On November 28, 2007, Nancy Solomon conducted an interview with Bill Tunney as part of the Long Island Traditions Oral History Collection. Tunney is a commercial fisherman based in East Patchogue, New York. He grew up in Bellport Village and started clamming on Great South Bay when he bought his first boat at the age of thirteen. Over the years, Tunney began to work out on the ocean and has expanded his fishing activities to include gillnetting as well as dredging for crabs and scallops. Tunney briefly left the region for college, during which he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. However, he eventually decided to return and make a career of fishing. He speaks to some of the challenges he faced as a newcomer to the profession, including having to earn the respect of more established fishermen. He also discusses what a typical day of work entails and the different kinds of fish he targets during each season. Tunney explains how he shifted to spending more time on the ocean as the bay became less lucrative. Learning to make effective nets proved to be one of the hardest parts of the job, and Tunney offers a breakdown of how webbing size and color can affect one’s catch. He also details the parts and process of setting gillnets. The conversation also covers Tunney’s clientele, the federal regulations that have impacted local fishermen, the annual costs of gear, and the number of other commercial fishermen operating in the area.