On September 27, 2011, Nancy Solomon interviewed Joe Scavone as part of the Long Island Traditions oral history project. Joe, a fisherman from Freeport, recalls how he started fishing as a young child with his father on the weekends, and describes how his mother and grandmother would prepare the fish for family meals. Joe describes his transition into commercial fishing, which began in his teens, when he worked on a gillnet boat. He explains the seasonal cycles of fishing and the various techniques and tools he uses to catch which fish in which season. He discusses some of the challenges he faces, particularly in the winter when facing extreme cold. Joe details several fishing regulations put in place over the years, how they’ve changed his work, and the impact on his business. While optimistic about his future, Joe expresses frustration with the regulations, arguing that natural limitations prevent overharvesting. Despite these challenges, he appreciates his simple lifestyle and the freedom it provides compared to urban life, saying “I’m not sitting in traffic, and I’m not spending six hours of my day in traffic going back and forth to Manhattan.  I’d rather do it this way than that way, that’s for sure.”