Fish Awareness

Team DK likes to fish. In fact it is a powerful feeling to pull a beautiful fish out of the sea, kill it, and filet it up for a meal. Hunting and fishing for our food is a skill so many of us have lost and are disconnected from. It is so much easier, more practical, or our only option depending on where we live, to just go to the market and buy a filet or piece of meat already gutted and processed, not even resembling the often beautiful, or not so beautiful, creature it once was.

Living and traveling by boat, most places we have the option to fish for our own food. On DK we troll behind the boat with 2 or 3 hand-lines rigged with 200 lb. test and stainless leads. Almost always we just use plastic jet-head lures with colorful skirts and big stainless hooks. In the South Pacific we mostly caught mahi mahi, wahoo, and sometimes tuna. Sashimi was often a common occurence. Since being in Indonesia we have only caught spanish mackerel and barracuda, and as we have gotten more into western Indo and up into SE Asia we mostly catch zilch. Overfishing is a big problem in the SE Asian waters. Fishing boats are everywhere and it is sometimes crazy to pilot your way through the masses. We have pretty much given up on fishing in these areas, but are looking forward to pulling onboard a big wahoo or yellow-fin when we get out in the Indian Ocean.

The issues facing the oceans and fish populations are often overwhelming. For most of you not as connected to the sea, there are ways you can educate yourself and make conscious decisions regarding the best choices of fish to buy, eat, and order at your favorite restaurant. The link to Monterey Bay's Seafood Watch program will help get you started.

"fish card guidelines" so you can remember what you read.

Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch
Seafood Watch Pocket Guide