Image Gallery

(Part of my Gone Fishing story)

Today I take a lot of pictures to document where I go and what I see. This hasn’t always been the case, including my 7 week ‘cruise’ in the South Pacific. Of course, in 1997 you didn’t have a camera in your pocket in the form of a smart phone. It was back in the days of film cameras. The horror!

I took my point-and-shoot film camera with me to Samoa. I thought it would be perfect for the trip as it had a pretty good telephoto lens and was nice and compact. Relatively speaking considering it was 1997. But it died pretty soon into the trip. Fortunately Jean, the pilot, let me use his camera (and I had brought a couple of disposable cameras as well).

The image quality of the pics I took is nothing like what I’m easily able to produce today. I printed the photos soon after returning home (at some cheap film developer I’m sure) and eventually scanned them so I’d have a digital copy. End result are pictures that get the point across, but definitely won’t win any quality of image awards.

Images are separated into galleries below, grouped with similar subject matters. You can click on any picture in a gallery to open up a viewer that allows you to see the complete image and cycle thru the images in each gallery. Quicklinks to each gallery are immediately below.

Galleries:

The Helicopter

Jean "JC" (pilot) and Oscar (mastman, but also was the helicopter's fish spotter)
Jean “JC” (pilot) and Oscar (mastman, but also was the helicopter’s fish spotter)
R22 Mariner ready for liftoff
R22 Mariner ready for liftoff
The Auro's R22 Mariner waiting on the top deck for the captain to call for launch
The Auro’s R22 Mariner waiting on the top deck for the captain to call for launch
R22 helicopter coming in for landing on the Auro's top deck
R22 helicopter coming in for landing on the Auro’s top deck
The Auro's R22 Mariner strapped down on the roof
The Auro’s R22 Mariner strapped down on the roof
Jean "JC" helping out with helicopter maintenance before we departed Samoa
Jean “JC” helping out with helicopter maintenance before we departed Samoa
The Auro's R22 Mariner completely bundled up for bed
The Auro’s R22 Mariner completely bundled up for bed
Me hard at work!
Me hard at work!

The Ship (Interior)

The Auro's helm in the pilot house
The Auro’s helm in the pilot house
The Auro's helm (left) with the radio stack on the right
The Auro’s helm (left) with the radio stack on the right
The Auro's radio communication gear
The Auro’s radio communication gear
The Auro's navigation station with the satellite fax machine I used on the upper right
The Auro’s navigation station with the satellite fax machine I used on the upper right
The Auro's dining room
The Auro’s dining room
The Auro's galley
The Auro’s galley
Captain Joe's room
Captain Joe’s room
My bunk (top one)
My bunk (top one)
Watch room
Watch room
The Auro's machine shop
The Auro’s machine shop
The Auro's main (and only) engine (massive Caterpillar diesel)
The Auro’s main (and only) engine (massive Caterpillar diesel)
The Auro's main (and only) engine (massive Caterpillar diesel)
The Auro’s main (and only) engine (massive Caterpillar diesel)
Tha Auro's engine room
Tha Auro’s engine room
Richard (chief engineer) standing by the stack of salt used to freeze the fish in the holding tanks without actually freezing the water
Richard (chief engineer) standing by the stack of salt used to freeze the fish in the holding tanks without actually freezing the water
The Auro's comressor room
The Auro’s comressor room
The hallway between the Auro's fish holds, deep in the belly of the beast
The hallway between the Auro’s fish holds, deep in the belly of the beast
The Auro's steering room - way down below deck and all the way back
The Auro’s steering room – way down below deck and all the way back
Auro's system panel board/ ship map
Auro’s system panel board/ ship map

The Ship (Exterior)

The Auro's crow's nest
The Auro’s crow’s nest
Looking forward from the Auro's net (very aft of the ship)
Looking forward from the Auro’s net (very aft of the ship)
looking forward
The Auro's flight deck as viewed from the crow's nest
The Auro’s flight deck as viewed from the crow’s nest
landing pad
Looking straight down from the Auro's crow's nest
Looking straight down from the Auro’s crow’s nest
The shaky ladder that leads to the crow's nest
The shaky ladder that leads to the crow’s nest
The skiff alongside the Auro (normally it's stored in the aft with the net) as viewed from the crow's nest
The skiff alongside the Auro (normally it’s stored in the aft with the net) as viewed from the crow’s nest
Jean "JC" (helicopter pilot) climbing up to fix the windsock at the bow of the Auro
Jean “JC” (helicopter pilot) climbing up to fix the windsock at the bow of the Auro
The Auro unloading the previous voyage's haul at the cannery (this is where the ship was when I arrived)
The Auro unloading the previous voyage’s haul at the cannery (this is where the ship was when I arrived)
Net being stacked on the aft of the Auro, as viewed from the crow's nest
Net being stacked on the aft of the Auro, as viewed from the crow’s nest
auro3
auro2
Me standing on the Auro's flight deck (as viewed from the Auro's helicopter)
Me standing on the Auro’s flight deck (as viewed from the Auro’s helicopter)
Tino (assistant skiffman) operating one of the speedboats
Tino (assistant skiffman) operating one of the speedboats
Javier (speedboad driver) in action
Javier (speedboad driver) in action

Fishing

The Taimane (another StarKist ship) cruising by the Auro's net
The Taimane (another StarKist ship) cruising by the Auro’s net
All the fishing takes place on the left side of a purse seiner (shot taken from the Auro's helicopter)
All the fishing takes place on the left side of a purse seiner (shot taken from the Auro’s helicopter)
3 other purse seiners working the same area
3 other purse seiners working the same area
Another purse seiner fishing
Another purse seiner fishing
fishing2
fishing3
Other purse seiners fishing
Other purse seiners fishing
Skiff setting the net with one of the speedboats making noise at the net opening
Skiff setting the net with one of the speedboats making noise at the net opening
Skiff (one end of the net) meeting up with the Auro (other end of the net)
Skiff (one end of the net) meeting up with the Auro (other end of the net)
Another StarKist ship's helicopter helping out the Auro's skiff and speedboat making noise to keep the tuna from escaping out the opening in the net before it gets closed
Another StarKist ship’s helicopter helping out the Auro’s skiff and speedboat making noise to keep the tuna from escaping out the opening in the net before it gets closed
Sharks sometimes were byproducts of the catch
Sharks sometimes were byproducts of the catch
Henry (deck boss) dealing with a couple of swordfish that were caught in the net
Henry (deck boss) dealing with a couple of swordfish that were caught in the net
Stacking the net as it is brought back in
Stacking the net as it is brought back in
Tons of fish inside the net (which has been brought in so that the fish can be scooped out
Tons of fish inside the net (which has been brought in so that the fish can be scooped out
The bottom (or purse strings) of the net all closed up so that the fish cannot escape out of the net (which is still out)
The bottom (or purse strings) of the net all closed up so that the fish cannot escape out of the net (which is still out)
All the action takes place on the left side of the ship (nice finger!)
All the action takes place on the left side of the ship (nice finger!)
Tuna coming down the chute from topside, into the current hold being filled where they will be frozen
Tuna coming down the chute from topside, into the current hold being filled where they will be frozen
Tuna coming down the chute on the wet deck
Tuna coming down the chute on the wet deck
Tuna coming down the chute on the wet deck
Tuna coming down the chute on the wet deck
Bringing fish in from the net as viewed from the Auro's crow's nest
Bringing fish in from the net as viewed from the Auro’s crow’s nest
Fish in the net as viewed from the Auro's crow's nest
Fish in the net as viewed from the Auro’s crow’s nest
crow's nest6
Fish in the net as viewed from the Auro's crow's nest
Fish in the net as viewed from the Auro’s crow’s nest
Bringing tuna from the net into the hopper, where the crew discards unwanted fish and ensures the good fish go down the chute to the holds
Bringing tuna from the net into the hopper, where the crew discards unwanted fish and ensures the good fish go down the chute to the holds
Tuna in the net ready to be scooped out
Tuna in the net ready to be scooped out
Tuna in the hopper
Tuna in the hopper
Brailer scooping fish out of the net
Brailer scooping fish out of the net
Tuna being dumped out of the brailer into the hopper
Tuna being dumped out of the brailer into the hopper
Crew sorting fish in the hopper
Crew sorting fish in the hopper
Brailer bringing another load of fish to the hopper
Brailer bringing another load of fish to the hopper
Dye marker in the water
Dye marker in the water
"Boiler" of tuna
“Boiler” of tuna
"Boiler" of tune
“Boiler” of tune
"Boiler" of tuna
“Boiler” of tuna

The Crew

Some of the crew and a rather large tune
Some of the crew and a rather large tune
Willy (cook) with a Mahi Mahi
Willy (cook) with a Mahi Mahi
Willy (cook) fileting a Mahi Mahi
Willy (cook) fileting a Mahi Mahi
Tino (assistant skiffman) standing on the net at the rear of the Auro
Tino (assistant skiffman) standing on the net at the rear of the Auro
Frank (crewman, and the captain's son)
Frank (crewman, and the captain’s son)
Ele (Oiler - left) and Richard (chief engineer - right)
Ele (Oiler – left) and Richard (chief engineer – right)
Jean "JC" (pilot) and Oscar (mastman, but also was the helicopter's fish spotter)
Jean “JC” (pilot) and Oscar (mastman, but also was the helicopter’s fish spotter)
Stacking the net as it is brought back in
Stacking the net as it is brought back in
Henry (deck boss)
Henry (deck boss)
Javier (speedboad driver) in action
Javier (speedboad driver) in action
Tino (assistant skiffman) operating one of the speedboats
Tino (assistant skiffman) operating one of the speedboats
JC
Jean "JC" (helicopter pilot)
Jean “JC” (helicopter pilot)
A younger, bigger and bald version of me
A younger, bigger and bald version of me

Sunsets/Sunrises

Sampling of the sunsets seen at sea
Sampling of the sunsets seen at sea
Sampling of the sunsets seen at sea
Sampling of the sunsets seen at sea
Sampling of the sunsets seen at sea
Sampling of the sunsets seen at sea
sunset2 (1)
Me (left) posing at sunset as Gary (navigator - right) is bringing the net in
Me (left) posing at sunset as Gary (navigator – right) is bringing the net in
Me strking a "cool" pose at sunset
Me strking a “cool” pose at sunset

American Samoa

American Samoa as we returned to port (no departure pics since it was dark)
American Samoa as we returned to port (no departure pics since it was dark)
Samoa as we returned from our trip (no departure pics as it was night)
Samoa as we returned from our trip (no departure pics as it was night)
Looking across Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa) from the cannery side
Looking across Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa) from the cannery side
Fuel dock area of Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa)
Fuel dock area of Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa)
Cannery in Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa) as viewed from the fuel dock side of the harbor
Cannery in Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa) as viewed from the fuel dock side of the harbor
Cannery in Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa) as viewed from the fuel dock side of the harbor
Cannery in Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa) as viewed from the fuel dock side of the harbor
A helicopter fomr another StarKist fleet boat making a flyby while in Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa)
A helicopter fomr another StarKist fleet boat making a flyby while in Pago Pago Harbor (American Samoa)
The Auro unloading the previous voyage's haul at the cannery (this is where the ship was when I arrived)
The Auro unloading the previous voyage’s haul at the cannery (this is where the ship was when I arrived)

Miscellaneous

Another purse seiner saying hi to the Auro (as viewed from the Auro's helicopter)
Another purse seiner saying hi to the Auro (as viewed from the Auro’s helicopter)
Another purse seiner saying hi to the Auro (as viewed from the Auro's helicopter)
Another purse seiner saying hi to the Auro (as viewed from the Auro’s helicopter)
Another purse seiner in the middle of the Pacific
Another purse seiner in the middle of the Pacific
Another purse seiner in the middle of the Pacific
Another purse seiner in the middle of the Pacific
US Coast Guard C-130 making a low flyby to make sure only US registered vessels were fishing in US waters
US Coast Guard C-130 making a low flyby to make sure only US registered vessels were fishing in US waters
Korean purse seiner shot from the Auro's helicopter
Korean purse seiner shot from the Auro’s helicopter
Bird flyby in the middle of nowhere
Bird flyby in the middle of nowhere
Dolphins playing around the Auro
Dolphins playing around the Auro
Dolphins playing around the Auro
Dolphins playing around the Auro
Dolphins playing around the Auro
Dolphins playing around the Auro
A log floating in the middle of nowhere
A log floating in the middle of nowhere
Raft with "beeper" attached
Raft with “beeper” attached