Working Watermen: Keeping Tradition Alive
Since Ocracoke was first settled in the early 1700s, islanders have made their living from the water. From the original ship pilots who guided vessels through treacherous Ocracoke Inlet to today’s commercial fishermen, crabbers, and oystermen, working the water isn’t just a job here—it’s a way of life passed down through generations.
SAVING THEIR HERITAGE
In 2006, Ocracoke’s maritime tradition faced its greatest threat. The island’s last remaining fish house was going up for sale, which meant local watermen would have no place to unload their catch, get bulk ice, or process their seafood. Facing the end of a 300-year tradition, about 35 full and part-time commercial fishermen did what islanders do best—they figured it out themselves.
The Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association was born from necessity and determination. Together, they raised $325,000 through grants and community support to purchase the fish house and secure their future. Today, the Ocracoke Seafood Company serves as their base of operations, selling fresh daily catches to both wholesale markets and the public while preserving the island’s maritime culture.
TRADITIONAL METHODS, SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Ocracoke’s watermen take pride in their sustainable, hand-sorted methods. You’ll see them working the Pamlico Sound and surrounding waters for flounder, red drum, blue crabs, shrimp, scallops, and oysters—all harvested with traditional techniques that have sustained both the fishery and the community for centuries. From long-handled oyster tongs to wire crab pots, the tools may be simple, but the knowledge behind using them represents generations of experience.
CURRENT ACTIVE TRADES
- Commercial fishing (flounder, drum, spot, croaker)
- Crabbing (blue crab pots and processing)
- Shrimp trawling (seasonal NC brown shrimp)
- Oystering (Pamlico Sound beds)
- Charter fishing and guiding
Visit the fish house at Silver Lake Harbor to see the boats coming in with their daily catch, or stop by the Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Exhibit in the historic Will Willis Store to learn about this vital piece of island heritage. When you buy from the Ocracoke Seafood Company, you’re not just getting the freshest catch—you’re supporting a tradition that defines what Ocracoke has always been: a working fishing village.