Glen Hopkins & Family
1st GENERATION FISHERMAN
LANDS AT Wanchese, NC
VESSEL NAME Watersport
CATCHES Tuna, Swordfish, Mahi-Mahi
“You do a lot of praying when you’re out here. It’s a tough way to make a living, but if you love it, there’s nothing better.”
Today he owns and runs his own boat with the help of his two sons. “It’s living the dream,” he says of working with them. “I tried to get them to do something else, but they love it too. It’s a hard life. You have no security whatsoever. No benefits at all. You can’t depend on the weather. You can’t depend on the fishing. You can’t depend on the markets, you can’t depend on the regulations. You do a lot of praying when you’re out here. It’s a tough way to make a living, but if you love it, there’s nothing better.” In the summer, the three men take the boat out for up to five nights of consecutive fishing. When they return, they sell their catch to one of the fish houses in Wanchese, where Locals Seafood and other dealers purchase Glen’s product.
Glen recognizes the importance of his role as a steward of our coastal resources. “All us commercial fishermen, we are conservationists. We’re pro-management. If we don’t have any fish, we can’t make any money.” He hopes to be able to pass on his legacy of engagement with state politics to his sons. “Otherwise, they won’t be able to do this anymore.”
