History Afloat: Voices from the Working Waterfront
Matt Peavey, Commercial Fisherman
Matt Peavey is a commercial fisherman and captain of the F/V Anne Louise homeported in Craig, a town on Prince of Wales Island. Matt started fishing on his father's troller, the F/V Patsy, when he was just nine years old. Matt is a salmon troller at heart, but as his family grew, he expanded into longlining for halibut and black cod (sablefish). He recently switched from using baited hooks to slinky pots for black cod. The slinky pots reduce whale depredation and are collapsible, which helps with the limited deck space on smaller vessels like F/V Anne Louise. Matt's son, Steven, started fishing with him at a young age and continues in the family tradition as a commercial fisherman now on his own gillnetter.
Matt Peavey, Commercial Fisherman
Matt Peavey, Commercial Fisherman

Interview Excerpt: Experience
Commercial Fishing



Interview Excerpt: F/V Anne Louise




Interview Excerpt: From Longlining
to the Introduction of Slink Pots



    Click on images to enlarge
Craig Harbor
Craig Harbor
Clothespins on a Line
Clothespins on a Line
Matt Peavey Sews Escape Ring into Slinky Pots
Matt Peavey Sews Escape Ring
into Slinky Pots
Matt Peavey Sews Escape Ring into Slinky Pot
Matt Peavey Sews Escape
Ring into Slinky Pot
F/V Anne Louise in Craig Harbor
F/V Anne Louise
in Craig Harbor
Trolling Gurdies on the F/V Anne Louise
Trolling Gurdies on the
F/V Anne Louise
Artwork on Boat Ramp in Craig Harbor
Artwork on Boat Ramp
in Craig Harbor
Matt Peavey Demonstrates Releasing a Slinky Pot
Matt Peavey Demonstrates
Releasing a Slinky Pot