Hooked on the Sea

Who are these brave men whose love of the sea dares them to challenge its dangers every day? Theyre the dorymen of Newport Beach, California who belong to the last family-owned dory fleet in the United States. Read about the courage and determination of these farmers of the sea who risk their lives to support their families. Since the 1890s, when a small group of their Portuguese ancestors first launched their wooden Gloucester dories into the early morning darkness of cold pounding waves and powerful ocean currents, these dorymen have returned at dawns edge to sell their catches. Locals, as well as tourists, who come to buy the freshest fish in town, love their colorful presence on the beach next to the Newport Pier. Favorite choices include crabs, sea bass, cod, sea trout, sablefish, vermilion rockfish and yellowtail. Dorymen continue to keep this tradition from the past alive and display down-to-earth work ethics valued by all, while adding a rich quality of life to the residents of Orange County, an area growing in contrasts and complexity. Some fishing methods have changed, but dorymen continue to adhere to strict United States fishing regulations, which protect fish populations. While the Historical Society of Newport Beach, California declared their location on the beach a historical site in 1989, this unique fleet faces an uncertain future as increasing regulations threaten their existence and create challenges as dangerous as the sea.