My Fishing Life

by Ashley Mullenger

Ashley Mullenger had never planned to become a fisherman. A chance fishing trip - catching mackerel off the Norfolk coast - was the start of an obsession. One that resulted in a transformation from clean-cut office worker to commercial 'Fisherman of the Year', and proud working owner of two boats, Fairlass and Saoirse, alongside skipper Nigel.This is a memoir of that journey, a life swept up in tides and elements, strength of mind and body, of old ways and new struggles. It's about the bravery of crews, early mornings, weather-beaten characters and those that can sink pints as fast as they can haul pots. These coastal communities and age-old livelihoods are built on trust, courage and skill - but they are also fraying against politics, poverty and climate change. The reality of commercial fishing is rarely seen, but Ashley carries us across the waves and around the UK's waters in vivid detail to show what is really happening at sea to land the fish on our plates.My Fishing Life is both a rallying cry and a love letter, rinsed down with salty humour, to an industry often misunderstood. One woman's unique story of boat, skipper, sea and catch ultimately becomes a transformative view of a world that impacts deeply on us all.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2024

Reviews

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the early 2000s, office worker Ashley and a group of colleagues decide to go on a chartered sea fishing trip from Wells-next-the-sea in north Norfolk – a three and a half hour trip catching mackerel with skipper Nigel and his oldest son Kenneth. But, whereas her friends viewed this trip as a merely once in a lifetime experience, for Ashley is was merely the beginning of a lifelong obsession.
Over the next few years she regularly made fishing trips with Nigel and slowly began to learn the art of fishing and spent much of her spare time assisting Nigel in his work until in 2018, he offers her a full time job. It’s then Ashley decides to ditch her secure office job with paid holiday and pension scheme for the dirty, dangerous and financially insecure world of offshore fishing. A decision she’s never regretted.
It’s not just the arduous nature of the work itself which would be a barrier to most of us, but the seemingly endless bureaucracy with a whole host of regulatory bodies. Even Ashley and Nigel dread this but can’t escape it. Foremost is the disastrous Brexit; something which promised fishers and farmers so much but delivered nothing more than more counter-productive regulations.
There is a wonderful section in the middle of the book where Ashley and Nigel sail a new (to them) boat they’ve just bought, the Fair Lass, from her former home in South Uist, Outer Hebrides through the Caledonian Canal and down the east coast of Scotland and England back to Wells. Later on there is a repeat adventure with their second boat the Saiorse, which they sail from Kilkeel, Northern Ireland back around the south coast of England, having to deal with a couple of storms on the way.
This book was a real eye-opener for me. Told in a no-nonsense, often humorous style, Ashley manages to convey a tangible sense of her precarious yet essential profession. A must read for anyone who enjoys les fruits de la mer so the next time you’re enjoying some fish and chips or a prawn cocktail you’ll realise all the hard work necessary to get the food on your plate.

[Rae Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know absolutely nothing about the British fishing industry, you're in for a treat. Don't let the title, or the subject matter, put you off. Ashley is hilarious in her delivery (to the point that I was reading parts of this book down the phone to friends while crying with laughter) and is, obviously, a wealth of knowledge on the seas, boats, fishing, and the industry standards (which she enjoys poking fun at and picking apart). She's a proud fisherman. Not a fisherwoman, and refuses to be referred to as such.

She also documents collecting two new boats and how they return them to their home base of Wells in Norfolk. And those chapters are just stunning. Absolutely beautiful and perfectly chilled out.

If fish and chips is your usual Saturday dinner, then you need to read this book. You'll laugh. You'll cry. And you'll want to join Ashley out at sea!

[Aatqa Arham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when audiobooks are narrated by their authors- you can tell just by the way it is read that Ashley means every word she says. The book hits the perfect balance between telling a story and providing information about the British fishing industry.

It seems every single profession is being slated by regulatory bodies- -fishing perhaps more than others. Was really impressed that she had the guts to criticise the 'sustainability' industry; she put a measured and well presented case forward. I will not be watching Seaspiracy. Would love to meet her in the flesh, sounds like a cool gal.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought on a visit to my favorite independent bookshop – Holt Bookshop.

This was both an entertaining and informative tale of fishing – by one of the relatively few female fisherman in the UK. The two boats on which the author fishes and has, I think, part ownership are both based in the port of Wells in North Norfolk (which I know well as a frequent visitor) so I found the details of both the local tides/harbour/fishing (mainly whelks, crab and lobster) fascinating. The book is also enlivened by two lengthy journeys home after buying the boats (one from the Hebrides, one from Ireland) which enables a wider overview of UK fishing; and there are some fascinating passages on the labyrinth bureaucracy of fishing permits/licenses which don’t overstay their welcome.

[Claire Winchester · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some really interesting parts in the book but the talk about the ships maintenance and how to look after a ships engine as well as talking about each pot and how to catch the whelks was a borefest. I was more interested in her personal story why she became a fishman the parts about her being female in a very masculine role, her struggles, how she dealt with the weather and the roughness of the sea. It was more like practical handbook than a memoir.

[N M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I know - knew- nothing about fishing.
But I do love Wells and have followed Ashleigh for a while on Insta so was looking forwards to reading this. It’s definitely a page-turner and well worth a read. It’s not enough to convince me to be a fisherman but really makes you admire their work.

[Dozo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A passionate and educational read, and worth to understand more about an industry which is underappreciated. Understandably as the author is not a professional writer, the final third drags a little.

[David Goacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and poignant. An insight to the state of our fishing industry and life on a fishing g boat.
Well done, loved it.