Lenny Nilson, born in Bay Shore in 1947, is a seasoned fisherman who spent his formative years on West Island, West Fire Island, where his father ran a live shrimp and killie business. Lenny comes from a long line of fishermen, with his family having emigrated from Sweden in 1929, bringing with them centuries of commercial fishing heritage. At the age of 16, Lenny started working on the bay, assisting his father in the fishing endeavors. Lenny earned a degree in Marine Biology from Suffolk Community College after serving in Vietnam.

Mike and Helen Van Essendelft live in Oakdale, New York. Mike Van Essendelft, born on April 16, 1908, worked for Bluepoints, a renowned oyster company, for over 12 years. Starting as a waiter at the Snapper Inn, Mike eventually became a sales assistant at Bluepoints and worked his way up to the position of sales manager. Helen Van Essendelft supported the oyster industry by shucking and freezing oysters for Birdseye. Together, Mike and Helen provide a unique perspective on the history and operations of the fishing industry in West Sayville.

Interview with Joe Scavone

Frank Cona, a fifth-generation fisherman from Macata, a small town in southern Sicily, Italy, was born on June 7, 1987.  Cona grew up in a fishing family.  At six, Frank began assisting his father and older brother on their family’s dragger boats, primarily cleaning fish and eventually becoming a captain.  In his hometown of Macata, shellfishing was not practiced; instead, Frank's fishing endeavors revolved around haul seining for sardines and anchovies.

Edward (Lowell) Ockers is a lifelong resident of West Sayville. Lowell was born and raised in the area and started working on the bay after returning from the Navy in 1957. He began his career by catching eels using traps purchased from his father, a bayman. In addition to his fishing endeavors, Lowell engaged in other activities to support himself. During the winter, he found work bulkheading, cutting ice, and digging clams to earn some grocery money. He also participated in scalloping, crabbing, and even sailing on the ice when the bay froze over.

Rick Verity is a skilled bayman who learned the art of eeling from his father, Elwood Verity. Growing up in Blue Point, Rick's family has a long history of working on the bay, with his grandfather, Bill Verity, being a lobster catcher. Rick began his bay adventures at the age of three or four, accompanying his father to rake clams in the bay. His father taught him the best spots and techniques for clamming, including treading clams in the soft mud. Over the years, Rick and his father expanded their expertise, engaging in activities such as combing and setting traps for eels.

Interview with Tom Jefferies

Bob's family has a long history in the fishing industry. His great-grandfather, J.H. Doxsee, started a clam canning business in Islip, known as "J.H. Doxsee & Son."

In this interview fisherman Bill Reed of Hampton Bays, Long Island, talks about warning signs of hurricanes and storms, close calls on the water, and how his life as a fisherman has changed over time.  Topics include regulations, occupational culture and Superstorm Sandy.

Cory Weyant is a full time commercial fisher from Freeport, New York. He traps eels, killies, crabs and other finfish using traps he has built himself. He also works on trawler fishing boats. Cory grew up in Freeport and learned his skills through the community. His father was also born in Oceanside and worked in the boating industry, running transport boats and working at bait stations. Cory started fishing and swimming at a very young age