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Director and island resident James Waldron answers
the question, "Who fishes Plum Island and why?" The answers bring
light to a wonderful, intermingled sub-culture revolving around the
single-minded pursuit of the big one.
Reel People: Fishermen of Plum Island is a one-hour
documentary film exploring the culture of fishing on Plum Island, Massachusetts.
The barrier island just off the coast of Newburyport is one of the
finest fishing locales in the Northeast and draws an exceptionally
diverse group of people searching for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Cod,
Flounder, Mackerel and others.
The film introduces you to
people who find their excitement at the end of a piece of string. Plum
Island Fishermen take all shapes and forms, from bait throwers and
fly casters, women and men, children and octogenarians. The unique
and entertaining characters all have their own rationale for time on
the water. Shot over two years, the film follows a number of people
out and around the island and listens to their motivations, their idiosyncrasies,
their histories, and their love for the sport. Along with interviews
and lots of people fishing, the natural beauty of Plum Island comes through.
At the heart of Plum Island's fishing community lies the nearly fifty-year-old
shop Surfland Bait and Tackle. Local legend
Kay Moulton shares stories
and photographs from seasons past, supported by her daughters Martha,
Liz, and the dedicated staff.
The film mixes studio and on-site interviews with action
footage, archival photographs, and amateur film spanning 60 years of
fishing on Plum Island. The film is entertaining for both fishermen and
those that simply enjoy a good story. |
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