I love Fishermen

Though I am excited about the idea of covering local farms and the troubles they face, I must admit it was my second choice for a multimedia story.
My first idea was fishermen.
I have lived near the ocean my whole life. My family is from Portland, Maine, a community built on one thing, tourists and their lust for seafood. Well, Mainers eat seafood too I guess... but the tourists really go crazy for it.
Regardless, commercial fishermen, lobster men, clammers, ect. are what make coastal Maine work, and it's the same here in southern New Hampshire as well.
I've never been a huge fan of seafood, aside from the occasional clam cake or haddock dinner, I hardly ever think of it or crave it. Most people do. I am sad excuse of a Mainer for not loving lobster, something that brings me shame almost everyday. But there is one thing I do love about fish.
The fishermen.
I find the business fascinating. Last summer one of my dad's friends brought me out on his lobster boat, after I had begged and pleaded for three months. It was an awesome day.
It is pretty well known that the economy is falling apart right now, and the fishing industry has also been effected by this. Lobster was practically given away for free this past summer and lobster men suffered as a result.
What I would like to do as multimedia project, if they will let me, is become one with the local fishermen who use Portsmouth harbor. I want to go out on their boats, watch them fish, smell the salty air, and hear from the fishermen (and women) how they are dealing in such awful economic times. I want to film nets being reeled in and shiny fish flapping on the deck. I want to record the voices of the fishermen as they talk about their work. I want wind chapped cheeks. I want the sound of a boat motor humming and pictures of fishermen working hard, in a physically demanding job.
Today, I called the Portsmouth chief harbor master, Tracy Shattuck. I told him what I wanted to do. He laughed. Asked what kind of a story I wanted. I replied multimedia and he said, "Oh, a pretty story, eh?" Kind of, I replied.
I gave him my name, number, mission and asked that he tell the fishing companies who use the port if they would be interested in letting me join them out on the dark and wild sea.
"I'll see what I can do," he promised.
I really hope he calls me back.