Trojs , just wondering if this boat is much faster then the other one because i recall in one of your uploads way back when you first got this boat you were hoping for it to be faster i think you mentioned heading around the other side of the Island or a headland .. :-)

[@Trojwaterman]

It is defiantly faster but not a huge amount and it does only have the 10hp on with high thrust prop. Any longer distance fishing will come later when the weather has settled, where ever I go getting back is the important bit :)

[@chrisfehilly65]

Looks like the new boat is performing very well, are you satisfied with it as a replacement for the old one?

[@Trojwaterman]

At the moment yes its a lot easier so far

[@FamasFTW98]

hi troj what sort of pipe is that you have on top of the gunnels

[@Trojwaterman]

Its just 4 inch drain pipe

[@FamasFTW98]

@@Trojwaterman ever had any problem with it cracking ?

[@Trojwaterman]

@@FamasFTW98 last year but by where I had screwed an old piece on but no not normally an issue its tough stuff. My old old boat has a grey one on its been there since I was about 20 years old

[@FamasFTW98]

@@Trojwaterman jesus you got good time out of it so , didnt think the pipe wud last that long especially hauling pots too

[@steve-xo5bc]

With you in that boat sure LOOKING Smaller then the other boat.

[@Trojwaterman]

After measuring the boats there is not a lot in it the new boat is narrower at the stern it also has a lot of lockers and seats taking up room unlike the old boat which was a lot more open, the new boat has higher gunnels and a shorter keel so sits a little lower on the beach. Its also a lot more stable than I thought it was going to be. Its performing well at the moment but will have to see over time. I will do a comparison in the future to the old boat once I have used it some more

[@gamerclownz2783]

Do you catch these to eat or do you sell as well?

[@Trojwaterman]

catch to order & eat as well

[@vjc4]

It would seem that type of trap would limit the size of your catch?

[@Trojwaterman]

Yes it will but you can still catch up to about a 2,5lb to 3lb lobster and being a smaller neck it will be far more efficient with less finding their way out, also a lot of crab wont get in and strip the bait.

[@stingray427man]

Nice Brown crab 🦀🤙

[@modeltrainsandsuch]

You must live on an island like Jersey I guess

[@Trojwaterman]

Yep I can see them from here :)

[@fisherman5517]

lovely crab sandwich .

[@Urban_poacher]

hi is this your main job?

[@Trojwaterman]

yes

[@Urban_poacher]

@@Trojwaterman thats great I'm currently a Deliveroo rider but have a boat so thinking about doing fishing for a second career any tips you could give id be more than grateful

[@Southpaw.m]

My late father used to tell me stories of pot ropes being booby trapped with sharp objects to dish out a bit of karma to the pot pirates, specially effective when you're the proud owner of a pot hauler and don't need to grab ropes. 😉

[@Trojwaterman]

razor blades in the ropes was an old one

[@indiana146]

Is fishing your full time job

[@Trojwaterman]

yep

[@indiana146]

@@Trojwaterman good on ya do you sell to local hotels etc

[@indiana146]

Never been to guernsey ill make a trip when this is over im not well so hopefully ill do it

[@indiana146]

Ive not seen my parents in spain for a few yrs couldnt manage plane bonez to sore kids and mrs been over

[@tonymurray814]

“ Highly Suspicious” Do some people “ accidentally “ mistake ur pots from their own??😉

[@tttan2030]

hello。can i buy some seafood from you？

[@neovideos9621]

This is the reality of fishing.... its a nice but hard job....

[@Trojwaterman]

So true

[@rebeccanorth6349]

The fish have obviously heard the news & gone into hiding....or could it be your new hat ?🤣🤔

[@Trojwaterman]

It Could be the hat ? :)

[@rebeccanorth6349]

@@Trojwaterman 🤩

[@wycombewanderer6649]

Id love to know your thoughts from the front line over the CI/France fishing situation rather than having the truth rinsed through the MSM all of whom have an agenda.

[@Trojwaterman]

I think they need to start looking after their waters they have so much ocean to fish in yet they want to get into the small areas around the islands. They talk about livelihoods but what about all the livelihoods of all the small sustainable boats on the islands trying to keep the fish stocks at a healthy level. No one was stopping a lot of the vessels as far as I am aware but they don't want to abide by the rules set in place to keep the fish stocks healthy. You don't see all the local boats wanting to charge over to France to fish in their waters

[@fanaticforager6610]

GDay 🦘 The opportunists that pull yâ pots, I refer to them as seagulls with tractors 🚜, cause that’s how they access a reliable launch. It does get yâ goat 🐐, heard of infuriated elders, go medieval, 🛡 entertaining the use of razor blades, & hooks 🪝 @ certain sections⚠️ Nice size 🦀 💦 😉👌🏻

[@nigelsimon597]

hi cant you get the old shit cart pipe any more mate

[@Trojwaterman]

Not sure not so many of those around these days

[@steve-xo5bc]

Not very good people when they are STEALING your catch out of your pots!

[@Jackthegorilla]

stop going small boat oh i am poor its better than nothing