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Lake Okeechobee, Summer 2018

A murky and green-tinged Lake Okeechobee in Florida.

Marlin Caught in Bahamas, Tail Hooked and Drowned, May 2017

Three men stand beside an upside Marlin that was tail hooked and drowned in the Bahamas. A woman with her back to the camera is in the foreground of the image.

Kingfish Boat, The Seaweed, on a Canal, Ft. Pierce, Florida, 2017

Shayne Revels' boat for Kingfishing, "Seaweed" docked at a canal in Ft. Pierce, Florida.

Shayne Revels Unloads Kingfish, Fisherman's Warf, Ft. Pierce, Florida, January 2017

Shayne Revels unloads Kingfish from his boat, "Seaweed," in Fort Pierce's Fisherman's Wharf.

King Mackerel Caught in Louisiana, August 2015

A shirtless man on a boat holds a King Mackerel he caught in Louisiana.

Catch of Kingfish Caught in Louisiana, August 2015

A basket of Kingfish caught in Louisiana sit on a boat docked.

Boat, The Seaweed, at Loading Dock, Venice, Louisiana, July 2015

Shayne Revels' boat for Kingfishing, "Seaweed" docked in Venice, Louisiana.

Jimmy Reeves on his Boat, The Second Wind

Jimmy Reeves stands on his boat, "The Second Wind" when it was docked.

Shayne Revels Releases Blue Marlin, Crooked Island, Bahamas, June 2014

Shayne Revels releases a 500+ pound Blue Marlin off of Crooked Island in the Bahamas.

Shayne Revels and John Sickel with a Gill Net Full of Spanish Mackerel, Cape Canaveral, Florida, 2014

Shayne Revels (pictured) and John Sickel (not in photograph) with a gill net full of Spanish Mackerel at night at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Candid of Charles Bowen

A candid shot of Charles "Flash" Bowen.

Charles Bowen, Jr., Fishing for Kingfish

Charles Wood "Flash" Bowen, Jr., fishes for Kingfish off the back of a boat.

Charles Bowen, Jr., at the Wheel of a Boat

Charles Wood "Flash" Bowen, Jr., sits at the wheel of a boat holding a bottle of water.

Portrait of Charles Bowen, Keith Bowen, and Mason Bowen

Charles Bowen, Keith Bowen, and Mason Bowen, three generations of Bowen fishermen, on a boat.

Keith Bowen and Mason Bowen Landing Kingfish

Keith Bowen and Mason (father and son) on a fishing boat where one is holding a Kingfish.

Keith Bowen Landing a Kingfish

Keith Bowen with a Kingfish on a fishing boat.

Keith Bowen with Catch of Kingfish

Keith Bowen stands on a boat with a catch of Kingfish.

Mason Bowen with Catch of Kingfish

Mason Bowen stands on a boat with a catch of Kingfish.

Bob Ferber on His Boat

Bob Ferber stands on the back of his fishing boat.

Bob Ferber's Boat

Bob Ferber's boat in the water taken from a distance.

Candid of Robert Ferber

A candid shot of Robert Ferber seated.

Painting, Rupert Harden's Boat Catching Bluefish in Chesapeake Bay

A painting of Rupert Harden's boat catching Bluefish with a net in Chesapeake Bay.

Junior Harden and Cory Ray Brangan in Ft. Pierce Inlet, Superimposed 40 Years Apart

A photograph of Junior Harden (left) and one of his grandson, Cory Ray Brangan, in Ft. Pierce Inlet superimposed, forty years apart.

Candid of Rupert Brook Harden, Jr., A

A candid shot of Rupert Brook Harden, Jr.

Candid of Rupert Brook Harden, Jr., B

A candid shot of Rupert Brook Harden, Jr.

Rupert Harden, Jr., on a Boat with Mackerel

Robert Harden, Jr., holding a young boy on a boat filled with mackerel at night.

Candid of Daniel Kane, A

A candid shot of Dan Kane sitting in a rocking chair.

Candid of Daniel Kane, B

A candid shot of Dan Kane sitting in a rocking chair.

Brown Pelican on Outrigging

A brown pelican sits on the outrigging of a boat.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig, A

An oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig, B

An oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hook in Daniel Kane's Hand

A fishhook in Captain Dan Kane's hand.

Daniel Kane's Boat Hurrikane Docked

Daniel Kane's boat "Hurrikane" docked, possibly in Sebastian, Florida. The dock has been painted to read "When I want to Know God, I Look to the Sea."

Daniel Kane's Boat Hurrikane in Open Water

Daniel Kane's boat "Hurrikane" out in open water.

Boats Tied to Dock in Louisiana

Boats are tied to a dock in Louisiana while seagulls swarm in the foreground of the image.

Daniel Kane with Catch of Yellowtail Snapper

Daniel Kane stands with a catch of Yellowtail Snapper.

Painting, Brant McManus on his Boat

A painting of Brant McManus on his boat, a 20-foot Pro-line.

Brant McManus Beside his 25-foot Morgan

Brant McManus stands beside the 25-foot Morgan boat he built.

Brant McManus with Homemade Skiff

Brant McManus stands beside a skiff he made.

Brant McManus with 25-foot Morgan Boat

Brant McManus stands on the 25-foot Morgan boat he built.

Brant McManus on 25-foot Morgan Boat

Brant McManus stands on the 25-foot Morgan boat he was building.

Brant McManus with a Large Catch of Bluefish

A young Brant McManus stands on a boat with a large catch of Bluefish. An unidentified man stands with his back to the camera.

Albert Quatraro with Kingfish

Albert Quatraro holds a Kingfish on a boat.

Candid of Albert Quatraro, A

A candid shot of Albert Quatraro at the bar of a restaurant.

Candid of Albert Quatraro, B

A candid shot of Albert Quatraro at the bar of a restaurant.

Jimmy Reeves at Boat Dock

Jimmy Reeves stands in front of boats at a boat dock.

Shayne Revels Unloading Kingfish, Fisherman's Warf, Ft. Pierce, Florida

Shayne Revels unloads Kingfish from his boat, "Seaweed," in Fort Pierce's Fisherman's Wharf.

Mason Bowen

Mason Bowen holds a plaque for the "High Liner of the Year Award" from Seafood Atlantic for the most Kingfish caught in the South Atlantic in 2007. The weight of kingfish Bowen caught is at the bottom of the plaque: 50,918 pounds.

Seafood Atlantic Award Presented to Mason George Bowen

A plaque for the "High Liner of the Year Award" from Seafood Atlantic presented to Mason George Bowen, captain of the Sandra Rose, for the most Kingfish caught in the South Atlantic in 2007. The weight of kingfish Bowen caught is at the...

Charles Bowen, Mason Bowen, and Keith Bowen, Sebastian, Florida

A portrait of Charles "Flash" Bowen, Mason Bowen, and Keith Bowen (from left to right) after Mason Bowen received an award for Kingfishing from Seafood Atlantic.

Cory Ray Brangan at the Wheel

Cory Ray Brangan, Rupert Harden, Jr.'s grandson, at the wheel of a boat.

Candid of Daniel Kane as a Young Man

A candid shot of Daniel Kane when he was younger.

Rupert Leapold Harden and Mr. Fox Unloading Mackerel, Miami, 1943

Captain Junior Harden's father, Rupert Leapold Harden (left), and Mr. Fox (right) unloading mackerel in Miami in 1943.

Group Portrait Including Brant McManus' Great-Grandfather

A group portrait of five men, one of whom is Brant McManus' great-grandfather.

Florida Fishing History Collections

The Florida Fishing History Collections include writings and interviews conducted by Terry Howard, an author and commercial king mackerel fisherman. His work documents more than 50 oral histories with Florida's fishermen with experiences dating back to the 1920s.

The Florida Fishing History Collections capture the important history of an industry in flux, changing over time, to showcase the relationship between society, politics, and the environment as it relates to one of the most iconic food cultures in the world. Commercial and sport fishing represent two major players in the development of Florida's travel and tourism industries serving as indicators of the state economy.

Browse the Florida Fishing History Collections:

Florida Fishing Captains Oral History Project

Florida Fishing Captains Photo Collection

Oculina Bank Oral History Project

Terry Howard Florida Fishing History Books