Lyle Peele, 29 years old at the time of the interview, is a fifth generation waterman in Manteo, NC. Lyle and his family have seen the industry change, and his feelings about it are complex. He owns three boats and has diversified his fishing methods to adapt to changing conditions.

Scope and Content Note

In this interview, Lyle Peele discusses his fishing career and the challenges he faces in the industry. Peele talks about transitioning to flounder gigging in the summertime, as traditional fishing has become less profitable due to fluctuating fish prices and costly gear. He highlights the mounting pressure and stress of trying to make a living as a fisherman, especially with the high expenses of permits, gear, and fuel. Peele also touches on the conflict between commercial and recreational anglers, with some pushing for more restrictions on commercial fishing, which poses further challenges to his livelihood. Lyle mentions the struggles of young fishermen, the dwindling opportunities for new generations to enter the fishing profession, and the increasing barriers to obtaining commercial fishing licenses. Lyle explains that many young people his age are unable to afford houses and start families due to financial constraints in the fishing industry. He describes how the state of North Carolina's fishing regulations and license policies are discouraging new generations from joining the profession.

Peele calls for greater education and research to provide a more accurate picture of the fishing industry and challenges the effectiveness of current fish sampling methods. With increasing regulatory uncertainty, rising costs of living, and an increase in the expenses of purchasing fishing gear, Lyle says, "It’s love-hate, seriously. There’s some days I just want to burn everything I own and run away. And there’s other days I wake up and I get so excited to go fishing. It’s three o’clock in the morning and I am ping-ponging off the walls. I am ready to get up. In a nutshell, I love it. Good and bad, it’s all I’ve wanted to do."

To help the industry survive, Lyle sees a need for more public education: "Educate yourself. Do your own research. Don’t listen to everybody. Don’t listen to what the bigwigs are saying. Dig deep. Find out for yourself. Hop on a boat. Find out how it really is. Find the truth. Step into the shoes of a fisherman for a couple weeks. Find out how it is. … Know where your seafood comes from. Go talk to a fisherman. See what it’s like. Ask to ride along. Open your eyes."