Commercial Fishing

Fishing for a living came naturally to him. “You could give the guy a tin pail and he could make it catch fish,” said an admiring nephew, who continued: “You could give him a bicycle, and he could make it float.”

FAMILY BACKGROUND

Nick Mavar (NM) was born in San Pedro, California. His father emigrated from Croatia. As a mechanical engineering student in California, NM’s father at first fished part time until becoming a commercial fisherman in the California coastal ocean.  

CHILDHOOD

NM grew up in a family which earned their living eventually through fishing and selling their catches to wholesale fish markets. 

USING PERSISTENCE TO FOLLOW THE FAMILY CAREER PATH

When NM got his own start in commercial fishing, the cost of obtaining a permit and running a fishery (the business of raising or harvesting fish) meant he could not afford to buy and maintain a fully functioning boat. 

Early on, by financial necessity, NM became an amateur mechanic, able to resolve at least basic problems to keep his fishing boat operable. While lacking dish soap and sponges, he washed dishes with Windex and slept in trash bags to keep dry in an often-leaky boat. NM reeled up the net by hand because the hydraulic lifts were not properly performing their mechanical jobs.

ACCIDENTAL CELEBRITY

When NM’s father retired, he sold his boat to his son, who tried to move his career base to Alaska where he believed the fish were more plentiful. But when NM’s business expenses soon far exceeded his commercial fishing income, he refocused his career from self-employment to employee, which – unexpectedly – led to a role – and eventual niche tv startdom – when his new employer’s fishing boat was featured on a tv show. Thus, NM appeared in 98 episodes of the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch.” 

The show follows crab fisherman on their strenuous and sometimes brutal job off the Alaskan coast, As one of the top-rated programs on basic cable, it draws millions of viewers. 

CAREER CHALLENGES

In addition to time away from family plus stormy weather and uncertain fish populations which were constantly relocating, commercial fishing equipment can be dangerous to users and anyone in its vicinity of operation. Once, a large hook came loose during a storm, striking NM in the face, breaking (fortunately only) his nose. 

While far out at sea, prompt medical attention is not available. 

If a fishing mission has to be interrupted to resolve any unplanned event (e.g. mechanical breakdown not repairable despite the crew’s expertise or a crewman’s ruptured appendix) which must receive priority attention, potential profits from that expedition are lost. 

CAREER SATISFACTION

Throughout NM’s years as a commercial fisherman celebrity, the boat’s owner observed that “NM did not care much about the fame that came from being on the show. “He was a fisherman through and through. The camera was something that just was there.”

In the daily contest of ‘man against the sea’ involving activities which were physically demanding and sometimes dangerous, NM was often the winner, always enjoying the fresh air and rolling seas. 

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This career story was based on an obituary written by John Yoon, published by the New York Times on June 18, 2024.