Joey Jones

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Oral History of Monterey Bay Fishermen

Description

Interviews with Monterey Bay Fishermen on fishing methods, business changes, and challenges to fishing. 

Interviewer
Date of Interview
11-19-2007
Transcript
Biographical Sketch

Joey Jones is a seasoned commercial fisherman based in Moss Landing, California. His first encounter with the ocean was at the age of nine, and he has been in love with it ever since. His father was in the military and retired at Fort Ord, which brought Jones to Monterey. Jones began his career in the fishing industry at a young age, working at Randy's fishing trips at the age of eleven, taking care of the skiffs. By the time he was twelve or thirteen, he started deckhanding for Randy II, marking the beginning of his fishing career. Jones transitioned from recreational/sport work to commercial work part-time, initially buying a sixteen-ft skiff to fish sandabs and rockcod with hook and line. He would fish early in the morning before school, selling his catch at local markets on the wharf. Jones continued to work as a deckhand for party boats until he was fifteen, and then started working the lampara boats when he was about eighteen. He worked with primarily Sicilian net fishermen, learning the trade and eventually getting on a boat.

Scope and Content Note
This interview with Joey Jones, conducted by Melissa Stevens as part of the Monterey Bay Fishermen’s Oral History Project in November 2007, provides a detailed account of Jones' life and career as a commercial fisherman in Moss Landing, California. The interview covers Jones' early life, his introduction to the ocean, and his progression from a young deckhand to a commercial fisherman. Jones discusses the changes in the fishing industry over the years, including the shift from commercial to sport fishing, the end of the sardine era and the rise of the squid industry, and the increasing regulations and permit requirements that have made it more difficult for fishermen to make a living. He also talks about the various types of fishing he has done, from hook and line to traps, and the importance of having a buyer before going out to fish. Jones also shares his views on the state of the fishing industry, including the impact of foreign competition and environmental regulations on local canneries and processing plants. He expresses his belief that there is still plenty of fish in the ocean, contrary to popular belief, and that the challenges facing the industry are more about marketing and distribution than about overfishing. He emphasizes the importance of experience and knowledge in the industry, and expresses concern that this knowledge is being lost as older fishermen retire and fewer young people enter the industry. Jones also discusses the impact of technology on the fishing industry, describing how it has changed the way fishermen locate and catch fish. He talks about the transition from using landmarks and personal experience to using GPS and other advanced technologies, and the advantages and disadvantages of these changes. The interview concludes with Jones' reflections on the future of the fishing industry. He predicts that the industry will continue to decline due to increasing regulations and foreign competition, and expresses concern about the quality and safety of imported seafood. Despite these challenges, Jones remains passionate about fishing and committed to preserving the traditions and knowledge of the industry.

Interviewer's Note: Joey perished at sea in the spring of 2008. I consider myself lucky to have known him for a short time, to have gone fishing with him and been able to learn so much from him. Thanks, Joey!


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