While attending the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, Washington, Astoria commercial fisherman Captain Martin McMaster earned some major bragging rights by winning Fisherman of the Year on Saturday, November 19. Martin and Elizabeth McMaster and their sons traveled to Seattle to attend the Expo for business representing McMaster Maritime and the Commercial Fishermen’s Festival. Both Martin and Elizabeth are from Astoria, Oregon, and have been serving on the board of the Festival for a year. While they were at the Pacific Marine Expo on Saturday, Martin entered the sponsored competitions to help promote the Commercial Fishermen’s Festival and generate interest in its annual Captain Phil Harris Highliner Competition.Martin "Marty" McMaster competed against past winners of this award and won the net mending portion winning $100 cash and qualifying to compete in the Fisherman of the Year competition. Competitors entered three portions of the event separately. Net mending, rope splicing and blindfolded knot tying separated the men from the boys. The winners of each of these events then went on to compete in the Fisherman of the Year Championship where each man was given a survival suit. The competitor that got into his suit completely and in record time would claim the crown. Marty got into his survival suit in an unprecedented 19 seconds flat! His prizes were another $100 bill, a brand new pair of XTra Tuff boots, a T-Shirt, a new survival suit and a custom jacket which will have his name and title embroidered in it.
Marty has been a commercial fisherman for 40 years, working in every aspect of the fishery, no doubt giving him the edge in the competitions. Martin was also the Commercial Fishermen’s Festival Highliner of the Year in the 40 and over division for two years: 2009 and 2010. He owns and runs the F/V Lady Laura and works the back deck to maintain his physical edge.
Marty is looking forward to bringing his newly claimed crown to the 2012 Commercial Fishermen’s Festival where he plans to compete again for Highliner of the Year. The 2012 Festival is being planned for September 8 & 9. For more information visit www.CommercialFisermensFestival.com.
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