24 JUNE 2025 — CAPE COD, MA — In the second installment of our compelling series on gear conflict in Cape Cod waters, Cape Cod News dives deep into the raw and riveting world of fishing in the 1980s and '90s—a time before GPS and drones, when fierceness and grit ruled the waves.

Join legendary Provincetown fisherman Captain Bill Souza and retired Orleans Captain Pete Norgeot as they recount the salty, unfiltered realities of life on the water. These seasoned mariners pull no punches as they reveal the escalating tensions between fixed-gear lobstermen and mobile dragger crews—an age-old conflict rooted in history dating back to the 18th century and symbolized by the infamous three-mile limit.

In an era with little oversight and few rules, Cape Cod fishermen had to protect their livelihoods with their own ingenuity and wit. When lines were crossed, so were limits—and payback ​became part of the code. Their tales of defiance, inventiveness, and raw nerve offer an unvarnished glimpse into a culture where survival meant making your own rules on an unforgiving sea.

This is more than a story about fishing—it's a story about legacy, conflict, and the unshakable will of those who go to work on the water.

Don't miss Part 1 of our eye-opening series on Cape Cod's gear conflict : Crossing the Line, Lobster Wars in the 1970's