Fishing for the Stories Left

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12:26 PM ﹘ 6:01 PM , APRIL 29TH FIELDWORK 2 SAN PEDRO FISH MARKET & 22ND STREET LANDING

“I LOVE THE OCEAN. I LOVE WHAT IT PROVIDES. I RESPECT IT. AND IT’S A DEEP CONNECTION. IT’S DEEPER THAN MONE Y. IT’S EVERY THING.” Fieldwork 2 54

58 Damien Parker Barranco, who has 59 A worm drive skillsaw is left on Amigo been fishing since he was eight, poses as the boat goes through renovation. on the boat which he currently works named Amigo. Taking customers out 60 With rentals, boats are parked at the fishing almost every day, Barranco 22nd Street Landing, which according said he enjoys interacting with people, to Barranco, the entire dock is owned meeting newcomers on boats, and by a family. teaching them new techniques. He finds it satisfying to see participants 62 Boat galley cook Loren Murakami who apply the skills he passed on to cleans the boat she has been working on for eight years. Apart from serving catch successfully. food orders, Murakami also helps to bait hooks. Engaged in both commercial fishing and recreational sportfishing, She said that she respects the ocean Barranco said that he has dedicated and doesn’t litter even though, in her his whole life to the ocean. According observation, items that break down to him, the former is executed mostly on boats are often thrown right into with large nets and long lines with the sea. A Japanese descendant hooks, and the latter, on the other herself, Murakami said that she hand, is done with rods and reels. doesn’t hold knowledge of the immigrant history of the Japanese “Being a fisherman, I also know that fishing village in San Pedro. we take from the ocean a lot, so I definitely appreciate what it has to 80 Several shorebirds pick up different offer and respect it as much as I types of trash offshore, including can.” However, Barranco expresses one plastic toy shark. the struggle of balancing his conservationist perspective and the need to make money and raise his family. “It is my job. This is my livelihood, so I have to do what I have to do,” he added. Fieldwork 2 55



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12:26 PM ﹘ 6:01 PM , APRIL 29TH FIELDWORK 2 CABRILLO BEACH



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8:00 AM ﹘ 11:45 AM , MAY 7TH FIELDWORK 3 STEPHEN M WHITE DRIVE & CABRILLO JET T Y

“TOO MUCH FISHING…..… TOO MUCH FISHING…..… FINISH! Fieldwork 2 86

93 Jamie Erigio, a half-Filipino fisherman get tired from fishing, mainly smelts, who has finished his early fishing mackerels, and crabs, as the session sits on the side of Stephen populations were huge. However, M White Drive with his dog Scrappy. he noticed that the fish have been Growing up in Long Beach, Erigio was gone in the past year, a phenomenon taught fishing by his father. Residing observed similarly in Malibu. He in San Pedro, he arrived at the pier at mentioned that Port Hueneme, on 1:00 in the morning with no one else the other hand, has successfully around but Porpoises to watch. To him, preserved its fish stock. the ocean feels not only relaxing but exciting as well. He attributed the disappearance of fish to the sewage pollution in the 95 Fisherman Frank Jose sits on the ocean. “I hope they (the fish) come cliff along the Cabrillo Beach Jetty, back,” he said. gazing at the Los Angeles Harbor from a distance as he waits for a bite. 110 Been fishing for around two decades, As Jose points out, gaining a catch Rick Chua from Long Beach is one was guaranteed around the site 10 newcomer to Cabrillo Pier. He noted years ago, yet getting one to two fish that throughout the twenty years, would be lucky nowadays. “Too much fishing has gone slower and the fish fishing…… too much fishing…… finish!” has grown smaller. said Jose. 107 Caanh Le arranges the ropes as she The time that Chua spent with the prepares to drop a bait cage with a water doesn’t stop at catching catfish inside it. Halibut, but beach cleanups. “It’s a mass. It’s a mass out here,” he said, 108 Joseph Tornade, who has more than 50 noting that he is doing his part to years of fishing experience, back-casts preserve the environment. his rod. Tornade’s father owned a boat and taught him how to fish. Around three years ago, he started fishing at Cabrillo Pier. He said that he used to Fieldwork 2 87

113 With three decades of fishing rising temperatures and fewer fish, experience, Mike Berge, who retired he was unsure of where the changes from UCLA in 2018, waits for a biter in are coming from. Expressing his love his foldable chair, a wait that began at for the ocean, “I think that’s our life,” 7:30 in the morning. said Juarez. “There’s not many fish like it used to 117 Marcos Martinez attaches bait to his be. It used to be really thriving here,” fishing line. Even though he grew up said Berge. watching his family fish and spent most of their time at the beach, he He recalled riding the bus to Venice has only begun delving into the Beach to fish as a kid and the memory activity deeper a year ago. Martinez of building his first boat with bamboo recalls that as a kid, he witnessed sticks. While finding the ocean a more considerable amount of tranquil and able to clear his mind, catches by people at Santa Monica as Berge has noticed the water getting compared to now. shallower in recent years. 114 Korean fisherman Yong Kim ties 119 Baits are divided into pieces by first a knot. time fisher Jazmine Guerrero. 115 Perla Juarez, who started fishing 125 Tuyet Le holds her husband Sam Le’s last year, smiles while holding a rod. shoulder as he sits on a bucket. Juarez said that she and her family usually aim to arrive at the pier by 5 AM. She described the ocean as a peaceful place, one that can help her feel relaxed. 116 A fisherman since 1982, Jesus Juarez knots the fishing line. While he observes differences around the ocean throughout the years, such as Fieldwork 3 88

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