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Wicked: The Men of Wicked Tuna
The town of Gloucester—America’s first fishing village—has a rich history of “men who go down to the sea in ships.” From that tradition, from that fearless and audacious heritage, came forth a breed of men who are the embodiment of the Gloucester fishermen.
The highly rated television show, Wicked Tuna, captivated the world with the exploits of the men who spend their lives hunting the giant bluefin tuna. In The Men of Wicked Tuna, author Andrew Joyce delves into their lives—before, during, and after the show’s end.
For those who were thrilled by the never-ending excitement of Wicked Tuna, this book is for you.
The highly rated television show, Wicked Tuna, captivated the world with the exploits of the men who spend their lives hunting the giant bluefin tuna. In The Men of Wicked Tuna, author Andrew Joyce delves into their lives—before, during, and after the show’s end.
For those who were thrilled by the never-ending excitement of Wicked Tuna, this book is for you.
188 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2025
1 person want to read
About the author
Andrew Joyce
11 books43 followersAndrew Joyce left home at seventeen to hitchhike throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. He wouldn't return from his journey until years later when he decided to become a writer. Joyce has written seven books. His first novel, Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, was awarded the Editors' Choice Award for Best Western of 2013. A subsequent novel, Yellow Hair, received the Book of the Year award from Just Reviews and Best Historical Fiction of 2016 from Colleen's Book Reviews.
Joyce now lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Joyce now lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 22, 2025
I don't watch that much television (especially, "Reality TV") to begin with, but I usually am familiar with what is on. In this case, I had never heard of Wicked Tuna, and had no idea there was a program about it. National Geographic aired the show for thirteen years, which concluded in 2024.
Having read two of talented writer Andrew Joyce's fiction excellent fiction novels, I decided to give this nonfiction book a try. The gist of the book is that Joyce interviews the captains of eight fishing boats regarding their experiences on the show as well as learning the backstory of how they came to fish for the enormous and very popular bluefin tuna. Each story follows a simiar format. While most of these biographies are told by Joyce, each fisherman shares some anecdotes about their lives as fishermen. Many of their backstories follow a similar path. They often had a family member or mentor who guided them. They caught smaller fish for years working for others, worked their ways up the ranks, continued to learn, and finally purchased their own boats and became captains. The author writes about their lives from childhood to adulthood, including their schooling, hobbies, and we even get to know their wives and girlfriends.
While potentially there is a lot of money in tuna fishing, I developed an appreciation for the long hours and commitment it takes. They had to be tough, determined, and patient, often risking their lives. While many loved the pay and excitement, a lot of their joy comes from the thrill of landing the big one.
The show played up the competition angle and looked for skilled tuna fisherman with big personalities. The producers were always looking for an angle to generate more interest and in some ways tried to create artifical drama. I didn't enjoy this book as much as Joyce's fictional work, but it gave me an appreciation for the men behind the show.
Having read two of talented writer Andrew Joyce's fiction excellent fiction novels, I decided to give this nonfiction book a try. The gist of the book is that Joyce interviews the captains of eight fishing boats regarding their experiences on the show as well as learning the backstory of how they came to fish for the enormous and very popular bluefin tuna. Each story follows a simiar format. While most of these biographies are told by Joyce, each fisherman shares some anecdotes about their lives as fishermen. Many of their backstories follow a similar path. They often had a family member or mentor who guided them. They caught smaller fish for years working for others, worked their ways up the ranks, continued to learn, and finally purchased their own boats and became captains. The author writes about their lives from childhood to adulthood, including their schooling, hobbies, and we even get to know their wives and girlfriends.
While potentially there is a lot of money in tuna fishing, I developed an appreciation for the long hours and commitment it takes. They had to be tough, determined, and patient, often risking their lives. While many loved the pay and excitement, a lot of their joy comes from the thrill of landing the big one.
The show played up the competition angle and looked for skilled tuna fisherman with big personalities. The producers were always looking for an angle to generate more interest and in some ways tried to create artifical drama. I didn't enjoy this book as much as Joyce's fictional work, but it gave me an appreciation for the men behind the show.
Displaying 1 of 1 review